social memory and statute : roman coins in medieval graves from the necropolis noşlac, romania /...

8/20/2019 Social memory and statute : Roman coins in medieval graves from the necropolis Noşlac, Romania / Cristian Găz…

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THE

JOURNALOF

ARCHÆOLOGICAL

NUMISMATICS

V OLUME 4 – 2014

CEN - BRUXELLES


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CENEUROPEAN CENTRE FOR NUMISMATIC STUDIES —

CENTRE EUROPÉEN D’ÉTUDES NUMISMATIQUESB R U X E L L E S

asbl, founded in 1964

Honorary PresidentsMaurice COLAERT (†) – Marc BAR (†)

President Jean-Claude THIRY

Vice-presidentHenri POTTIER

Members of the Board Jean-Marc DOYEN – Stéphane GENVIER – Christian LAUWERS – Luc SEVERS – Gaetano TESTA – Michel WAUTHIER

Our PublicationsTravaux du CEN : 15 volumes published since 1967 – Dossiers du CEN : 3 volumes

Bulletin du CEN (BCEN) : quadrimestral, published since 1964

THE JOURNAL OF ARCHÆOLOGICAL NUMISMATICSEditorial Board

Chairman

Jean-Marc DOYEN (PhD, UMR 8164 –HALMA, Université de Lille 3 – CReA-Patrimoine, Université libre de Bruxelles)Members of the editorial board

Thibault CARDON (MA, CRH-GAM, Ehess) Vincent GENEVIÈVE (MA, INRAP, ITEM – EA 3002, Pau)Xavier DERU (PhD, maître de conférences, Université de Lille 3) Stéphane MARTIN (PhD, UMR 8210–ANHIMA, EPHE Paris)

Layout

Francis DIEULAFAIT (DEA, TRACES –UMR 5608, Toulouse)

Scientific CommitteeHonorary President

Richard REECE (PhD, University of London)

Marc BOMPAIREDirecteur de recherches au CNRS

Prof. Aleksander BURSCHEProfessor at the Warsaw University

Laurent CALLEGARINMaître de conférences(ITEM – EA 3002, Pau)

Dr. Simon ESMONDE CLEARYProfessor of Roman Archæology,University of Birmingham

Dr. Suzanne FREY-KUPPERAssociate Professor, Department of Classics and Ancient History,University of Warwick

Dr. Manuel GOZALBES FERNÁNDEZ DE PALENCIACurator of the Museude Prehistòria de València

Helle W. HORSNÆSSenior researcher,Curator of Ancient coins,The National Museum of Denmark

Prof. Dr. Fleur KEMMERS Jun. Prof. at the Goethe Univ.,Frankfurt/Main

Jens Christian MŒSGAARDAssistant Keeper,Royal Coll. of Coins & Medals, Copenhagen

Sylvia NIETO-PELLETIERChargée de recherches au CNRS, Orléans

Dr. Markus PETERMuseum Augusta Raurica, Augst

Jean-Michel POISSONMaître de conférences à l’EHESS, Paris

Laurent POPOVITCHMaître de Conférences,Université de Bourgogne

Michel REDDÉDirecteur d’Études à l’EPHE, Paris

Dr. Pere Pau RIPOLLÈS ALEGRECatedràtic d’Arqueología,Universitat de València

Dr. John SILLSCeltic numismatist,Oxford Institute of Archæology

Clive STANNARDHonorary Visiting Fellow,University of Leicester

Prof. Dr. Lucia TRAVAINIProfessore associato,Università degli Studi di Milano

Prof. Dr. Johan VAN HEESCHCurator of the Coin Cabinet,Royal Library of Belgium, Brussels

Prof. Dr. Koenraad VERBOVENProf. of Ancient History,University of Ghent

Dr. David WIGG-WOLF

Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter,Römisch-Germanische Kommission (RGK)

Dr. Marcin WOLOSZYNInstitute of Archæology & Ethnology,Polish Academy of Science, Kraków

Front cover: photos Th. Cardon


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As it is a well-known act the coins areconsidered by archaeologists as a specialcategory o arteacts. Te coinage has

chronological historical and documentary values while the coin production andconsumption involve all the society levels(Kemmers & Myrberg 2011, p. 89). Tere-ore, at the first sight, the publication o thecoins under study may lead us to the idea orecent archaeological discoveries. Still, thesecoins were ound during the excavations o1961-1962 within the Necropolis o Noşlac !Tese coins were ound together with otherarteacts rom the same necropolis in thestore room o the National History Museumo ransylvania rom Cluj-Napoca.

