Search results

1

Nieznany skarb (?) z Leszna koło Łęczycy

100%

Małachowska S.

Wiadomości Archeologiczne

|

2003

|

vol. LVI

|

issue 56

125-129

EN

The National Museum in Warsaw has in its keeping two silver lunula pendants ornamented with granulation, registered in inventory books as MN 237197 and 237198. An early 20th century label still visible on both specimens – 2678 – suggests that originally they formed part of a find discovered at Leszno, distr. Kutno, woj. łódzkie (Fig. l). It is known that in 1916 Wanda Troetzer from Warsaw offered the Museum a collection of finds originating from the landed estate at that locality. These included seven ornaments, seven silver and a single bronze coin, three pottery urns complete with their contents and some pottery fragments. The silver ornaments, coins and urns were entered under nos. 2678, 2679 and 2680–2682 respectively. The crescentic (lunula) pendants in question (Fig. 2, 3) belong to lunula type I variant I (M. Dekówna, E. Stattierówna 1961, p 59; S. Małachowska 1998, p. 74–82, fig. 26). Both are characterised by the presence of only three sheet bosses. Side faces of the main body of pendant no 1 (Fig. 2A, 3A) are decorated with a pattern of chevrons, apexes facing towards the centre of the pendant; lunula no 2 (Fig. 2C, 3B) features two pairs of hourglass motives. In both specimens suspension loops specimens are ornamented with several lozenges formed of minute grains. Similar motives also fill the horns of pendant no 2, and complete the ornament on the body of both pieces. Edges of the two lunulae from Leszno are bordered with fine smooth wire, lined on the inside with a row of granules. On the underside each specimen is fitted with a pair of reinforcing strips of silver sheet (Fig. 2B.D). The pendants from Leszno have analogies in specimens noted in hoards dated to the last quarter of the 10th – first decade of 11th c. (Dzierznica II, pow. Środa Wlkp., woj. wielkopolskie, Lisówka, pow. Międzyrzecz, woj. lubuskie, Sejkowice, pow. Gostynin, woj. mazowieckie, Obra Nowa, pow. Wolsztyn, woj. wielkopolskie, Alexanderhof, Kr. Prenzlau in Brandenburg, Germany, Grønby, parish Grønby in Scania, Sweden). The settlement complex situated in the region of the modern town of Łęczyca developed at the crossroads of important trade routes. The large number of silver hoards clustering in the area most probably may be associated with a period of prosperity enjoyed by the settlement complex in question during the 10th – 11th c. as a result of its favourable location. The locality of Leszno, in Kutno district, is recorded for the first time in documents in late 14th c. Silver ornaments discovered in the area could be associated with an overland route running from the Łęczyca communication node towards Płock. The lunula of interest probably formed part of a silver hoard discovered on the landed estate in Leszno, nearby the town of Kutno.

2

Polskie badania archeologiczne na grodzisku w Dawidgródku nad Horyniem (Białoruś)

100%

Małachowska S.

Wiadomości Archeologiczne

|

2003

|

vol. LVI

|

issue 56

381-392

3

Wyroby z żelaza i obróbka tego metalu na terenie grodu w Dawidgródku nad Horyniem (Białoruś)

100%

Małachowska S.

