Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 31(1): 23-41 DOI: 10.47743/saa-2025-31-1-2 Yusuf POLAT, Rahşan TAMSÜ POLAT ABSTRACT Since prehistoric times, people have preferred to settle near water sources. Because of its importance for human life, water has been given deep meaning in different periods and cultures, considered ‘sacred’ and playing a key role in religious life, becoming the centerpiece of rituals. In the religious life of the Phrygians, one of the Iron Age civilizations in Central Anatolia, water and water sources also occupied a privileged place. However, there is currently a lack of direct information on the relationship of water to the religion and religious practices of the Phrygians. In this article, Phrygian rock monuments, sacred sites and a group of reliefs depicting the Mother Goddess Matar in the form of stelae, and the ritual actions of the goddess called Kybele and Magna Matar, who was revered as the Phrygian Goddess in(…)
Articles
Interdisciplinary Insights into Early Holocene Life: Recent Archaeological Discoveries at Khutsubani, Kintrishi Gorge
Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 31(1): 5-21 Guram CHKHATARASHVILI, Giorgi TAVAMAISHVILI, Maia CHICHINADZE, Eliso KVAVADZE, Nikoloz TSKVITINIDZE DOI: 10.47743/saa-2025-31-1-1 ABSTRACT Khutsubani is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the Kintrishi Gorge, offering crucial insights into the mobility of people inhabiting Ajara (Western Georgia) during the Early Holocene period. The site provides valuable information on the paleoenvironment, activities, stone processing techniques, and connections with the Middle East. In 2024, an expedition from the Kobuleti Museum conducted extensive archaeological fieldwork at the Khutsubani settlement. Excavations revealed flint and obsidian tools, remnants of tool production, basalt tools, various types of pits, and more. Through interdisciplinary research, absolute dating was achieved, and the ancient paleoclimatic environment was reconstructed. However, the most important discovery was the artifact connected with fishing and organic remains preserved on it, which indicates the existence of fishing and, presumably, an early stage of weaving in the region, along(…)
Numismatic Material of the XVIII-XX Centuries from the Lands of the Village of Ulanovo and the Village of Kulaevo in the Pestrechinsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan
Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 30(2):581-589 Maria M. TRUSHINA, Maxim V. TRUSHIN DOI: 10.47743/saa-2024-30-2-15 ABSTRACT Modern Russian archaeologists and other representatives of historical science are quite actively exploring ancient coins found in various regions of the Russian Federation. A fairly significant part of the research concerns the history of ancient coins discovered on the territory of the Volga region and Tatarstan, in particular. There is practically no data on numismatic material from the Pestrechinsky district, which determined the relevance of this work. The analysis of the coin collection from two settlements of the Pestrechinsky district was carried out using the methodology proposed by K.V. Gorlov and colleagues, as well as with the help of other scientific and methodological works. Coins of different denominations were described — from half a penny to 5 kopecks, issued under 9 different emperors (empresses) at 5 mints without marks and with marks of 4 mintsmasters, made(…)
Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Liturgical and Devotional Objects from Cilicia (Southern Turkey)
Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 30(2):499-578 Ergün LAFLI, Maurizio BUORA, Alev ÇETİNGÖZ DOI: 10.47743/saa-2024-30-2-14 ABSTRACT In this paper we present 95 Byzantine and Post-Byzantine liturgical and devotional objects stored in eight local museums in Cilicia in southern Turkey. This corpus provides detailed analysis of several groups of metalwork. The study aims to illuminate the religious life of Christian communities in Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Cilicia. REZUMAT În această lucrare prezentăm 95 de obiecte liturgice și devoționale bizantine și post-bizantine, depozitate în opt muzee locale din Cilicia, sudul Turciei. În acest corpus sunt detaliate mai multe grupuri ale acestei metalurgii. Scopul este cel de a face lumină asupra vieții religioase a comunităților creștine din Cilicia bizantină și postbizantină. KEYWORDS Liturgical objects, devotional objects, reliquaries, crosses, Cilicia, southern Turkey, Byzantine metalworks, Byzantine archaeology. FULL ARTICLE Download PDF (free)
