First bioanthropological evidence for Yamnaya horsemanship

The origins of horseback riding remain elusive. Scientific studies show that horses were kept for their milk ~3500 to 3000 BCE, widely accepted as indicating domestication. However, this does not confirm them to be ridden. Equipment used by early riders is rarely preserved, and the reliability of equine dental and mandibular pathologies remains contested. However, horsemanship has two interacting components: the horse as mount and the human as rider. Alterations associated with riding in human skeletons therefore possibly provide the best source of information. Here, we report five Yamnaya individuals well-dated to 3021 to 2501 calibrated BCE from kurgans in Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, displaying changes in bone morphology and distinct pathologies associated with horseback riding. These are the oldest humans identified as riders so far

The genetic history of the Southern Arc: a bridge between West Asia and Europe

By sequencing 727 ancient individuals from the Southern Arc (Anatolia and its neighbors in Southeastern Europe and West Asia) over 10,000 years, we contextualize its Chalcolithic period and Bronze Age (about 5000 to 1000 BCE), when extensive gene flow entangled it with the Eurasian steppe. Two streams of migration transmitted Caucasus and Anatolian/Levantine ancestry northward, and the Yamnaya pastoralists, formed on the steppe, then spread southward into the Balkans and across the Caucasus into Armenia, where they left numerous patrilineal descendants. Anatolia was transformed by intra–West Asian gene flow, with negligible impact of the later Yamnaya migrations. This contrasts with all other regions where Indo-European languages were spoken, suggesting that the homeland of the Indo-Anatolian language family was in West Asia, with only secondary dispersals of non-Anatolian Indo-Europeans from the steppe

Descoperiri funerare din epoca bronzului la Budureasca – Vadu Săpat, jud. Prahova

We proposed in among below the recovery of archeological research what was done now more 40 years ago, at Budureasca, a collinear area in north-east Prahova County. Our work is meant to be a support for publishing the results of the research by the archaeologists, during activity or possibly a resonable time after the start. The work performed and the problems encountered for the exposre of the information below, stengthened this conviction. Also, we follow the introducing in the scientific field of some rare archaeological finds in Muntenia area which can be evaluated by other researchers in a more varied background. Between the findings of Budureasca, which can be considered specials are those belonging to the funeral decorations of Bronze Age. In area " Puţul Tătarului", were intercepted more funeral arrangements of whichonly a few have been fully investigated. They were situated on an necropolis assigned to an early aspect of the bronze era with analogy to the cultural surroundings of Glina III– Schnekenberg, chronologically placed lightly prior an early stage of Monteoru’s culture. Because of the incomplete archeological information, this note have only a preliminary character. From the point of view of the funerary arrangements, cist graves surrounded by ring of rocks, over which mounds of ground were builded and other elements too, of rite and ritual, the Budureasca necropolis has for now in these area an exceptional character. We do not know in the area that is discussed similar discoveries for this chronological extent. We also notice the existence in this necropolis of possible secular burials rendered by the presence of incinerated bones laid by the rings interior, of some vessels disposed in the exterior of the cystic. The chronological segment that was used this necropolis covers the last stages of the evolution of the Glina culture and the early Monteoru culture. The researchs are in progress in this archaeological site and could offer the chance discovery of new funeral arrangements or the completion of partially captured oldest archaeological excavations.</jats:p

Eneolithic zoomorphic vessels from Wallachian Subcarpathians

In Eneolithic settlements some vessels considered special were discovered, including those shaped like animals – zoomorphic vessels, and those imitating the human body – anthropomorphic vessels. Archaeological research in Romania has provided a number of zoomorphic vessels, included in a poor typological diversity. The eneolithic discoveries in northern Wallachia follow a similar pattern. In this study we aim to discuss several aspects that may be considered relevant to the functionality and role of this category of vessels. Along with the descriptive and typological analysis, we will make some correlations concerning the relationship between the primary context of discovery and the sparseness of these pieces, between the identified fauna and the executed model, the artistic quality and how representative it is of the typology of artefacts specific to this community. We will also reconsider certain findings, even though a critical analysis doesn’t represent the central object of this study.</jats:p