Wiadomości Archeologiczne

|

2003

|

vol. LVI

|

issue 56

431-450

EN

The article discusses iron finds from the early medieval settlement centre at Davyd-Garadok: weapons (spear point – fig. 1d, arrowhead – fig. 1b, fragments of plate armour), elements of riding gear and horse trappings (spur – fig. 2, crampon – fig. 1a, small hoop, possibly an element of a horse-bit – fig. 1c, buckle for securing the saddle-belt – fig. 3c), dress fittings (buckles – fig. 3a.b), tools (knives – fig. 4c–h, axe head – fig. 6, chisel – fig. 4b, awl (?) – fig. 4a, gouge –fig. 5a, fragments of half-scythes – fig. 5b), objects of daily use (cylindrical locks – fig. 7c.d, a key – fig. 7a, staples – fig. 7b, fittings, nails, obscure objects) and iron working half-products (two lumps of slag). Wood-working tools (axe, chisel, knives) and the profusion of wooden objects3 testify to the popularity of this material in all walks of life. Knives were also used in local production of fine objects of antler and bone. A large iron implement discovered at Davyd-Garadok, presumably an usually large type of awl, points to the importance of leather working and making of leather footwear. Local shoemaking is evidenced by a wooden shoemaker’s last discovered in 1967, the impressive quantity of leather scraps, fragments of shoe wear as well as complete shoes found on the remains of individuals buried in oak wood coffins. Neither the studies made by R. Jakimowicz and J. Marciniak or the 1967 excavations of P. F. Lysenko produced evidence that iron was smelted within the settlement itself. The pre war investigation produced some pieces of cake iron, the 1967 study, an implement used in working this raw material (two pairs of iron tongs from a layer dated to the 1st half of the 13th century, an iron blacksmith’s punch from an early 13th century), indicating the existence on the Castle Mount at Davyd-Garadok of a blacksmith’s workshop (P. F. Lysenko 1969, p. 372, 374, fig. 12; 1974, p. 131, fig. 37:3). Iron objects discovered at Davyd-Garadok were produced using the prevailing technique of plastic working in which iron was forged using also a variety of operations such as stretching, expanding, offsetting or cutting. Some of the iron pieces have punched openings (eg knives with a band-like handle – fig. 4e.f, the fitting – cat. 32, awl – fig. 4a), the crafting of others involved bending (eg lock – fig. 7c.d, staple – fig. 7b, chain link – cat. 47, hoop – fig. 1c) and twisting of iron rods (eg knife – fig. 4h). The technique, popular in Ruthenia, of making tools with a cutting edge in which two layers of iron and a layer of steel in between were welded, in the period in question (12th century onwards) was slowly on its way out, replaced by blades fitted with a steel bit on their cutting edge (B. A. Kolčin 1985, p. 253). This latter method may have been used in making the cutting tools discovered at Davyd-Garadok (knives, half- -scythes, chisel, the gouge, axe-head, points). Some of the iron items may have been additionally subjected to heat treatment. Simple objects such as nails, buckles, staples, etc, were presumably fashioned from uniform raw iron but the smiths of Davyd-Garadok were also acquainted with the method of joining iron using copper-based solder. This is evidenced by the cylindrical locks (Fig. 7c.d), which were produced using this technology (B. A. Kolčin 1957, p. 243). Individual elements of iron objects were also joined with rivets (armour, knives with a band--like handle – fig. 4e.f). Next to basic operations associated with finishing the surface of the produced objects, such as grinding, smoothing or polishing, the surface of some iron objects was coated with non-ferrous metal – lead-tin alloy (Fig. 4a), copper (Fig. 7c.d), tin (cat. 32), or silver (cat. 33), which enhanced the decorative value of the object and equally importantly, protected it against corrosion. The pre-war research at Davyd-Garadok uncovered iron semi-finished products in the form of two cakes of iron, which contained – as subsequently confirmed by spectrographic analysis – a substantial amount of metal. Later the material was probably forged at Davyd-Garadok to obtain pure iron. L. Koziorowska suggests7 that it may have been used in producing the plates of the armour, one of the locks (Fig. 7c) and a fitting (cat. 33). Perhaps the iron semi-finished product in question had come from iron smelting workshops in the area of Davyd-Garadok, supplied in this form, for further treatment at the settlement center. Evidence obtained from excavating medieval settlement centers found in the Turaů province is insufficient to establish whether iron was smelted within these strongholds. Probably smelted iron in the form of cakes (bloom, rus. kritsa/крица) was supplied to the regional center by iron smelters from the surrounding villages in exchange for objects produced by craftsmen operating in that settlement (P. F. Lysenko 1974, p. 191; 1991, p. 111; B. A. Kolčin 1985, p. 245). Such commercial forms of raw iron have been recorded at Pěnsk, Turaů, Brest, Slutsk), and areas adjacent to Turaů province – Minsk or Vaúkavysk (L. V. Koledinskij 1988, p. 366; P. F. Lysenko 1991, p. 111). They are also known from ia Novgorod, Ruthenia (ca 2 kg) and from sites in Latvia and Lithuania (F. D. Gurin 1987, p. 17). Rich deposits of bog and meadow iron ore found in the drainage basin of the Pripyat’ river were until the 18th century the basis of local iron metallurgy (P. F. Lysenko 1991, p. 111). It cannot be excluded that a part of the high quality raw iron entered the region through long-distance trade from northern Europe, as was the case in the region of Polatsk (F. D. Gurin 1987, p. 105, 112). Starting from the 12th century the function of the iron smelter and blacksmith previously performed by a single craftsman was gradually becoming separate (F. D. Gurin 1987, p. 108). Activity of blacksmiths in the settlement centers of Turaů province is evidenced further by finds of iron working tools and by the large number of iron products themselves. Widespread presence of not only simple pieces but also of items requiring more sophisticated methods of production suggests that iron working in the region had achieved the status of an independent and specialized craft (P. F. Lysenko 1974, p. 188–189; 1991, p. 111). The blacksmith working the smithy at Davyd-Garadok presumably supplied his wares not only to the residents of his own settlement but also to the local rural population, who exchanged their products for those made by the craftsmen of their regional settlement center. Although the site at Davyd-Garadok produced just a few elements of weaponry (a spear point and arrow head), discovery of a the fragment of plate armour and a spur, along with a buckle, possibly the fastening of a saddle belt, testify to the presence of horse riders within that settlement center. The presence of horses at Davyd-Garadok is evidenced not only by their bone remains but also by the find of a crampon – an iron fastened to the horse’s hooves to facilitate walking over ice. Winter fishing under the ice is suggested by the iron gouge used for making holes in the ice. Animal husbandry is evidenced by finds of iron half-scythes used to cut hay for animal fodder. Iron sickles discovered after World War II indicate that inhabitants of Davyd-Garadok engaged in farming. Daily life of the settlement centre is reflected by finds of numerous nails, fittings or knives. The latter were probably an all-purpose implement, used at home and in the workshop, although one of these specimens (cat. 19) may be suspected of having been used for surgical purposes. Staples, rings for fastening doors, and particularly, iron locks and keys discovered at Davyd-Garadok cast some light on the social situation in the stronghold. The residents of the settlement must have been wealthy enough to care for their property by locking their houses with locks.

