ACADEMIA ROMN

INSTITUTUL DE ARHEOLOGIE I ISTORIA ARTEI

EPHEMERIS
NAPOCENSIS
XXVI
2016

EDITURA ACADEMIEI ROMNE

SUMAR SOMMAIRE CONTENTS INHALT

STUDIES
VITALIE BRC
The Dating of the Sarmatian Grave at Snnicolau Mare Selite (Timi County,
Romania) and the Problem of the Early Sarmatian Entry and Settlement of
the Pannonian Plain 7
LAVINIA GRUMEZA
Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat, Between the End
of the 3rd Beginning of the 5th Century AD 67
C.H.OPREANU, V.-A.LZRESCU
The Evolution of the Civilian Settlement at Porolissum in the Light of the
New Research 107
IOAN STANCIU, CORNELIU BELDIMAN, DIANA-MARIA SZTANCS,
CORALIA DORINA BONTA
Economic and Everyday Life Facets in an Early Medieval Settlement from
North-Western Transylvania, Reflected by the Bone Artefacts 121

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND EPIGRAPHICAL NOTES

COSMIN ONOFREI
Publius Aelius Theimes from Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa 201
CLIN COSMA
Avar Warriors in North-West Romania during the 7th8th Centuries.
Notes on the Political Status of North-West Romania during the 7th8th Centuries 205
IURIE STAMATI
Long Live Romanian Soviet Friendship! An Exploration of the Relationship Between
Archaeologists from USSR and the Peoples/Socialist Republic of Romania 235

REVIEWS
Mugur Andronic, Istoria Bucovinei. Vol. II.n epoca marilor migraii i pn la ncheierea formrii
Moldovei medievale [The History of Bukovina. Vol. 2. In the Era of the Great Migrations and until
the End of the Foundation of Medieval Moldavia]. Societatea Cultural tefan cel Mare. Pagini
din Istoria i Cultura Bucovinei XIII (Suceava 2014), 465 p. (Ioan Stanciu)............................... 253
Coriolan Horaiu Opreanu, Vlad Lzrescu, A Roman frontier marketplace at Porolissum in the
light of numismatic evidence. Contribution to the knowledge of the Roman limes economy. Corpus
Limitis Imperii Romani. Dacia Porolissensis (I): Porolissum. Porolissum MonographsI). Editura
mega-Editura Caiete Silvane (Cluj-Napoca/Zalu 2015), 178 p. + 32 pl. (Florin Fodorean)....... 261

Simona Scarcella (Ed.), Archaeological Ceramics: A Review of Current Research [BAR International
Series 2193] (Oxford 2011), 175 pages and 144 figures (Vlad-Andrei Lzrescu)....................... 265
Florin Fodorean, The Topography and the Landscape of Roman Dacia, BAR International Series
2501, (Oxford, 2013), 147 p. (Dan Deac)................................................................................. 271

POST ROMAN AND SARMATIAN POTTERY WORKSHOPS

IN BANAT, BETWEEN THE END OF THE 3RD
BEGINNING OF THE 5TH CENTURY AD*
Lavinia Grumeza1

Abstract: During the late-Roman and post-Roman periods the pottery assemblages from centres of the
western limes display an extremely varied local production combined with a very low proportion of imports.
The inhabitants of Tibiscum, Mehadia or Dierna, whether Roman or not, still engaged in a Roman
lifestyle reflected by the material culture, namely the pottery. There is a clear preference on their side for
high quality red ware, as opposed to their Sarmatians neighbours, who produced and used grey colored
pottery with burnished decoration, adopting only the Roman shapes. In the period, the Barbarians also
earned economic independence, many pottery workshops being known in east and south of Banat, at Vrac
Crvenka, GrdinariSelite, TimioaraFreidorf, Panevo, Dolovo, TimioaraDragaina, Hodoni,
Panevo, Dolovo, Izvin and Jabuca. From then date also the most numerous and extended Sarmatian
settlements in the area, such late habitat clustering especially in south Banat.
Keywords: Sarmatian, Roman, pottery, workshop, Banat

1. State of research2
The problem of late-Roman (AD 225271) and post-Roman (AD 271375) pottery from
Dacia was rarely addressed in the archaeological literature from Romania, studies emphasizing
instead the pottery production centers situated along the Danube and the Black Sea coast still
under direct Roman rule, such as: Dierna3, Mehadia4, Gornea5, Halmyris6, Sucidava, Troesmis
and Noviodunum7. This shortcoming is partially the result of difficulties entailed in the dating
of the late phases of Roman rule / Roman presence within the sites north of the Danube.
On the other hand, the pottery from the Sarmatian Barbaricum in the Banat region
during the same period was the subject of numerous studies, often driven by nationalistic
Acknowledgements: This work was cofinaced from the European Social Fund through Sectoral Operational
Programme Human Resources Development 2007

