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#0180
ANNA ZAPOLSKA
which would correspond to the late 6* - early 7* Century. A similar dating has been
ascribed to the solidus of Heraclius; it has been determined that the issue took place
in the years 625-629.
On the basis of the archaeological material recovered from the Western Baltic
area, it can also be observed that the artefacts appearing as imports from the Danubian,
Merovingian, and Scandinavian milieu primarily consisted in pieces of jewellery
and metal elements for clothing, with fibulae represented most prominently among
the recorded finds. The appearance of such objects is attributed to the existence of
trade relations, which most likely would have proceeded in stages.85 Nonetheless,
the actual meaning conveyed by the finds from the Avar environment is, in my
opinion, somewhat different. The beit fittings and harness fragments may possibly
indicate that Avar-Baltic relations were of a different naturę. In fact, contacts based
on trade activities would have rendered a much broader spectrum of artefacts of
Avar provenance. The fact that this solidus of Heraclius was found in Avar hands
is evidence that political relations existed between the Eastern Roman Empire
and the Khaganate. That it was further disseminated northwards might have been
the result of direct Avar-Baltic contacts (e.g. trade relations) or the intermediary
role of other peoples/tribes.
It is noteworthy that the coin has a small hole, made from the obverse side, over
the heads of the emperors represented thereon. This would suggest that it served as
a piece of adornment/jewellery or as an amulet in the Barbarian environment. It is
difficult to say with any certainty if the hole was made in the Khaganate or only when
the coin reached the Baltic milieu. However, because of the fact that numerous coins
with holes have been found in areas with Avar settlements (as noted above), it seems
more plausible that the hole was made before the solidus left the Khaganate territory.
We can indicate the places from which it might have arrived by examining
the dissemination of coins of this category,86 finds of which are concentrated in Avar
settlements in the regions of the Lower and Middle Danube and along the Rhine
and in areas whose influence can be observed in the Western Baltic culture milieu.
Considering the fact that Danubian influences are observable slightly earlier than
the dating given to our solidus of Heraclius and that Merovingian influences were
in their decline in the early 7* Century, it should be assumed that the piece arrived
as a result of the relations that must have existed with the Avars, most likely through
some other peoples/tribes. Since there is no significant concentration of Byzantine
coins in the territory of what is now Poland, and since the coins that did arrive only
85 HILBERG 2009: 340.
86 Cf. SOMOGY 2014: Map 6.
which would correspond to the late 6* - early 7* Century. A similar dating has been
ascribed to the solidus of Heraclius; it has been determined that the issue took place
in the years 625-629.
On the basis of the archaeological material recovered from the Western Baltic
area, it can also be observed that the artefacts appearing as imports from the Danubian,
Merovingian, and Scandinavian milieu primarily consisted in pieces of jewellery
and metal elements for clothing, with fibulae represented most prominently among
the recorded finds. The appearance of such objects is attributed to the existence of
trade relations, which most likely would have proceeded in stages.85 Nonetheless,
the actual meaning conveyed by the finds from the Avar environment is, in my
opinion, somewhat different. The beit fittings and harness fragments may possibly
indicate that Avar-Baltic relations were of a different naturę. In fact, contacts based
on trade activities would have rendered a much broader spectrum of artefacts of
Avar provenance. The fact that this solidus of Heraclius was found in Avar hands
is evidence that political relations existed between the Eastern Roman Empire
and the Khaganate. That it was further disseminated northwards might have been
the result of direct Avar-Baltic contacts (e.g. trade relations) or the intermediary
role of other peoples/tribes.
It is noteworthy that the coin has a small hole, made from the obverse side, over
the heads of the emperors represented thereon. This would suggest that it served as
a piece of adornment/jewellery or as an amulet in the Barbarian environment. It is
difficult to say with any certainty if the hole was made in the Khaganate or only when
the coin reached the Baltic milieu. However, because of the fact that numerous coins
with holes have been found in areas with Avar settlements (as noted above), it seems
more plausible that the hole was made before the solidus left the Khaganate territory.
We can indicate the places from which it might have arrived by examining
the dissemination of coins of this category,86 finds of which are concentrated in Avar
settlements in the regions of the Lower and Middle Danube and along the Rhine
and in areas whose influence can be observed in the Western Baltic culture milieu.
Considering the fact that Danubian influences are observable slightly earlier than
the dating given to our solidus of Heraclius and that Merovingian influences were
in their decline in the early 7* Century, it should be assumed that the piece arrived
as a result of the relations that must have existed with the Avars, most likely through
some other peoples/tribes. Since there is no significant concentration of Byzantine
coins in the territory of what is now Poland, and since the coins that did arrive only
85 HILBERG 2009: 340.
86 Cf. SOMOGY 2014: Map 6.