4

Obróbka metali nieżelaznych z grodziska w Dawidgródku nad Horyniem (Białoruś)

100%

Małachowska S.

Wiadomości Archeologiczne

|

2003

|

vol. LVI

|

issue 56

451-468

EN

Non-ferrous objects recovered from the early medieval fortified settlement at Davyd-Garadok on the Haryn’ included eighteen pieces: a gold finger-ring (Fig. 1 and 3:1), a finger-ring of lead-tin bronze in poor condition and a bell of the same metal (Fig. 3:4 and 3:6 respectively), a lunula pendant, a hoop/brooch (?) and fitting, all three of lead-tin alloy (Fig. 3:2, 3:7 and 3:13 respectively), two lead weights (Fig. 3:9.10) and another similar lead-tin specimen (Fig. 3:8), a brass buckle and bracelet fragment (Fig. 3:5 and 3:3 respectively), a rod of alloy copper (Fig. 3:11), a fragment of a lead-tin wire (Fig. 3:12), a large lump of melted lead-tin bronze (Fig. 2) and four smaller lumps of melted tin bronze with high tin content, so-called white bronze (Fig. 3:14–16.18), perhaps half-product in production of lead-tin bronze. All non-ferrous finds from Davyd-Garadok were analysed by L. Koziorowska of the Spectrography Laboratory of the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw, using the method of UV spectrography (cf Appendix). Analysis of a clay casting melting-pot also discovered at Davyd-Garadok (Fig. 3:17) determined that it was used for melting lead-tin bronze. The main non-ferrous metals in use at Davyd-Garadok were copper, lead, tin and, to a much lesser extent, zinc, an ingredient in brass. All the pieces recovered at the site in question had been produced from the above metals. A comparison of metalography analysis results from Davyd-Garadok and other Ruthenian sites (Toropets, Russia –D. I. Fonyakov 1991; Moscow barrow zone – A. A. Konovalov 1969; Novgorod, Russia – M. V. Sedova 1981; Vaukavysk, Belarus – D. V. Naumov 1969) and Latvia (Ē. Mugurēvičs 1977) revealed the similarity of metallurgic tradition of Toropets and of the Moscow barrow zone with non-ferrous alloy production at Davyd-Garadok evidenced by the presence of tin bronzes. As in Novgorod there was a high percentage of lead and tin alloy pieces (in different proportions) but the Davyd-Garadok inventory lacked lead bronze finds. Similarities to non-ferrous metal production of the Baltic region were slight, due to limited participation of brasses in the inventory at Davyd-Garadok (one of the brasses originates from the older phase of the early medieval period). Gold was used only rarely for making jewellery. In Belarus evidence of gold working is recorded at Navahrudak/Nowogródek (F. D. Gurevič 1981), isolated finds of gold ornaments are known from Minsk, Lukoml’, Stary Barysau, Slonim, Grodna and Vaukavysk (Očerki 1972, p. 153; N. N. Voronin 1954, fig. 99:12–14; Ja. G. Zverugo 1975, p. 40). The working of non-ferrous metals at Davyd-Garadok is supported by the find of a clay crucible, having a volume of 18 cm3 (Fig. 3:17), and melted lumps of metal discovered at the site. Nearly all objects of non-ferrous metal discovered at the site were produced by casting, most of them probably in reusable stone moulds, flat (hoop, buckle) and two-piece moulds (the lunula pendant). Other methods may have included the lost wax method (the bell), wire drawing and coating of iron pieces with tin, lead-tin alloy or copper. Building III, where the crucible was discovered, did not contain other traces of working of non-ferrous metals. The scatter of metal lumps (building VI, trenches I and II, the wall) was not helpful for establishing the location of a workshop. In the small collection of non-ferrous metal finds from Davyd-Garadok the most remarkable categories are personal ornaments, dress fittings and fishing equipment. Another distinct group are iron pieces coated with non-ferrous metal (locks, the key, fitting), associated with domestic fittings. By far the most striking item is a gold finger-ring discovered in the wall of the settlement. It had the form of a plain band fitted with a hexagonal “basket” fashioned from sheet gold enclosing a dark red hemispherical setting. Rings with similar settings are known from 13–14th century layers at Grodna (N. N. Voronin 1954, p. 180–181, fig. 99:12.13) and 1130s-60s layers at Novgorod (M. V. Sedova 1981, p. 