On the Origin of Radagaisusʼ Men: The Victohali Contra the Goths
Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 30(2):477-498 Oto MESTEK DOI: 10.47743/saa-2024-30-2-13 ABSTRACT This study explores the ethnic origins and identity of the Radagaisus’ army that invaded Italy in the early fifth century. Despite the fact that his people were referred to by the Romans as the Goths, their true identity remains unclear. Analysis of archaeological and historical sources suggests that Radagaisus and his men came from the northeastern part of the Great Danube Plain. Thus, they most probably were part of the Sarmatians and the Victohali tribe. The study also examines how tribal identities were shaped and redefined in the sources in the context of political and cultural changes. This case contributes to the broader discussion of barbarian tribal ethnicity and identity in Late Antiquity. REZUMAT Acest studiu explorează originile etnice și identitatea armatei lui Radagaisus, care a invadat Italia la începutul secolului al V-lea. În ciuda faptului că poporul său era numit(…)
Po[ta]toria Pottery Discovered at (L)ibida – Slava Rusă, Tulcea County
Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 30(2):421-475 Alex-Marian CORNEA DOI: 10.47743/saa-2024-30-2-12 ABSTRACT The sample of vassa po[ta]toria presented in this article was discovered in different sectors of the archaeological site (L)Ibida – Slava Rusă, com. Slava Cercheză, jud. Tulcea, during excavations carried out between 2001-2015. Once the material was processed and selected, a sample of 91 ceramic fragments was outlined. They are chronologically classified between the 2nd-6th centuries BC. REZUMAT Eșantionul de vassa po[ta]toria prezentat în acest articol a fost descoperit în mai multe sectoare ale sitului arheologic (L)Ibida – Slava Rusă, com. Slava Cercheză, jud. Tulcea, în timpul săpăturilor efectuate între anii 2001-2015. Odată cu prelucrarea și selectarea materialului s-a conturat un eșantion format din 91 de fragmente ceramice. Acestea sunt încadrate cronologic între secolele II-VI p.Chr. KEYWORDS vassa po[ta]toria, west pontic area, (L)Ibida, Tower 10, Curtina X. FULL ARTICLE Download PDF (free)
From Sal to a “Semantic Spider’s Web” in Latin
Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 30(2):411-420 Roxana-Gabriela CURCĂ DOI: 10.47743/saa-2024-30-2-11 ABSTRACT This paper examines the lexeme sal and its lexical family in Latin, as attested in various written sources. The terms formed from sal have been classified in partes orationis (nomen et verbum), and their semantic spectrum (e.g., preservation, occupations, literal and figurative meanings). REZUMAT Această lucrare analizează lexemul sal și familia sa lexicală în latină, așa cum este atestată în diferite surse scrise. Termenii formați de la sal au fost împărțiți în partes orationis (nomen et verbum) și a fost analizat spectrul semantic al acestora (e.g., conservare, ocupații, sens propriu și figurat). KEYWORDS Salt, Latin language, lexical family, semantic spectrum, partes orationis. FULL ARTICLE Download PDF (free)
Mounds of Fire! The Tumular Necropolis of Borșa-La Cișmele (Vlădeni, Iași County)
Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 30(2):399-409 Casandra BRAȘOVEANU, Andrei ASĂNDULESEI, Radu-Alexandru BRUNCHI, Vasile COTIUGĂ DOI: 10.47743/saa-2024-30-2-10 ABSTRACT North-eastern Romania benefits of a high density of tumuli, belonging to various prehistoric or historic communities. Previous endeavors of our team have identified within this workspace, with the help of LiDAR data, aerial photographs and cartographical supports, a number of 1791 of such mounds, usually placed on hilltops, forming somewhat-linear arrangements, but also exceptional situations, such as the case of the tumular necropolis of Borșa-La Cișmele, a novel discovery that does not resemble anything studied so far. The site comprises at least six mounds, out of which we have identified two groups of mounds connected by earthworks, shaping semi-circles. After the documentation stage, our team has carried out fieldwalks, with which occasion the presence of reddish coloured soil was observed. This characteristic was signaled only on the surface of the four connected mounds, suggesting(…)