Horia Ion Ciugudean
Muzeul National al Unirii Alba Iulia, Archaeology-Research, Department Member
- Prehistoric Archaeology, Landscape Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Bronze Age Europe (Archaeology), Late Bronze Age archaeology, and 27 moreEarly Bronze Age (Archaeology), Burial mounds (Archaeology), Eurasian Prehistory, Corded Ware Culture, Eneolithic in Central Europe, Copper age, Bronze Age metal hoards, Bronze Age of the Carpathian Basin, Hillforts and Enclosures, Copper extraction and production, Kurgans, Prehistoric salt production, Bell Beakers (Archaeology), Globular Amphora Culture, Ancient Metrology, Hoard finds, Ritual landscapes, Archaeo-Metallurgy, Romanian Archaeology, Funerary Practices, Archaeology of burials, Early Bronze Age, Archaeology of salt, Tree Ring, Dendrochronology, Climate Change, Late Bronze Age, Middle Bronze Age, and Cimmeriansedit
- Senior researcher based in Transylvania (central Romania), with extensive field and teaching experience in South-East... moreSenior researcher based in Transylvania (central Romania), with extensive field and teaching experience in South-East European praehistory, the Copper-, Bronze- and Early Iron archaeology of the Balkan-Carpathian region.edit
Research Interests: Prehistoric Archaeology, Neolithic Archaeology, Bronze Age Europe (Archaeology), Neolithic & Chalcolithic Archaeology, Late Bronze Age archaeology, and 11 moreNeolithic Europe, Eurasian Prehistory, Archaeology of the Avars, Prehistory, Early Iron Age, Bronze Age of the Carpathian Basin, Roman Architecture, Arqueología romana / Roman archeology, Archaeology Of The Migration Period And The Early Middle Ages, European Copper and Bronze Age – Archaeometallurgy – Prehistoric Metalworking in Social Context – Settlement Archaeology – Application of Geophysical Methods in Archaeology – Neolithic – Theory / Cultural Anthropology – Material Culture Studies, and Roman Archaeology
The catalogue presents nine bronze hoards discovered along the last decade in eight different sites in the Alba county.
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The exhibition catalogue presents nine bronze hoards discovered in eight different sites in Alba county along the last decade.
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Research Interests: Religion, Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Pottery, Transylvania, and 29 moreEthnicity, Archaeology of Ritual, Medieval Artefacts, Great Migration period, Habitat, Ceramica Medievale, Arheologie, Graves, Archaeology Of The Migration Period And The Early Middle Ages, Religie, History of Transylvania, Funerary Rituals, Archaeological finds, Early Medieval Transylvania, Istorie, Arheologie, Medieval graves, Transilvania, Arheologie Medievală, Archaeology of Funerary Rituals, Coin Finds As Archaeological Artefacts, Inventar Funerar, Podoabe Medievale, 9th-11th Century, Etnicitate, secolele IX-XI, Artefacte medievale, Descoperiri Arheologice, Descoperiri arheologice Transilvania, and Rit şi ritual funerar
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Technical report of the 2017 excavations in the LBA/EIA hillfort at Teleac, Romania
Research Interests: Bronze Age Europe (Archaeology), Late Bronze Age archaeology, Archaeological Geophysics, Bronze Age (Archaeology), Eurasian Prehistory, and 10 moreEarly Iron Age, Late Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, Late Bronze Age, Pottery kilns, Hillforts and Enclosures, Earth Oven, Weaving/looms, Gava culture, Votive offerings, and Ritual Practices
Recent investigations of the Teleac hillfort in south-western Transylvania have generated new data on the spatial organisation and history of the settlement. A combination of excavations and geophysical prospection reveal that Teleac was... more
Recent investigations of the Teleac hillfort in south-western Transylvania have generated new data on the spatial organisation and history of the settlement. A combination of excavations and geophysical prospection reveal that Teleac was a dense and well organised settlement with a substantial population, and that some sections of the hillfort likely were used for different activities. It is also argued that Teleac likely dominated surrounding open settlements and acted as a hub for transportation and trade through the region.