140, fig. 55). They differ from the specimen from Davyd-Garadok in having animal heads added at the base of the basket and by the form of the basket itself. A gold ring from Polatsk, Belarus, 12th century, with a plain band, is more similar to a plain band (Archealogěja 1993, p. 506). To judge from the distinctive shape of the terminal of the other finger-ring, which survived only in a number of small fragments, the piece was fashioned from a fragment of a band bracelet with oval-shaped terminals. Similar bracelets are noted at Novgorod, in layers dated to 1130s – end of the 13th century (M. V. Sedova 1981, p. 112–113, fig. 37:58). The fragment of a brass bracelet with thickened circular-sectioned terminals discovered close to coffin 12 is an ornament typical for older phases of the early medieval period. Its presence at Davyd-Garadok, which in its origins dates no earlier than the 12th century is still unclear. Analogous bracelets were discovered at a site at Zimne in Ukraine, dated to the 6th – 1st half of the 7th century (V. V. Aulich 1972, p. 66–70, pl. XIII:2.5–11), and at Haćki, woj. podlaskie, Poland, where they are dated, more narrowly, to the second half of the 6th –1st half of the 7th century (Z. Kobyliński, Z. Hensel 1993, p. 129, fig. 11a–e). Another interesting find is a lunula pendant discovered in building I. It belongs in the category of narrow-horned lunulae encountered with frequency in Ruthenia, widespread in the 11th–12th century (A. V. Uspenskaya 1967, p. 103). Unlike other known specimens the lunula from Davyd-Garadok is decorated on both faces, one of them with an ornament resembling an Arabic inscription. A slightly flattened pyriform bell with a cruciform incision was discovered in trench II. Analogous finds are known eg form Turau, Belarus, from layers dated to the late 10th – 11th century (P. F. Lysenko 1974, p. 45, 56, fig. 9:23), or from 12th century Polatsk (G. V. Štychov 1975, p. 71, fig. 33:10). At Novgorod ornaments of this type are noted from mid-10th until mid-12th century (M. V. Sedova 1981, p. 156, fig. 62:1–5). The brass buckle with a decorative trapezoid frame has no known close analogies. Plain trapezoid or rectangular buckles are known from Novgorod from the 12th–15th century. (M. V. Sedova 1981, p. 147, fig. 56). The function of the damaged flat hoop ornamented with transverse grooves is not wholly clear. It may have been an element of a brooch or buckle, of a type seen in mid-12th – end of 14th century pieces discovered at Novgorod (M. V. Sedova 1981, p. 89, eg fig. 31:9, 32:1). Net weights, lead and lead-tin pieces from building IV, have analogies both in material from 13th – 14th century medieval settlement centre Brest, Belarus (P. F. Lysenko 1985, p. 271, fig. 182:11–13) and 10th – 12th century Büderich, Kr. Neuss in Northern Rheinland-Westphalia (Das Reich 1992, p. 35, pl. on p. 32). Another lead weight, elongated in form, resembles pieces from Gniezno, woj. wielkopolskie, Poland, where they were probably used as weights attached to fishing nets or fishing-rods (B. Kostrzewski 1939, p. 64, pl. XLVI:1). A similar object was discovered at Drohiczyn, woj. podlaskie, Poland (PMA, V/1482). Materials recovered at Davyd-Garadok suggest that working non-ferrous metals was not practiced on a wide scale at this early medieval settlement centre. It seems less in evidence than antler-, wood- and leather-working. Local workshops satisfied local demand for simple ornaments and objects of daily use. The inventory of non-ferrous find from Davyd-Garadok , in comparison to materials form Turau, Minsk, or Navahrudak/Nowogródek, is modest. Differences in the level of working of non-ferrous metals in comparison to the situation at Turau and Pinsk were noticed already by P. F. Lysenko who nevertheless assumes the existence of local production of these metals at Davyd-Garadok (P. F. Lysenko 1974, p. 140, 189).

Refine search results

4 Wiadomości Archeologiczne

4 2003

4 Małachowska S.

Nieznany skarb (?) z Leszna koło Łęczycy

Polskie badania archeologiczne na grodzisku w Dawidgródku nad Horyniem (Białoruś)

Wyroby z żelaza i obróbka tego metalu na terenie grodu w Dawidgródku nad Horyniem (Białoruś)

Obróbka metali nieżelaznych z grodziska w Dawidgródku nad Horyniem (Białoruś)