Te reading o previous bibliography onthe archaeological campaigns rom thoseyears have revealed the absence o these coinsin those reports (Rusu 1962, p. 269-292 ;Rusu 1964, p. 32-45 ; Popescu 1962, p. 212,n° 96 ; Popescu 1963, p. 461 ; Popescu 1964,p. 563, n° 93 ; Popescu 1965, p. 595, n° 62 ;Moga & Ciugudean (eds.) 1995, p. 129-

131, n° 124). On the other hand, anotherRoman coin, o Elagabalus [2], is mentionedas coming rom grave n° 44 o the samenecropolis rom Noşlac [3]. oday, this coincould not be retrieved among the arteacts.Te state o preservation o these coins at themoment when they have been re-discoveredin the museum store room indicates the act

** Institute o Archaeology and Art History Cluj-Napoca, Romania, [email protected].

[1] Owing to the poor condition o preservation andstorage o material, and, on the other side, the losso the original documentation, currently, there isa project trying to recover, where possible, theinormation and material rom the necropolis oNoslac , including the original documentation, inorder to publish a monographic work.

[2] No urther details provided by the author.

[3]

Rusu 1962, p. 274 ; Rusu 1964, p. 37. For lack odetails, this coin is not included in the ollowingcatalogue.

that these pieces did not suffer a restorationprocess afer being discovered at the site.

Tereore, it is our duty to place these

coins within the scientific environment bypublishing the catalogue.

C (fig. -)

Grave n° 29

1. HADRIANUS for Sabina, unknown mint,

AD 117-138.

SABINAAVGVSA/HADRIANIAVGPP

Diademed bust, right.PVDI/CIIA

Pudicitia standing lef, holding veil.

Denarius, plated : 1,7 g ; 6 ; 18,3 mm.

C. RIC II, p. 388, no 407.

Noşlac 1962, necropolis, « Hărăstăşan’s pit ».

Grave n° 41

2. ANTONINUS PIUS, Rome, AD 158-159.ANONINVSAVGPI/VSPPRPXXII

Head laureate, right.

EMPLDIVAVGESCOSIIII S/C

Octastyle temple with the statues o Divus Augustus and Livia.

As: 11,3 g ; 6 ; 24,4 x 22 x 6 mm.

RIC III, p. 151, no 1024.


Grave n° 58

3. GORDIANUS III¸ unknown mint, AD 241-

243 or later.

IMPGORDIANVSPIVSFELAVG

Radiate bust, draped and cuirassed, right.

IOVI/SAORI

Jupiter standing right, holding sceptre andthunderbolt.

Antoninianus, plated : 3,8 g ; 12 ; 19,8 mm.

C. RIC IV.3, p. 25, no 84.Noşlac 1961, necropolis, « Hărăstăşan’s pit ».


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Grave n° 93 7. MARCUS AURELIUS, unknown mint, AD180 or later.

]ANONINVSAVG

Bust laureate and draped, right]RPXXXIIIIIM/P/XCOSIIIPP

Victory standing lef, on globe, holding wreathand palm.

Denarius, plated : 2,1 g ; 5 ; 16.9 x 15.5 mm.

C. RIC III, p. 245, no 411.


Remark : A finger print o the ancient orger ispartially preserved on the obverse.

As it is mentioned above, the coins come

rom a necropolis dated in the 6th-7th centuries and located in the western part othe locality o Noşlac ; 125 graves are knownso ar (fig. 2).

From the numismatic point o viewthese pieces are issues o the Roman state– members o the imperial house, civicissuer – the city o Pautalia in Trace(nowadays, Kyustendil, Bulgaria) – and anancient ake – the coin portraying Marcus

Aurelius. Except the aked coin, the othersare requently ound within Roman sitesand necropolises, as they are denominationregularly issued. Te aked coin presentsa specific eature that will be discussed ina separate study (Găzdac & Cosma 2014,orthcoming).