Research Interests: Settlement Patterns, Bronze Age Europe (Archaeology), Late Bronze Age archaeology, Eurasian Prehistory, Early Iron Age, and 7 moreLate Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, Spatial demography, Bronze Age of the Carpathian Basin, Hillforts and Enclosures, Hillforts and oppida, Gava culture, and Basarabi phenomenom
The Bronze Age was a period of significant socioeconomic transformation that gave rise to the first complex regional polities with institutionalized inequality in Europe. Communities in southwest Transylvania, a major source of gold,... more
The Bronze Age was a period of significant socioeconomic transformation that gave rise to the first complex regional polities with institutionalized inequality in Europe. Communities in southwest Transylvania, a major source of gold, copper, and salt, played a critical role in this transformation. This article examines how socioeconomic changes affected how people situated settlements in resource procurement zones during the Early and Middle Bronze Age (2700–1500 cal. BCE). Taking advantage of the heterogeneous distribution of natural resources across the landscape, a GIS catchment analysis of the orientation of settlements toward particular constellations of resources is presented. Our results show increased preference for access to high quality agricultural land and access to interregional trade through the Mureș River corridor over the course of the Bronze Age. Despite the increased importance of metal within Bronze Age economies, there is no evidence that Transylvanian communities placed their settlements to maximize their ability to contest or secure access to the metal ore sources in the Apuseni Mountains. The organization of settlement systems in the Bronze Age demonstrates that Transylvanian communities prioritized socioeconomic institutions beyond metal procurement. This study demonstrates that tracing how humans situate themselves in variable landscapes can provide new insights into the conditions and mechanisms of social change.
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Recent investigations of the Teleac hillfort in south-western Transylvania have generated new data on the spatial organisation and history of the settlement. A combination of excavations and geophysical prospection reveal that Teleac was... more
Recent investigations of the Teleac hillfort in south-western Transylvania have generated new data on the spatial organisation and history of the settlement. A combination of excavations and geophysical prospection reveal that Teleac was a dense and well organised settlement with a substantial population, and that some sections of the hillfort likely were used for different activities. It is also argued that Teleac likely dominated surrounding open settlements and acted as a hub for transportation and trade through the region.
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The Bronze Age was a period of significant socioeconomic transformation that gave rise to the first complex regional polities with institutionalized inequality in Europe. Communities in southwest Transylvania, a major source of gold,... more
The Bronze Age was a period of significant socioeconomic transformation that gave rise to the first complex regional polities with institutionalized inequality in Europe. Communities in southwest Transylvania, a major source of gold, copper, and salt, played a critical role in this transformation. This article examines how socioeconomic changes affected how people situated settlements in resource procurement zones during the Early and Middle Bronze Age (2700–1500 cal. BCE). Taking advantage of the heterogeneous distribution of natural resources across the landscape, a GIS catchment analysis of the orientation of settlements toward particular constellations of resources is presented. Our results show increased preference for access to high quality agricultural land and access to interregional trade through the Mureș River corridor over the course of the Bronze Age. Despite the increased importance of metal within Bronze Age economies, there is no evidence that Transylvanian communities placed their settlements to maximize their ability to contest or secure access to the metal ore sources in the Apuseni Mountains. The organization of settlement systems in the Bronze Age demonstrates that Transylvanian communities prioritized socioeconomic institutions beyond metal procurement. This study demonstrates that tracing how humans situate themselves in variable landscapes can provide new insights into the conditions and mechanisms of social change.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Political Economy, Landscape Archaeology, Economic Anthropology, and 16 moreMetalwork (Archaeology), Archaeological GIS, Bronze Age Europe (Archaeology), Mining, Transylvania, Remote sensing and GIS applications in Landscape Research, Archaeometallurgy, Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Ancient Trade & Commerce (Archaeology), Middle Bronze Age, GIS and Landscape Archaeology, Romania, Bronze Age of the Carpathian Basin, Inequality, Site Catchment Analysis, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Research Interests: Bronze Age Europe (Archaeology), Bronze Age Archaeology, Late Bronze Age archaeology, Bronze Age (Archaeology), Middle Bronze Age, and 11 moreBronze Age, Bronze Age of the Carpathian Basin, Noua Culture, Wietenberg Culture, Late Bronze Age, Middle and Late Bronze Age, Radiocarbon Dating (Archaeology), History of Transylvania, Costişa, Monteoru, Wietenberg, Wietenberg, and Cultura Wietenberg
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The study presents a bronze hoard accidentaly found in 2011 at Lopadea Noua, Alba county. It consists of 18 socketed axes, 2 sickles and an ingot.
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The paper presents a history of research regarding the bronze hoards discovered in the Alba County. Their distribution in space and time is analyzed too, with a special attention paid to the deposition of bronzes in the salt mining areas.... more
The paper presents a history of research regarding the bronze hoards discovered in the Alba County. Their distribution in space and time is analyzed too, with a special attention paid to the deposition of bronzes in the salt mining areas. The author propose a new type of deposition, respectively the one connected to a mining area. No less than seven hoards, comprising more than 2,5 tones of metal, have been found in an area of less than 40 km2 around the salt mine at Ocna Mureş. Finally, there are some remarks on the metallurgical activity in the area of the Alba county, better illustrated by the tools discovered in the Late Bronze Age site at Teleac and Alba Iulia.