2013, project number POSDRU/159/1.5/S/140863,

Competitive Researchers in Europe in the Field of Humanities and Socio-Economic Sciences. A Multi-regional
Research Network (West University of Timioara).
1
The West University of Timioara, Blvd. V.Parvan 4, 300223, Timioara, Timi County, RO; email: lavinia_
grumeza@yahoo.com.
2
We are grateful to Prof. P.Kenrick, O.Bozu and R.Gindele for their observations and bibliographical
suggestions.
3
BENEA 1976.
4
BENEA 2005.
5
GUDEA 1977.
6
TOPOLEANU 2000.
7
OPAI 2004.
*

Ephemeris Napocensis, XXVI, 2016, p. 67106

68

Lavinia Grumeza

ambitions, which set out to prove that the entire Banat region was an integral part of Roman
Dacia during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.Furthermore, according to the same narrative, the
region was maintained even in later periods within the sphere of influence of the Empire, as it
was allegedly home to a consistent Romanized population.
The region under scrutiny, known from the 18th century onward under the name of Banat,
is today divided between three states: Romania, Serbia and Hungary. The geographical borders
of the region are: the Mure River in the north, the Tisa River in the west, the Danube in the
south, and the Carpathian Mountains, between the Zam gorge and the springs of the Cerna
River, to the east. The current administrative division has determined the ethnic ascription of
archaeological finds from the period between the 2nd and 5th centuries AD in all three involved
countries. Natalija Simovljevi was the first to suggest that future archaeological interpretation
should be based on the geographic aspects of the region. First of all the region as a whole
should not be viewed as a single entity, a clear-cut distinction should be made between the
lowlands, part of the Great Hungarian Plain and characterized by a steppe-like environment and
the eastern mountainous woodland, constituent of the Carpathian mountain range. From an
archaeological standpoint, the western part is dominated by Sarmatian sites (both settlements
and cemeteries), while the eastern side shows signs of intense Roman habitation8.
Starting with the 80s the excavation and publication of the 3rd4th centuries AD sites
from the Banat Lowlands (Hodoni9, TimioaraFreidorf10, GrdinariSlite11, Moldova
VecheVinograda-Vlakicrai12, TimioaraCioreni, Greoni, Gtaia13, FoeniSlite14 etc.) was
commenced. As a result of the investigations, the sites were unanimously interpreted as rural
settlements of the native Daco-Roman population. The so-called Daco-Roman environment is
characterized by a synthesis of the Roman material culture and specific elements adopted from
the Dacian environment15. The fact that primarily drew attention to the sites was the discovery
in their vicinity of characteristic archaeological material, especially fragments of grey pottery16.
To the present day over 400 spots with this sort of Daco-Roman discoveries can be pinpointed
throughout the Banat Lowlands17.
The majority of these sites have not benefited from an objective assessment, moreover no
attempt has been made to draw any parallels with the archaeological record of the western Banat
area18. The main concept behind this interpretation was that the habitat of the Banat Lowlands
is optimal for a settled indigenous population, and less suitable for nomadic Sarmatian commu
nities comprised of cattle and horses breeders. It is obvious that the passage from Ammianus
Marcellinus, in which the Sarmatians were presented as a nomadic population, was adopted
8
ORDEVI 1996, 42. The author presents a synthesis of the PhD thesis by Natalija Simovljevi (Banat u
doba rimskog Oastva), hitherto unpublished. N.Simovljevi has published however the Sarmatian cemetery from
VracCrvenka along with other similar discoveries form this area, see SIMOVLJEVI 1957.
9
BEJAN 1981A; BEJAN 1981B; BEJAN 1983; BEJAN 1995; BEJAN/BENEA 1985.
10
BENEA1996.
11
BOZU 1990.
12
BOZU/EL SUSI 1987.
13
BENEA 1996A, 121122.
14
SZENTMIKLOSI/TIMOC 2005; TIMOC/SZENTMIKLOSI 2008.
15
BENEA1996A, 114.
16
BENEA 1996A, 114.
17
GUDEA/MOU 1983, 199200; BEJAN 1995; BENEA 1996A; BEJAN 1998; MARE 2004; MICLE
2008 (selective bibliography).
18
D.Benea has pointed out that similar sites in Serbia and Hungary dated to the same period were ascribed
to the Sarmatian population. According to the same author the difficulties of ethnic ascription in this case are due
to the fact that no Sarmatian or indeed no Daco-Roman rural settlement has ever been completely researched, see
BENEA 1996A, 115.