However, a particular aspect about theseRoman coins is the way o distributionin these early medieval graves. Only one

Roman bronze coin was ound in gravesn° 29, 41, 58 and 93. It must be mentionedhere that the coins rom graves no 29 and58 are plated ones. Although they were‘officially’ issued as silver denominations –either by an official mint or a clandestineworkshop – only the bronze core survivedwhile the silver oil has vanished. On theother hand, the grave n° 102 had threeRoman coins, all o silver – even the akedcoin has a silver surace.

Could this aspect be a consequence oa simple ortunate situation when the

4. MARCUS AURELIUS for Faustina II,

Pautalia Traciae, AD 161-180.

FAVCINA/CEBACH

Draped bust, right.

OVLIACPAVALIAC

yche standing lef, holding rudder andcornucopia.

Ae : 4,9 g ; 7 ; – 19.6 mm.

Moushmov 1912, no 4114 ; RPC IV, emp no 8834.


Grave n° 1025. NERO, Rome, AD 67-68.

IMPNEROCAESAR/AVGPP

Head laureate, right.

SA/LVS (in field)

Salus seated lef on throne, holding patera.

Denarius : 3,1 g ; 5 ; 19 x 16.5 mm.

RIC I2, p. 175, no 411.


Remark : on the obverse, the mark rom a later

metal control.

6. VITELLIUS, Rome, AD 69.

AVIELLIVSGERM[

Head bare, right.

FIDES/EXERCIVVM (in field)

Clasped hands.

Denarius : 2,8 g ; 12 ; 18.5 x 17.4 mm.

RIC I2, p. 271, no 67.


Remark : on the obverse, the mark rom a latermetal control.


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decedent have ound better coins than theothers or the higher number and the bettermetal o coins represent marks o a higher

social statute ?

Te comparative analyse o coins andother arteacts coming rom this gravesmay offer explanations o socio-historicalnature. Apart rom the studied coins, the« investigation » in the store room o thehistory museum in Cluj-Napoca have alsobrought to light a series o arteacts comingrom the same necropolis. Fortunateenough, the original labels with the gravenumber were still attached to the arteacts.Tereore, we were able to correlate thecoins with the arteacts coming rom thesame grave [4]. Tis advantage allowed us toreach some conclusions :

1. all three graves that provided us withboth coins and other arteacts belongedto warriors as demonstrated by thepresence o spearheads, arrow heads

and sword blades (fig. 3-6).2. the comparative analyse between coins

and graves’ inventory points out thatgrave no. 102 belonged to an individualwith a higher social position that theother three decedents: silver coins only,unerary inventory o higher quality(design and metal, silvered bronze)(fig. 3-6).

Te second conclusion confirms the theoryo « metal language » where the superiormetal (gold, silver) symbolises authority/sovereignty (Kurke 1999, p. 25, 53). At thesame time, the quality o metal based on itscolour marks the social difference : reddish-brownish [bronze] coins – is picked up orthose placed on a lower hierarchic statute ;white-silver coins or those o a higher social

[4] Except or the grave n° 93 where the arteactsother than the coin have not been yet identified.

statute (Kemmers & Myrberg 2011, p. 95-96).

Practically, in this case, the coinage loses

its economical unction and becomes asymbol o a certain social statute.Roman coins o the 2nd-3rd centuries AD are

very scarcely discovered on the Romanianintra-Carpathian territory. A plated denariusdepicting emperor Commodus was oundin a grave rom a necropolis dated in the8th-9th centuries AD at imişoara - ModoşBridge [5].

Coins issued in the 4th century AD andByzantine period are more requentlydiscovered on this area (Lakatos 2002, p.237-256 ; Musteaţă 2008, p. 119-162). Teexplanation comes rom the historicalbackground. Te territory o the ormerRoman province o Dacia was abandonedaround AD 270. Te 4th century havewitnessed the temporary returned oRoman authority on the lef bank o theLower Danube at the same time with alarge quantity o bronze coin production

ollowing the strong monetary debasementthat will end with the replace o Roman withthe Byzantine monetary system.

Te presence o Roman coins in earlymedieval graves are requently ound acrossEurope, especially on the area o the ormerRoman Empire [6].