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The study presents the discovery of two bronze depositions at Panade, Alba County.
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The study presents the main evidences that support the existance of contacts between the Globular Amphora Culture (GAC) and the Coţofeni communities during their phase III of evolution. Together with certain ceramic decoration patterns,... more
The study presents the main evidences that support the
existance of contacts between the Globular Amphora Culture (GAC) and the Coţofeni communities during their phase III of evolution. Together with certain ceramic decoration patterns, radiocarbon dates are also a good argument in support of this thesis. The Coţofeni culture abandoned the south-est of Transylvania by the end of phase II, which might be one direct consequence of the GAC groups arrival.
existance of contacts between the Globular Amphora Culture (GAC) and the Coţofeni communities during their phase III of evolution. Together with certain ceramic decoration patterns, radiocarbon dates are also a good argument in support of this thesis. The Coţofeni culture abandoned the south-est of Transylvania by the end of phase II, which might be one direct consequence of the GAC groups arrival.
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Burial mounds are a widespread phenomenon in Early Bronze Age Europe. They are also one of the characteristics of the Early Bronze Age burial ritual in Transylvania and are associated with the socalled Livezile Group. In the framework of... more
Burial mounds are a widespread phenomenon in Early Bronze Age Europe. They are also one of the characteristics of the Early Bronze Age burial ritual in Transylvania and are associated with the socalled Livezile Group. In the framework of a large-scale study focussing on the investigation of mobility patterns of the Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age communities of the West Eurasian steppes1 a series of pilot studies were undertaken in the steppe-like environments of eastern Europe. One such pilot study investigated Early Bronze Age burials on the Great Hungarian Plain associated with foreign burial elements that point towards cultural connections to the southeast and east. Inter alia the results of the isotope analysis of the present pilot study were obtained in order to potentially verify the conclusions
based on previously obtained data from the Great Hungarian Plain.
Six human individuals from four Transylvanian sites were selected for 87Sr/86Sr and δ18O isotopic analyses. Although the data set is far too small to gain answers on a statistically significant basis, a number of conclusions can be suggested. It is likely that the consistency in the isotope data is the result of the mixture of 87Sr/86Sr and δ18O values of uplands and lowlands, which may point towards relatively restricted movement patterns rather than wide-ranging mobility or migration.
based on previously obtained data from the Great Hungarian Plain.
Six human individuals from four Transylvanian sites were selected for 87Sr/86Sr and δ18O isotopic analyses. Although the data set is far too small to gain answers on a statistically significant basis, a number of conclusions can be suggested. It is likely that the consistency in the isotope data is the result of the mixture of 87Sr/86Sr and δ18O values of uplands and lowlands, which may point towards relatively restricted movement patterns rather than wide-ranging mobility or migration.
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The rhombic section rings from Cugir are part of a widely spread group of gold artifacts that have been found either in hoards or isolated throughout the Central and Western Transylvania, as well as Banat and North-Eastern Hungary, within... more
The rhombic section rings from Cugir are part of a widely spread group of gold artifacts that have been found either in hoards or isolated throughout the Central and Western Transylvania, as well as Banat and North-Eastern Hungary, within a clearly delimited area. The weight analysis of the ring ingots from Cugir confirms and consolidates the results previously obtained in several reference studies of gold artifacts from Late Bronze hoards from Central and South-Eastern Europe.
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The subject of the study is a bronze socketed axe recently found by speleologists in the cave called “Huda lui Papara”, in the Trascau Mountains of Western Carpathians. It was placed in a niche of the rock, located at 10 meters from the... more
The subject of the study is a bronze socketed axe recently found by speleologists in the cave called “Huda lui Papara”, in the Trascau Mountains of Western Carpathians. It was placed in
a niche of the rock, located at 10 meters from the entrance and 20 meters high from the river level. The socketed axe may be roughly dated in Bz D – Ha A period and it has close parallels in the Uriu-Domanesti and Cincu-Suseni hoard horizons.
a niche of the rock, located at 10 meters from the entrance and 20 meters high from the river level. The socketed axe may be roughly dated in Bz D – Ha A period and it has close parallels in the Uriu-Domanesti and Cincu-Suseni hoard horizons.
