Coins of the Lower Danube Region in a Hoard of the Late 14th Century — a Source for the Initial History of Moldovan Statehood (Preliminary Report)

The scientific literature has been enriched with new very interesting information about the hoards of the late 14th century found in the Republic of Moldova. The purpose of this preliminary communication is to offer for scientific discussion several types of Juchid coins found in a large treasure hoard in the south of Moldova. One type of coins is dirhams of Kilia 770/1368—1369, the second type is dirhams without indication of a mint and anonymous, with the year 1371. The article contains photos of coins, their catalog description, as well as classification. In addition, the authors offer a brief historical reference and a retrospective of the finds of treasures from the end of the 14th century on the territory of Moldova and in neighboring lands.

Flood Forecasting and Disaster Risk Management – a Case Study of Danube River

The Danube and its tributaries have been crossing mountains and plains in their almost unchanged riverbeds for thousands of years, regardless of national and administrative boundaries. Nevertheless, even decades ago, several countries provided access to only limited data and information concerning the water level and flood protection status of their rivers. In recent years, information was exchanged mainly on the basis of bilateral agreements and on successful activities of basin-wide organizations, but for others, information could only be obtained by browsing the Internet, which is sometimes rather complicated and definitely time-consuming. The EU Strategy for the Danube Region Environmental Risks Priority Area initiated a project aimed at developing the Danube Hydrological Information System, which was supported by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River. A comprehensive overview of the complex national flood and ice forecasting systems, identification of the shortcomings of the existing forecasting practices as well as an improvement of the exchange and availability of hydrological and meteorological data between the involved countries constituted crucial fields of interests for the project. Hence the main aim of the article is to present and discuss key data and functionalities of the system. The key findings show that all authorized meteorological and hydrological data of the Danube River are stored in a central database and made available online to all licensed hydrological and flood protection institutions for further processing in virtually real time. At this moment 12 countries of the Danube have joined forces to work out the proposals that are essential for the future, for safer Danube.

DISTRIBUTION OF ALIEN ZOOBENTHIC SPECIES ON THE SHELF OF THE BLACK SEA

The number of alien species in the zoobenthos of the Black Sea increased up to 65 species. Depending on the scale of their distribution in the Black Sea, non-native zoobenthos species are combined into three groups: 1) 5 species have spread in the entire sea, 2) 35 species were found in several areas, and 3) 25 species were found only in one of the areas of the sea. Six areas of the Black Sea shelf have been identified (Varna - Burgas, Danube, Northwestern, Crimean, Caucasian and Anatolian) in accordance with the seasonal and annual values of the thermohaline characteristics. The zoobenthos differed not only in quantity, but also in the composition of non-native species between the six areas of the shelf. The results of multivariate statistical analysis revealed a low level of similarity between these areas of the Black Sea shelf. The greatest similarity in the composition of alien species of zoobenthos was observed for the Danube region with the Varna and Burgas bays, which border each other. The species composition of the alien species of the Caucasian shelf was more similar to the Varna - Burgas and Danube areas than to the neighboring Crimean and Anatolian areas. Spatial gradients of temperature and salinity form hydrological fronts of water masses, which are a kind of ecological barriers and can limit the natural exchange of alien species between shelf areas.

Die Kriegergräber mit Schwertern des sog. Asiatischen Typs im Mitteldonauraum unter Berücksichtung des Neufundes von Horákov (Mähren, CZ)

The occurrence of foreign, more precisely eastern, cultural elements among local archaeological finds is commonly regarded as a characteristic feature of the cultural-historical development during the Early Migration Period in Central Europe. Such interpretations, which generate many questions and are sometimes accepted with scepticism, have gained some ground, but most of them indisputably demand verification and less strictly defined views. These foreign cultural elements usually represent objects, whose symbolic values made them, part of the new funerary customs connected with changes of social structures during the historical development of barbarian peoples on the Danube. The main attention in this regard is paid to a well-distinguished group of weapon graves, which contained both the so-called eastern weapon types and, on the other hand, clear acculturation traits. Within the group of eastern weapons, which influenced the armament of Danubian warriors, encompassed also various types of double-edged long swords – spathae. A conspicuous type is represented by long swords with relatively narrow blade and a massive iron cross guard, so-called swords of Asian type, which occupy a special position in the Danube region.

Strategy for developing cycling tourism and ecotourism along the Rákos-stream, considering applied ecosystem services

The EcoVeloTour tourism project (Fostering enhanced ecotourism planning along the EuroVelo cycle route network in the Danube region, DTP-055-2.2) aims to develop cycle tourism and ecotourism in connection with the EuroVelo international cycle routes across the Danube Region. The objective of the project is to harness the synergies of the EuroVelo network, to develop – and provide communication opportunities for – ecotourism in the region, to promote cultural and natural values through cycle tourism, to preserve biodiversity and landscape elements, and to improve air quality within the framework of ecotourism development. While the characteristics of the project area are favourable for the development of cycle tourism and ecotourism, its potential has not yet – or only to a limited extent – been harnessed. In terms of the condition and service provision of cycle paths and related infrastructure, there are currently no cycling or ecotourism products to speak of along the Rákos Stream. At the time of drafting this strategy (2021), the section of the EuroVelo 14 route that stretches along the Rákos Stream is under planning, and, within the framework of the EcoVeloTour project, a number of improvements – e.g. the creation of a smart cycling rest area, a signposting plan, and a mobile app – are underway in the area, which, in addition to the great assets of the project area, could make it attractive to cycling tourists and ecotourists.