Eneolithic zoomorphic vessels from Wallachian Subcarpathians

In Eneolithic settlements some vessels considered special were discovered, including those shaped like animals – zoomorphic vessels, and those imitating the human body – anthropomorphic vessels. Archaeological research in Romania has provided a number of zoomorphic vessels, included in a poor typological diversity. The eneolithic discoveries in northern Wallachia follow a similar pattern. In this study we aim to discuss several aspects that may be considered relevant to the functionality and role of this category of vessels. Along with the descriptive and typological analysis, we will make some correlations concerning the relationship between the primary context of discovery and the sparseness of these pieces, between the identified fauna and the executed model, the artistic quality and how representative it is of the typology of artefacts specific to this community. We will also reconsider certain findings, even though a critical analysis doesn’t represent the central object of this study.Pots zoomorphes eneolitique dans le Sous-Carpathes de la Valachie. Dans les établissements énéolithiques certains pots considérés comme spéciaux ont été découverts, y compris ceux en forme d'animaux – les pots zoomorphes, et ceux imitant le corps humain – les pots anthropomorphes. La recherche archéologique en Roumanie a fourni un certain nombre de pots zoomorphes, inclus dans une faible diversité typologique. Les découvertes énéolithiques dans le nord de la Valachie suivent un schéma similaire. Dans cette étude nous cherchons à discuter plusieurs aspects qui peuvent être considérés comme pertinents à la fonctionnalité et le rôle de cette catégorie de pots. Parallèlement à l'analyse descriptive et typologique, nous ferons quelques corrélations concernant la relation entre le contexte primaire de la découverte et la rareté de ces pièces, entre les animaux identifiés et le modèle exécuté, la qualité artistique et la façon dont elle est représentative de la typologie des artefacts spécifiques à cette communauté. Nous allons aussi revoir certaines conclusions, même si une analyse critique ne représente pas l'objet central de cette étude.Frînculeasa Alin. Eneolithic zoomorphic vessels from Wallachian Subcarpathians. In: Annales d'Université "Valahia" Târgovişte. Section d'Archéologie et d'Histoire, Tome 14, Numéro 1, 2012. pp. 59-72

Descoperiri funerare din epoca bronzului la Budureasca – Vadu Săpat, jud. Prahova

We proposed in among below the recovery of archeological research what was done now more 40 years ago, at Budureasca, a collinear area in north-east Prahova County. Our work is meant to be a support for publishing the results of the research by the archaeologists, during activity or possibly a resonable time after the start. The work performed and the problems encountered for the exposre of the information below, stengthened this conviction. Also, we follow the introducing in the scientific field of some rare archaeological finds in Muntenia area which can be evaluated by other researchers in a more varied background. Between the findings of Budureasca, which can be considered specials are those belonging to the funeral decorations of Bronze Age. In area " Puţul Tătarului", were intercepted more funeral arrangements of whichonly a few have been fully investigated. They were situated on an necropolis assigned to an early aspect of the bronze era with analogy to the cultural surroundings of Glina III– Schnekenberg, chronologically placed lightly prior an early stage of Monteoru’s culture. Because of the incomplete archeological information, this note have only a preliminary character. From the point of view of the funerary arrangements, cist graves surrounded by ring of rocks, over which mounds of ground were builded and other elements too, of rite and ritual, the Budureasca necropolis has for now in these area an exceptional character. We do not know in the area that is discussed similar discoveries for this chronological extent. We also notice the existence in this necropolis of possible secular burials rendered by the presence of incinerated bones laid by the rings interior, of some vessels disposed in the exterior of the cystic. The chronological segment that was used this necropolis covers the last stages of the evolution of the Glina culture and the early Monteoru culture. The researchs are in progress in this archaeological site and could offer the chance discovery of new funeral arrangements or the completion of partially captured oldest archaeological excavations.În rândurile de mai jos ne-am propus valorificarea unor cercetări arheologice derulate acum mai bine de 40 de ani la Budureasca, în zona colinară din nord-estul judeţului Prahova. Nota noastră se doreşte a fi o pledoarie pentru publicarea rezultatelor cercetărilor de către arheologi în timpul activităţii sau eventual într-un timp rezonabil de la derularea acestora. Munca depusă şi problemele ridicate pentru a expune informaţiile de mai jos ne-au întărit această convingere. De asemenea, urmărim introducerea în circuitul ştiinţific a unor descoperiri arheologice relativ rare în zona colinară a Munteniei ce vor putea fi evaluate şi de alţi cercetători într-un context mai larg. Între descoperirile de la Budureasca ce pot fi considerate deosebite sunt cele atribuite unor complexe funerare din epoca bronzului. În punctul „ Puţul Tătarului” au fost interceptate prin săpături arheologice mai multe complexe funerare dintre care doar o parte au fost cercetate integral. Ele au fost încadrate unei necropole atribuite unui aspect timpuriu al epocii bronzului cu analogii în mediul cultural Glina III– Schnekenberg, cronologic plasate uşor anterior unei etape timpurii a culturii Monteoru. Date fiind informaţiile incomplete pentru aceste complexe nota de faţǎ are un caracter preliminar. Din prisma amenajărilor funerare, ciste înconjurate de ringuri din piatră, peste care s-au construit movile de pământ, dar şi a altor elemente de rit şi ritual, necropola de la Budureasca are deocamdată în această zonă un caracter excepţional. Nu cunoaştem în arealul pus în discuţie descoperiri similare pentru acest orizont cronologic. Mai remarcăm şi existenţa în această necropolă a unor posibile înmormântări secundare evidenţiate de prezenţa oaselor incinerate depuse în interiorul ringurilor, a unor vase dispuse în afara cistelor. Segmentul cronologic în care a fost utilizată această necropolă acoperă ultimele etape ale evoluţiei culturii Glina şi începutul culturii Monteoru. Cercetările ce se află în curs de derulare în acest sit ar putea oferi şansa descoperirii unor noi complexe sau finalizarea unora surprinse parţial în vechile săpături arheologice.Frînculeasa Alin. Descoperiri funerare din epoca bronzului la Budureasca – Vadu Săpat, jud. Prahova. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°7 2011. pp. 51-71