As source o provenance such Romancoins were ound by chance by the medievalindividuals within the abandoned Roman

settlements. In the case o the Roman coinsrom graves o the 6th-7th centuries AD rom

[5] Bejan 1983, p. 489 ; Bejan 1995, p. 79. In amore recent publication this coin is no longermentioned among the unerary inventory othe graves rom the Modoş Bridge, Mare 2004,p. 125-126.

[6] o cite but a ew works were available to us whenpreparing this work or publication : Longobards

graves (ravaini 2004, p. 159-181) ; Switzerland(Martin 1991) ; Anglo-Saxon graves (White1988).


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Noşlac such a source was, most likely, theRoman settlement o the 2nd-3rd centuriesAD located in the close vicinity o the

necropolis under study at the spot knownas « Şumughi » (Popescu 1964, p. 563,n° 93 ; Popescu 1965, p. 595, n° 62; Moga &Ciugudean (eds.) 1995, p. 131)..

As it has been demonstrated, the use oRoman coins in early medieval grave isthe proo o a social memory (Eckhard& Williams 2003, p. 163-165 ; Kemmers& Myrberg 2011, p. 100). Although therewas no biographic/ancestral link betweenthe medieval people and the Romancoins they ound, these pieces were,or certain, very attractive due to theirimagery and letters that conerred themsome apotropaic characteristics. Tus, thisnumismatic material has raised and shapeda social memory o the dead within acommunity which it was in a ull process odevelopment (Kemmers & Myrberg 2011,p. 100). Paradoxically, the social memoryraised through arteacts that had no

historical connection with the past o thesecommunities – « objects without a past »(Eckhard & Williams 2003, p. 165).

Bejan 1983A. B, Necropola de inhumaţie de sec.

VIII-IX de la imişoara - Podul Modoş. Acta Musei Napocensis 20, 1983, p. 489-498.

Bejan 1995A. B, Banatul în secolele IV-XII .

imişoara, 1995.

Eckhard & Williams 2003H. E H. W, Objects

without past? Te use o Roman objects inearly Anglo-Saxon graves. In: H. W(ed.), Archaeologies o remembrance. Deathand memory in past societies. New York, 2003,p. 141-170.

Găzdac & Cosma 2014

Cr. G C. C, A Countereiter’sFingerprint on a Forged Denarius o Marcus

Aurelius. NC 174, 2014, p. 125-128, pl. 17-19.

Kemmers & Myrberg 2011

Fl. K N. M, Rethinkingnumismatics. Te archaeology o coins.

Archaeological Dialogues 18 (1), 2011, p. 87-108.

Kurke 1999

L. K, Coins, Bodies, Games, and Gold:Te Politics o Meaning in Archaic Greece.

Princeton, 1999.

Lakatos 2002

A. L, Monede bizantine din perioadaavară în ransilvania, vestul şi nord-vestul

României. Ephemeris Napocensis 12, 2002,

p. 37-256.

Mare 2004M. M, Banatul între secolele IV-IX .

imişoara, 2004.

Martin 1991M. M, Das spätrömischrüh-

mittelalterliche Gräbereld von Kaiseraugst, Kt.

Aargau. eil A: ext . Derendingen, 1991.

Moga & Ciugudean (eds.) 1995

V. M H. C, Repertoriularheologic al judeţului Alba. Alba Iulia, 1995.

Moushmov 1912

N.A. M, Ancient Coins o the Balkan

Peninsula. Sofia, 1912.

Musteaţă 2008

S. M, Prezenţa monedei bizantineîn bazinul Carpaţilor şi la nordul Dunării

Inerioare în secolele VIII-IX. Arheologia

Moldovei 31, 2008, p. 119-162.

Popescu 1962

D. P, Săpăturile arheologice dinRepublica Populară Romînă în anul 1961. Studii

şi Cercetări de Istorie Veche şi Arheologie 13 (1),1962, p. 201-215.

B


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Popescu 1963D. P, Săpăturile arheologice din

Republica Populară Romînă în anul 1962. Studii

şi Cercetări de Istorie Veche şi Arheologie 14/2,1963, p. 451-466.


Republica Populară Romînă în anul 1963. Studiişi Cercetări de Istorie Veche şi Arheologie 15/4,1964, p. 551-567.