A kerékpáros turizmus és ökoturizmus fejlesztési stratégiája a Rákos-patak mentén az ökoszisztéma szolgáltatások keretrendszerében

Az EcoVeloTour turisztikai projekt (Fostering enhanced ecotourism planning along the Eurovelo cycle route network in the Danube region, DTP-055-2.2) a kerékpáros turizmust és az ökoturizmust kívánja fejleszteni a Duna Régiót átszelő Eurovelo nemzetközi kerékpárútvonalakhoz kapcsolódóan. Célja az Eurovelo hálózatban rejlő szinergiák kiaknázása, az ökoturizmus kommunikációs lehetőségeinek fejlesztése és biztosítása a régióban, a kulturális és természeti értékek promotálása a kerékpáros turizmus segítségével, valamint a biodiverzitás, a tájképi elemek megőrzése, a levegőminőség javítása az ökoturizmus fejlesztési keretei között (EcoVeloTour). A projektterület kedvező adottságokkal rendelkezik a kerékpáros turizmus és az ökoturizmus fejlesztéséhez, a benne rejlő lehetőségek kiaknázására azonban eddig nem, vagy csak nagyon korlátozottan került sor. A kerékpárutak és a hozzájuk kapcsolódó infrastruktúra állapota, illetve szolgáltatási ellátottsága tekintetében egyelőre nem beszélhetünk kerékpáros vagy ökoturisztikai termékekről a Rákos-patak mentén. A stratégia készítésének idején tervezés alatt van az Eurovelo 14 útvonal Rákos-patak menti szakasza, illetve az EcoVeloTour projekt keretében több olyan fejlesztésre – kerékpáros okos pihenő kialakítása, kitáblázás tervének elkészítése, mobil applikáció létrehozása – kerül sor a térségben, melyek a projektterületet kiváló adottságain túl is vonzóvá tehetik a kerékpáros turisták és ökoturisták számára.

The Catacomb No. 74 of the Verkhnii Saltiv Main Burial Ground

The materials of the catacomb burial, investigated in 1988 by the expedition of Kharkiv Historical Museum under the leadership of V. H. Borodulin, located on the main site of the early medieval burial ground near Verkhnii Saltiv village (Verkhnii Saltiv Burial Ground-I, hereinafter — VSBG-I), are introduced into the scientific circulation. The catacomb had a long (6.3 m) and deep (5.05 m) dromos, in the western part of which the path of the re-entry into the burial chamber was fixated. The burial chamber, transverse to the dromos, contained the remains of three people (a man, a woman, and a teenage girl) who had traces of deliberate destruction committed in ancient times (Fig. 1: 1). Despite this, a rich burial inventory was found in the burial, which included: weapons (sabre, two chisel-axes); household items (two adz-hoes, a jug); personal jewelry (earrings, beads, bracelets, rings); toiletry (mirrors, toilet boxes); details of clothing; elements of a belt set; amulets. According to the elements of the belt set, this burial complex is dated by the second — third quarters of the 9th century. The main feature of this catacomb is the presence of a silver earring in it (Fig. 1: 13), which finds broad analogies in the Slavic-Avar antiquities of the Danube region. On the monuments of the Dnieper Left-Bank forest-steppe, similar earrings were found in the monuments of the Volyntsev culture of the second half of the 8th — early 9th centuries. A silver plaque-frame with an anthropomorphic image (Fig. 1: 12) is not typical for classical Saltiv antiquities, and it is stylistically close to the plaques from the Hungarian burial (burial No. 2) near Subotsi village (Ukraine, Kirovohrad Oblast). The presence of these items in the catacomb No. 74 testifies to the close contacts of the Alans of the Saltiv culture of the Siverskyi Donets basin in the second — third quarters of the 9th century simultaneously with representatives of the conquered Slavic tribes and with the ancient Hungarians, who were allies of the Khazar Khaganate.

Policy recommendations on cycling tourism for the countries of the Danube region

EcoVelo Tour Project (Fostering enhanced ecotourism planning along the Eurovelo cycle route network in the Danube region (DTP-055-2.2) aims to develop cycling tourism and ecotourism in connection with the Eurovelo international cycle routes crossing the Danube Region. It exploits synergies of the Eurovelo network, works out and ensures communication opportunities for ecotourism in the region, promotes cultural and natural values through cycling tourism, and strives for preserving biodiversity, landscape elements and air quality while developing ecotourism strategies.