DOI Heft:
Artikuły / Articles
DOI Artikel:Zapolska, Anna: The solidus of Heraclius from Wargen in Sambia – reconsidered
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43282#0172
ANNA ZAPOLSKA
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have been a “splinter” from the influx of these solidi into the Khaganate territory (in
the Danube area and across the Carpathian Basin) and may be evidence that there
were relations between the Avars and Slavs.27 Another case, the solidus from Wargen,
Sambia, discussed in the present article, is definitely an isolated find, whatever
the cause for its having arrived here. It must also be noted that another Byzantine
coin was found in Poland. It is a follis of Justin II extracted during excavation at
the Bogaczewo culture settlement at Tały (Masuria region). This coin was minted
later than the solidus of Heraclius and was made of bronze, so in my opinion it is
not directly related to our solidus.28
THE CULTURE SITUATION IN THE SOUTHERN BALTIC
COASTAL REGION DURING THE MIGRATION PERIOD
The Germanie settlement associated with the Wielbark culture began to disperse
and gradually disappear in Pomerania and over the Elbląg Heights during the course
of phase C3-D, i.e. in the early phase of the Migration Period, at the turn of the 4* and
5th centuries (PI. 1, Map 1 ).29 The noticeable thinning out of the settlement is datable
to this stage, as evident by the desertion of many of the burial sites.30 According to
A. Cieśliński, phase C3 -D was a period of decline for the Wielbark culture, a period
in which the culture went through a process of depopulation and not, as is often
thought, one in which the funeral rituals were undergoing transformation, for this
would have left some archaeologically identifiable traces.31
Most probably, even before the beginning of phase E, groups of Balts settlers
arrived in the Elbląg Heights (as far as the lower branch of the Pasłęka River) -
it is from these groups of settlers that the Elbląg group would subsequently be
formed during phase E.32 Some scholars link this group to the Dollkeim-Kovrovo
culture,33 while others would rather see it as a Germanic-Baltic-Scandinavian
culture, of an interregional character.34 Nonetheless, there should be no doubt
that this particular formation arose as a consequence of the intermingling and
coexistence of supra-regional elements - ones that were Sambian and Germanie
11 Ibidew. 481.
28 DYMOWSKI, ORZECHOWSKA and RUDNICKI 2012: 215-233.
29 It is not the point of this paper to enter into an ethnical interpretation, nor do I make analyses from this
point of view. Despite the existing critiques of the ethnical interpretation of culture units, this settlement can be
linked, with a high degree of probability, to Germanie clusters (cf. BRATHER 2004).
30 GODŁOWSKI 1981: 104-106; CIEŚLIŃSKI 2010.
31 Ibidem'. 133, 160.
32 KONTNY and NATUNIEWICZ-SEKUŁA 2009: 156-157.
33 NOWAKOWSKI 1996: 96-97.
34 BITNER-WRÓBLEWSKA 2008: 97-112; KONTNY 2012: 60-76; KONTNY and PIETRZAK
2013: 122.
172
have been a “splinter” from the influx of these solidi into the Khaganate territory (in
the Danube area and across the Carpathian Basin) and may be evidence that there
were relations between the Avars and Slavs.27 Another case, the solidus from Wargen,
Sambia, discussed in the present article, is definitely an isolated find, whatever
the cause for its having arrived here. It must also be noted that another Byzantine
coin was found in Poland. It is a follis of Justin II extracted during excavation at
the Bogaczewo culture settlement at Tały (Masuria region). This coin was minted
later than the solidus of Heraclius and was made of bronze, so in my opinion it is
not directly related to our solidus.28
THE CULTURE SITUATION IN THE SOUTHERN BALTIC
COASTAL REGION DURING THE MIGRATION PERIOD
The Germanie settlement associated with the Wielbark culture began to disperse
and gradually disappear in Pomerania and over the Elbląg Heights during the course
of phase C3-D, i.e. in the early phase of the Migration Period, at the turn of the 4* and
5th centuries (PI. 1, Map 1 ).29 The noticeable thinning out of the settlement is datable
to this stage, as evident by the desertion of many of the burial sites.30 According to
A. Cieśliński, phase C3 -D was a period of decline for the Wielbark culture, a period
in which the culture went through a process of depopulation and not, as is often
thought, one in which the funeral rituals were undergoing transformation, for this
would have left some archaeologically identifiable traces.31
Most probably, even before the beginning of phase E, groups of Balts settlers
arrived in the Elbląg Heights (as far as the lower branch of the Pasłęka River) -
it is from these groups of settlers that the Elbląg group would subsequently be
formed during phase E.32 Some scholars link this group to the Dollkeim-Kovrovo
culture,33 while others would rather see it as a Germanic-Baltic-Scandinavian
culture, of an interregional character.34 Nonetheless, there should be no doubt
that this particular formation arose as a consequence of the intermingling and
coexistence of supra-regional elements - ones that were Sambian and Germanie
11 Ibidew. 481.
28 DYMOWSKI, ORZECHOWSKA and RUDNICKI 2012: 215-233.
29 It is not the point of this paper to enter into an ethnical interpretation, nor do I make analyses from this
point of view. Despite the existing critiques of the ethnical interpretation of culture units, this settlement can be
linked, with a high degree of probability, to Germanie clusters (cf. BRATHER 2004).
30 GODŁOWSKI 1981: 104-106; CIEŚLIŃSKI 2010.
31 Ibidem'. 133, 160.
32 KONTNY and NATUNIEWICZ-SEKUŁA 2009: 156-157.
33 NOWAKOWSKI 1996: 96-97.
34 BITNER-WRÓBLEWSKA 2008: 97-112; KONTNY 2012: 60-76; KONTNY and PIETRZAK
2013: 122.