Republica Socialistă România în anul 1964.Studii şi Cercetări de Istorie Veche şi Arheologie 16/3, 1965, p. 587-605.

RIC

H. M, E. A. S, C. H. V.S, R. A. G. C (ed.), Te RomanImperial Coinage, London, 1923-ongoing.

RPC IV

Chr. H V. H (ed.), RomanProvincial Coinage IV . Te Antonines (AD 138-192), online database: http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/ (consulté le 11 octobre 2015).

Rusu 1962M. R, Te preeudal cemetery o Noşlac

(VIth-VIIth centuries), Dacia. N.S. 6, 1962, p. 69-292.

Rusu 1964M. R, Cimitirul preeudal de la Noşlac.

Probleme de Muzeografie. Cluj, 1964.

Travaini 2004L. , Saints and Sinners Coins in

Medieval Italian Graves. NC 164, 2004, p. 159-181.

White 1988R . W, Roman and Celtic objects rom

Anglo-Saxon graves. A catalogue and aninterpretation o their use. BAR BS 191, Oxord,1988.

L F

Fig. 1 ‒ Te location o the locality oNoșlac (Google Earth).

Fig. 2 ‒ Te location o the early medievalnecropolis rom Noșlac (based on GoogleEarth).

Fig. 3 ‒ Grave 29 : 1. Plated denarius ,Hadrianus or Sabina ; a. spearhead,iron ; b. ragments o ribbings, iron ;c. sword blade, iron.

Fig. 4 ‒ Grave 41 : 2. As , Antoninus Pius ;a. sword blade, iron ; b ragments oknives’ blades, iron.

Fig. 5 ‒ Grave 58 : 3. Platedantoninianus , Gordianus III ; a. swordblade, iron ; b. unidentified ragments o

iron.

Fig. 6 ‒ Grave 102 : 5-7. Denarii , silver :Nero, Vitellius, M. Aurelius (ancient

ake) ; a-b. spearheads, iron ; c-e. strap-ends ; -i, hair clips, bronze.


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Fig. 2

Fig. 1


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Fig. 3

1

a b

c


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Fig. 4

2

a b


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Fig. 5

3

a b


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Fig. 6

5 6 7

a b c

d

e

f g h i


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THE JOURNAL OF ARCHÆOLOGICAL NUMISMATICS

VOLUME 4–2014

TAB LE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLES

Vincent G

De Vieille-Toulouse à Tolosa : le grand déménagement des années

10-5 av. J.-C.1

Jean-Patrick D, Hélène D & Guillaume F

avec la collaboration de Julie D

Le trésor monétaire de Bierne-Socx (Nord, France) : un dépôt de bronzes

du Haut-Empire découvert en contexte archéologique 27

ibault C* & Frédéric L

Les sous des soldats de Napoléon au camp de Boulogne (1803-1805). Étudedes monnaies issues des fouilles des camps napoléoniens d’Étaples-sur-Meret Camiers (Pas-de-Calais, France) 67

NOTICES

Henri P

Numismatics and statistics: impact of sample size on 95% confidenceintervals for mean values 177

Cristian G, Călin C

Social memory and statute. Roman coins in medieval graves fromthe necropolis Noşlac, Romania 182

REVIEWS

Michael A & Franziska S-D (éd.) – NumismaticaCarnuntina. Foschungen und Material (Jean-Marc D) 193

Richard H – Currency and exchange in ancient Pompeii. Coins fromthe AAPP excavations at Regio VI, Insula I (Stéphane M) 200

Sophia K-S – Multiples concealments fromthe sanctuary of Zeus Olympios at Dion. ree Roman provincial coin hoards (Jean-Marc D) 204

Jérémie C – Les fouilles de la cathédrale de Rouen (1985-1993) sousla direction de Jacques Le Maho. Tome 1. Le numéraire antique (Jean-MarcD) 209

Vicki S (dir.) – Hoards, hounds and helmets. A conquest-period ritualsite at Hallaton, Leicestershire (Jean-Marc D) 216

CERCLES D’ÉTUDES NUMISMATIQUES

RÉGION DE BRUXELLES-CAPITALE – BRUSSELS HOOFDSTEDELIJK GEWEST

social memory and statute : roman coins in medieval graves from the necropolis noşlac, romania /...

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