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The first part of this study debates the possibility of existence of pre-Roman mines discussing some stone tools which belong typologically to the category “Rillenschlägel” or “Grooved hammer-stones.” Such hammer stones were discovered in... more
The first part of this study debates the possibility of existence of pre-Roman mines discussing some stone tools which belong typologically to the category “Rillenschlägel” or “Grooved hammer-stones.” Such hammer stones were discovered in Transylvania at Caraciu (Hunedoara County) and in the prehistoric settlement from Petresti (Alba County). Another possible evidence of pre-Roman mining exploitations is offered by the early salt exploitations from Valea Florilor (Cluj County), so far considered to belong to the Dacian period. The 14C date for one of the wooden tools surprisingly belongs to the later Bronze Age (13th century B.C.). A similar date is proposed for the wooden objects found out in 1817 in Valea Regilor, in Maramures. Only one image of these objects was published. The objects preserved in the National Museum of Geology from Budapest disappeared during the World War II.
The study also presents a number of 14C dates concerning gold mining in Roman Dacia. We discuss the date (2000+60 BP) given for a hydraulic wheel hub from Ruda-Brad (Hunedoara County), which can be dated cal. 1 σ (68 %) between 75 BC - 45 AD and cal. 2 σ (95 %) between 150 BC-130 BC. Two other dates concern the gold exploitations from Rosia Montană, being collected from Păru-Carpeni and Orlea areas. A sample of a wooden ladder from Păru-Carpeni gave the date 1860+60 BP, which was calibrated 1 σ (68 %) between 90-240 AD and cal. 2 σ (95%) between 20-245 AD.
The study also presents a number of 14C dates concerning gold mining in Roman Dacia. We discuss the date (2000+60 BP) given for a hydraulic wheel hub from Ruda-Brad (Hunedoara County), which can be dated cal. 1 σ (68 %) between 75 BC - 45 AD and cal. 2 σ (95 %) between 150 BC-130 BC. Two other dates concern the gold exploitations from Rosia Montană, being collected from Păru-Carpeni and Orlea areas. A sample of a wooden ladder from Păru-Carpeni gave the date 1860+60 BP, which was calibrated 1 σ (68 %) between 90-240 AD and cal. 2 σ (95%) between 20-245 AD.
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Research Interests: Copper extraction and production, Copper age, Eneolithic in Central Europe, and European Copper and Bronze Age – Archaeometallurgy – Prehistoric Metalworking in Social Context – Settlement Archaeology – Application of Geophysical Methods in Archaeology – Neolithic – Theory / Cultural Anthropology – Material Culture Studies
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"The paper presents new bronze objects acquired lately by the museum of Alba Iulia. First, there are two bronze socketed axes from the area of Oradea, which definitely form together a small hoard (Oradea II). They may be dated to Ha B... more
"The paper presents new bronze objects acquired lately by the museum of Alba Iulia. First, there are two bronze socketed axes from the area of Oradea, which definitely form together a small hoard (Oradea II). They may be dated to Ha B time and present close parallels to another small hoard from north-western Romania (Dragu II). Secondly, there is a bronze spearhead found in the area of Seusa village (Alba district). Part of the wood handle has been preserved inside the socket, which is quite unique on the Romanian territory. The spearhead belong to a common type and it could be dated in the Ha A2 – Ha B period.
A special disscussion is dedicated to the intentionally deteriorated blade of the two socketed axes, a well-known and long-time disscused feature in the Late Bronze Age hoards from
central and South-East Europe. The blade of one of the socketed axes from Oradea area has clear cuts with a narrow metalic blade, probably a chisel.
A special disscussion is dedicated to the intentionally deteriorated blade of the two socketed axes, a well-known and long-time disscused feature in the Late Bronze Age hoards from
central and South-East Europe. The blade of one of the socketed axes from Oradea area has clear cuts with a narrow metalic blade, probably a chisel.
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The paper is presenting a new site, located in the western part of Transylvania, which came out by chance, during the works for a new road. Most of the site was destroyed, but the pottery found is typical for the Livezile group, which... more
The paper is presenting a new site, located in the western part of Transylvania, which came out by chance, during the works for a new road. Most of the site was destroyed, but the pottery found is typical for the Livezile group, which marks the beginning of the Early Bronze Age in this area.
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"The study is presenting two stone objects belonging to the archaeological collection of Muzeul Naţional al Unirii in Alba Iulia. The first object is a zoomorphic sceptre discovered in a sand quarry, near the railway station of Vinţu de... more
"The study is presenting two stone objects belonging to the archaeological collection of Muzeul Naţional al Unirii in Alba Iulia. The first object is a zoomorphic sceptre discovered in a sand quarry, near the railway station of Vinţu de Jos (fig.I). It has good parallels in the North-Pontic region (Suvorovo), as well as
in Moldavia (Fedeleseni. Fitioneşti). Dobrudja (Casimcea) or Macedonia (Suvodol). The sceptre from Vinţu de Jos is the first of this type in the Transylvanian region and could be dated in the Eneolithic period.