Vitreous Beads Found at the Bronze Age Cemetery from Câmpina (Prahova)

Vitreous Beads Found at the Bronze Age Cemetery from Câmpina (Prahova). The present study focuses on the analysis of a number of beads made of vitreous material found at the Late Bronze Age cemetery from Câmpina (Prahova County). We shall describe the primary and chronological context and broadly discuss the more or less close/contemporary analogies. Several physical analyses on four pieces produced in a specialised laboratory from Valahia University of Târgovişte bring up for discussion the chemical composition of the raw matter used. The results of these analyses have allowed a short introduction to the physicochemical analyses on vitreous materials found in archaeological contexts in advanced phases in Western Europe, but strangely unknown in Romania.Frînculeasa Alin, Stihi Claudia. Vitreous Beads Found at the Bronze Age Cemetery from Câmpina (Prahova) . In: Annales d'Université "Valahia" Târgovişte. Section d'Archéologie et d'Histoire, Tome 14, Numéro 2, 2012. pp. 17-27

Vitreous Beads Found at the Bronze Age Cemetery from Câmpina (Prahova)

Vitreous Beads Found at the Bronze Age Cemetery from Câmpina (Prahova). The present study focuses on the analysis of a number of beads made of vitreous material found at the Late Bronze Age cemetery from Câmpina (Prahova County). We shall describe the primary and chronological context and broadly discuss the more or less close/contemporary analogies. Several physical analyses on four pieces produced in a specialised laboratory from Valahia University of Târgovişte bring up for discussion the chemical composition of the raw matter used. The results of these analyses have allowed a short introduction to the physicochemical analyses on vitreous materials found in archaeological contexts in advanced phases in Western Europe, but strangely unknown in Romania.</jats:p

Geophysical prospecting of the Yamnaya barrows (3rd millennium BC) from Ciorani de Jos, Prahova county, Romania

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Linear Pottery culture on the lower Danube

Archaeological excavations carried out at Sudiţi (Buzău County, Romania) some decades ago unearthed severalLinear Pottery culture features which were subsequently interpreted and used by various researchers in an attempt to explain the origin of Chalcolithic cultures (such as Boian). The poorly published findings generatedconflicting or arguable theories. Even if it is not the only discovery of its kind, the Neolithic feature from Sudiţiis the most complex one from Wallachia. Until new, accurate field research is undertaken, this old discovery isstill appropriate for further discussion, offering some valid points regarding the relation between the local culture and Linear Pottery at the turn of the fifth millennium.</jats:p