Burial of a mounted warrior with Ringknaufschwert-type sword from the necropolis in Ostrów, Przemyśl District

During the excavation of the Przeworsk culture necropolis at Site 21 in Ostrów, Przemyśl District, a richly furnished burial of a mounted warrior was found. The burial, which can be dated to the developed stage of the Early Roman period based on the grave goods, stood out through the lavishness of its grave inventory. Among other objects, the grave goods included a sword with a ring-like pommel, known as a Ringknaufschwert, two spearhead, one of them with punched decoration, and elements of horse tack. There also were ornaments and dress items, particularly noteworthy among them a gold pelta-shaped pendant decorated with granulation.

Eastern LBK pottery: some observations on forming techniques and symmetrical structure of ornaments (Floreşti and Niezwiska)

There are two collections that are stored in Saint Petersburg originating from the first LBK sites (Floreşti I andNiezwiska) investigated in the USSR during the 1950-60s by Tatiana Passek and Katerina Chernysh. Despite the incompleteness of this material, it allows us to make several observations regarding technical aspects of pottery production and its ornamentation. The production of LBK vessels is based on a coiling with subsequent forming by the “paddle-and-anvil” technique. Principal distinctions between production techniques make it possible to exclude the idea of links between the LBK and the subsequent Precucuteni-Tripolye A culture. The specifics of the forms and techniques of LBK ornamentation allows to propose that such ornamentation originates from non-ceramic prototypes. Additionally, the symmetrical analysis of Eastern LBK ornamentation indicates differences in symmetry preferences between the LBK and Cucuteni-Tripolye populations. According to the hypothesis of D. K. Washburn (2018), such a difference may indicate distinctions in the social structures of these cultures.

High medieval fish-shaped needle case from Wolin. From the Studies on the Culture of the Elite

The article presents the case study of a needle case discovered in 2013 during excavations on the medieval harbour in Wolin, Pomerania, Poland. This rare artefact is made from antler and has a fish shape. A literature search revealed only a six analogical objects in Central and Eastern Europe – three in Poland and another three in Russia and Ukraine. All were discovered on important sites and strongholds of this specific territory, and all are elite products of 12th century craftsmanship.

Dwellings and their nearest surroundings in the 4th millennium BC in the Eastern Carpathian area: a case study from the Gordineşti II-Stînca Goală settlement

Investigation into the construction of dwellings, their spatial arrangements, and the nearest surroundings is highly relevant in the field of study on functioning of archaeological phenomenona. During the recent years of excavation undertaken at the Gordineşti II-Stînca goală site, we revealed the remains of at least two dwellings and their economic surroundings that may be referred to on the whole as household clusters. In this paper, we would like to focus on one of them (dwelling no. 1). Our main goal is to present not only the key attributes of the dwelling, but also the results of the spatial analysis of features and artifacts found inside and outside of it. Based on that data, we can suggest that this dwelling consisted of two functionally-varied rooms. This inference seems to be also relevant in the broader sense; it can expand the general knowledge related to issues relating to the household clusters usage in the Eastern Carpathian area in the end of the 4th Millennium BC.

Patterns of social practices and activities in the early ALPC settlement of Bükkábrány-Bánya VII (Northeast-Hungary)

Bükkábrány-Bánya VII, an early ALPC settlement in Northeast Hungary, was just recently exposed to international research, but we would like to illustrate in our study how much promise its archaeological material has. We focused our investigation on these finds because the site contains a three-hectare excavated area and a welldefined settlement structure. Our first results are based on a quantitative examination of the many categories of archaeological finds. The first stage in our intra-site investigation involved the analysis of artifact fragmentation, as evaluated by the weight-to-frequency ratio, which indicated variances in depositional procedures. The spatial distribution of each find category was analyzed using kernel density, which revealed unique hot spots within activity zones. To split the settlement territory into spatial units, we employed the primary structural characteristics, such as rows of houses, empty spaces, and wells. The distribution and fragmentation data matched our theoretical spatial units well, providing an interpretive framework for the early ALPC settlement’s social units.

The environmental context of Early Neolithic cultural transformation in the Targowisko settlement region

The aim of this article is to provide information on environmental changes in the Targowisko region in the Early Neolithic as a natural response to settlement and economic activity of the human population in that area. The discussion is based on lithological, geochemical, and palynological analyses, as well as the analysis of Cladocera within strata inside the TRG (Targowisko) core, located in a small wetland in the immediate vicinity of the eastern edge of the Neolithic settlement in the Targowisko region. Settlement analysis points to the absence of stable microregions and to the mobility of human groups. This is confirmed by the sequence of settlement episodes and economic activity, reflected in the stratigraphy of the core sediments, where episodes of significant human interference are followed by phases of almost complete regeneration of the environment. No differences have been noticed between the Linienbandkeramik and Malice culture communities as regards their impact on the environment.

Culture transformation in Targowisko microregion. Trends of changes inside Danubian farmers

The aim of this article is to deepen the discussion on the nature and mechanisms of culture change based on the analysis of newly acquired materials from the Targowisko settlement region. Three groups of materials were acquired (from narrow time horizons) related to the single-phase relics of Linienbandkeramik (Brzezie, site 40 and Targowisko, site 16) and Malice culture houses (Targowisko, site 14-15). The absolute chronology of the beginning of the late phase (III) LBK was established to be 5100-5000 BC, and the classic phase (Ib) of MC was dated to 4650-4550 BC. Selected threads of the cultural tradition (in the field of ceramic-making technology and ornamentation and flint-blade production technology) were passed on among families living in individual houses. Settlement analysis showed the relative instability of microregions, the increased mobility of small groups of people, and risky colonization attempts in Targowisko region. No evidence of direct, contemporaneous contact between the LBK and MC populations was found. Key words: LBK, Malice culture, early Neolithic, culture change, Targowisko region

Unique versus unusual – some comments on the Globular Amphora culture cemetery at the Złota-Gajowizna site

The article is inspired by the new paper (Witkowska et al. 2020) “The cemetery of the Globular Amphora culture community at the Złota-Gajowizna site in the light of radiocarbon analysis and dendrochronology“. It delivers some remarks on the famous GAC necropolis, focusing mostly on the issues concerning the layout of the cemetery and interpretation of various funerary features.

Logboat Discovered in Lake Lubanowo, Western Pomerania

The paper presents a logboat found by an expedition from the University of Warsaw in Lake Lubanowo (northwestern Poland) during an underwater archaeological survey in 2020. It is the first logboat made of beech wood (Fagus sylvatica) registered in the area of Poland. The conventional radiocarbon date is 2350±30 BP; thus, the vessel may be attributed to the Jastorf or Pomeranian culture, as it was found in the border area between the territories of both units. Only a few logboats are known from the period preceding the Middle Ages in Poland. Other untypical traits are a transom, and a carefully formed beak-shaped bow. In the prow there is a rectangular hollow with a circular perforation inside of unclear function. One may consider it a fastening of an outrigger or other kind of floating attachment but also perhaps that the bow slot was intended either for a figurehead, for mooring, or to hold a torch during night-time fishing, or even functioned as a ‘stick-in-the-mud’ – type anchor.