DOI article:
Lemke, Martin: The earrings from the early medieval cemetery at Novae
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41864#0057
Martin Lemke
Warszawa
THE EARRINGS FROM THE EARLY MEDIEVAL
CEMETERY AT NOVAE
The medieval cemetery situated above the ruins of the roman castellum
(preciseły: the scamnum tribunorum and part of the valetudinarium) at Novae is,
in spite of its modest size, ąuite complex. The reason for this, apart from the
density of the graves located close to each other both horizontally and vertically
(fig. 1), is the immense chronological stretch suggested by the various finds
acąuired directly from the graves. Most of these stem from the early medieval,
some are obviously linked to the migration period, others are from the
13th century and later. In order to establish an at least moderately accurate
chronology for the given phases of the graveyard (at this point, we can safely
assume there being morę than one), one has to consider the data gathered
from strata analysis, radiocarbon dating and affiliation of relevant finds. I will
sketch an outline based on a single category of finds, the earrings. The reason
for this is threefold: chronological seąuences based on these items are well
established, pottery is lacking and the obtained 04 dates too inaccurate.
As is widely known, Novae continued to be a major town throughout the
Byzantine period and early medieval, after the fortress had been abandoned in
the 4lh century A.D. \cf Dyczek, Kolendo, Sarnowski 2001, 4; Vladkova 2003,
p. 221 ff.], even though it has been suggested, that the role of Novae was taken over
stepwise by the city of Svishtov, which had then been established [Hensel 1980, 289].
The following centuries brought numerous migrations of entire cultures (such as the
Huns, Avars, Goths, various pre-slavonic tribes) on the Bałkan Peninsula and hence
chaos in terms of continuity in the archaeological materiał [an excellent overview,
based on Byzantine sources: Fiedler 1992, 3 ff.; cf. also Wendel 1986, 191 ff.].
Given its smali perimeter (from 1981, 93 graves have been uncovered) and the
immense time span, it is not surprising that there were morę necropolia in the
immediate area [Fiedler 1992, 66; Vladkova 2003, 227], However, it is certain that
a smali sanctuary associated with the said cemetery also existed, above the
remains of the scamnum tribunorum [Genćeva 2006, in this volume].
In the graves, which are predominantly from the early medieval, there is
a striking absence of pottery whatsoever. This is unfortunate, because pottery
seąuences for byzantine and medieval periods have been established and usually
Warszawa
THE EARRINGS FROM THE EARLY MEDIEVAL
CEMETERY AT NOVAE
The medieval cemetery situated above the ruins of the roman castellum
(preciseły: the scamnum tribunorum and part of the valetudinarium) at Novae is,
in spite of its modest size, ąuite complex. The reason for this, apart from the
density of the graves located close to each other both horizontally and vertically
(fig. 1), is the immense chronological stretch suggested by the various finds
acąuired directly from the graves. Most of these stem from the early medieval,
some are obviously linked to the migration period, others are from the
13th century and later. In order to establish an at least moderately accurate
chronology for the given phases of the graveyard (at this point, we can safely
assume there being morę than one), one has to consider the data gathered
from strata analysis, radiocarbon dating and affiliation of relevant finds. I will
sketch an outline based on a single category of finds, the earrings. The reason
for this is threefold: chronological seąuences based on these items are well
established, pottery is lacking and the obtained 04 dates too inaccurate.
As is widely known, Novae continued to be a major town throughout the
Byzantine period and early medieval, after the fortress had been abandoned in
the 4lh century A.D. \cf Dyczek, Kolendo, Sarnowski 2001, 4; Vladkova 2003,
p. 221 ff.], even though it has been suggested, that the role of Novae was taken over
stepwise by the city of Svishtov, which had then been established [Hensel 1980, 289].
The following centuries brought numerous migrations of entire cultures (such as the
Huns, Avars, Goths, various pre-slavonic tribes) on the Bałkan Peninsula and hence
chaos in terms of continuity in the archaeological materiał [an excellent overview,
based on Byzantine sources: Fiedler 1992, 3 ff.; cf. also Wendel 1986, 191 ff.].
Given its smali perimeter (from 1981, 93 graves have been uncovered) and the
immense time span, it is not surprising that there were morę necropolia in the
immediate area [Fiedler 1992, 66; Vladkova 2003, 227], However, it is certain that
a smali sanctuary associated with the said cemetery also existed, above the
remains of the scamnum tribunorum [Genćeva 2006, in this volume].
In the graves, which are predominantly from the early medieval, there is
a striking absence of pottery whatsoever. This is unfortunate, because pottery
seąuences for byzantine and medieval periods have been established and usually