Thesecond find is a stone macehead with four knobs (fig.2), discovered by chance in the village of Şard (com Ighiu. jud. Alba), during the excavation of a fountain. It could belong to a grave of Decea Mureşului type.
Both objects represent Eastern elements from the North-Pontic steppic area, which penetrated inside the Carpathian Basin during the Eneolithic period."
in Moldavia (Fedeleseni. Fitioneşti). Dobrudja (Casimcea) or Macedonia (Suvodol). The sceptre from Vinţu de Jos is the first of this type in the Transylvanian region and could be dated in the Eneolithic period.
Thesecond find is a stone macehead with four knobs (fig.2), discovered by chance in the village of Şard (com Ighiu. jud. Alba), during the excavation of a fountain. It could belong to a grave of Decea Mureşului type.
Both objects represent Eastern elements from the North-Pontic steppic area, which penetrated inside the Carpathian Basin during the Eneolithic period."
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Research Interests: Eurasian Nomads, Bronze Age Europe (Archaeology), Acculturation, Late Bronze Age archaeology, Eurasian Prehistory, and 8 moreLate Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, Bow and Arrow Technology, Bronze Age of the Carpathian Basin, Late Bronze Age, Hillforts and Enclosures, Archaeology of the Eurasian steppe belt, Gava culture, and Cimmerians, Herodotus, Scythians, Pontic area, Black Sea area, Caucaaus, Near East, Anatolia, nomads, steppe peoples
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The aim of this presentation is to discuss the “High-status” burials found in the Transylvania region and dated to the first half of the 3rd millennium BC. They show similar patterns in terms of burial rite and grave architecture with... more
The aim of this presentation is to discuss the “High-status” burials found in the Transylvania region and dated to the first half of the 3rd millennium BC. They show similar patterns in terms of burial rite and grave architecture with several other graves in the Balkan area. In terms of its inventory, the high-status grave-goods exhibit many particular patterns, rooted in the Late Copper/Early Bronze Age traditions of Central and Eastern European societies. Some of the most remarkable burial contexts are highlighted to emphasize their significance in future research of the social structure of inner-Carpathian EBA groups.
The lack of the weapons (battle-axes or daggers) in male graves of the Transylvanian EBA barrows might indicate a different ideal than the warrior one. Common throughout the Carpathian Late Copper/EBA world, the copper spectacle-shaped pendant was not only a jewelry, but a symbol of a person’s status and standing in society. I consider it the most characteristic prestige-good item in the EBA tumulus-burials of Western Transylvania. The presence of gold ornaments in the Ampoita barrow is a strong evidence for the connections towards the princely graves of the Adriatic shore and even further to the Ionian islands. This might support the existence of trade networks and/or social contacts between the high rank individuals.
The lack of the weapons (battle-axes or daggers) in male graves of the Transylvanian EBA barrows might indicate a different ideal than the warrior one. Common throughout the Carpathian Late Copper/EBA world, the copper spectacle-shaped pendant was not only a jewelry, but a symbol of a person’s status and standing in society. I consider it the most characteristic prestige-good item in the EBA tumulus-burials of Western Transylvania. The presence of gold ornaments in the Ampoita barrow is a strong evidence for the connections towards the princely graves of the Adriatic shore and even further to the Ionian islands. This might support the existence of trade networks and/or social contacts between the high rank individuals.
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Copper and gold resources from Southwestern Transylvania played a critical role in the emergence of inequality in European Late Prehistory. Communities in this metal-rich landscape, however, remain poorly understood. Though the highly... more
Copper and gold resources from Southwestern Transylvania played a critical role in the emergence of inequality in European Late Prehistory. Communities in this metal-rich landscape, however, remain poorly understood. Though the highly visible tombs in the Apuseni Mountains where these communities buried some of their dead have been known to local archaeologists for decades, very little is known about the backdrop of health and disease in the region. Here, we present one of the first bioarchaeological analyses of skeletal and dental health for the Apuseni Early Bronze Age, focusing on a sample of human remains that incorporates individuals of both sexes and a range of ages, from very young children to older adults. Our results show relatively low levels of skeletal pathology, with age-related insults such as osteoarthritis predominating. In contrast, dental insults were more common and included caries, calculus, alveolar resorption, and abscesses. We present several case-studies of older individuals affected with particularly severe combinations of dental insults, and discuss the dietary and behavioral implications of handling such pathologies, at both the level of the individual and the community.