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

69

uncritically by Romanian researchers19. As late as 2009 the only Sarmatian settlement acknowl
edged in the Romanian part of the Banat is the one from FoeniSelite, in Timi County, due
to the presence of an unmistakable Sarmatian cemetery20.

2. The chronology
The period between the end of the 3rd and middle of the 5th century AD (phases C2D2
according to the Central European chronology) is divided into three phases according to the
system devised by A.Vaday. The first two phases last until the arrival of the Huns and are charac
terized by the influx of new waves of Iranian and Germanic populations, while the third phase
is marked by the Hun invasion and the shift in the balance of power which ensued, admittedly
the Sarmatian population continuing to live under Hun sovereignty21.
The current state of research indicates that the Sarmatian archaeological remains from
Banat can only be ascribed to two chronologically distinct periods:
III.1. Last quarter of the 3rd century last third of the 4th century AD;
III.2. Last third of the 4th century beginning of the 5th century AD22.
The advance of the Goths caused the dislocation of numerous Sarmatian tribes at the end
of the 3rd century AD, the majority settling in Baka and Banat23. These population movements
were primarily triggered by the withdrawal of the Roman administration from Dacia and the
reorganization of the South-Danubian provinces. These consistent groups of new arrivals often
settled in strategic areas situated between the Mure and Aranca Rivers, mainly in Southern
Banat. Between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD this area was peripheral for the Sarmatian popula
tions, however from the end of the 3rd century AD onward it became densely populated.
During this period the Sarmatian population achieved economic independence as suggested
by the numerous pottery workshops from Southern and Eastern Banat: VracCrvenka24,
GrdinariSelite25, Timioara Freidorf26, TimioaraDragaina, Hodoni27, Panevo, Dolovo28,
Izvin i Jabuca29 (Pl.1/1). This period can be associated with a general growth in the number
and size of settlements in the area30, concentrated mainly in Southern Banat.
The only site in the area integrated in the chronology of late-Roman or post-Roman Dacia
is Tibiscum (Benea phase IV: mid3rd 4th century AD = Arde phase IV A: 211271 and IVB:
271335 AD)31. The former Roman centers benefited from an extensive tradition in pottery
production, indeed workshops are known throughout the province in both rural and urban
environments during the course of Roman rule32.
AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS XXVI, 2; see BENEA 2013, 114.
MUSCALU 2009, 103. The cited example by the author is not a suitable option considering that we are
dealing with two different sites: FoeniSelite (a Sarmatian period settlement) and FoeniCimitirul Ortodox
(Sarmatian period cemetery), the distance between the two sites is about 3 km, see GRUMEZA 2011, Pl.I/2.
21
VADAY 1989, 208210; VADAY 1994, 105.
22
S.Trifunovi identified two, approximately identical phases within the late Sarmatian settlements from the
Serbian Banat: period I, end of the 3rd mid 4th century AD; period II, mid/late 4th early 5th century AD, see
TRIFUNOVI 2000, 82.
23
VADAY 2003, 266.
24
RAAJSKI 1957, 39.
25
BOZU 1990.
26
MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 11, 4849.
27
BENEA 1996A, 173174.
28
RAAJSKI 1957, 43.
29
BENEA 1996A, 173174.
30
IVANIEVI/BUGARSKI 2008, 39.
31
BENEA 1996A, 126; BENEA 2000, 435; ARDE 2009B, 22.
32
RUSU-BOLINDE 2011.
19
20

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Lavinia Grumeza

The arguments for the late dating of the pottery kilns (late3rd 4th century AD) are
manifold: the presence of Roman coins dated to the period between the end of the 3rd and the
4th century AD, furthermore the use of recycled building material for the construction of the
kilns often placed within buildings originally in use during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.The
pottery material is not suitable for absolute dating, displaying by and large the same formal,
technological, functional and decorative features as regular Roman provincial wares.

3. Imports
The imported pottery fine-wares are quite rare since the supply of Sarmatian sites was
largely achieved through local production. One can also note the extreme paucity or complete
absence of bronze and silver vessels, amphorae, terracotta objects and lamps33. Amphorae and
pottery lamps have been reported within the Sarmatian Barbaricum, mostly in the vicinity of
the main river crossings34. Unfortunately in most cases the archaeological context is unknown,
therefore it is impossible to assess whether we are dealing with a Sarmatian site (settlement or
cemetery) or simply with the lost belongings of Roman soldiers formerly stationed north of the
Danube in the Barbaricum.
Terra sigillata vessels make up the largest share of imports from the Roman Empire. Within
the funerary finds from Banat a single complete vessel was reported along with a number of
fragments (grave 2 from jszentivnIvn tglagyr, grave 72 from KiszomborB, grave 1 from
SzegedSzreg imitation of terra sigillata vessel, Pl.2/612).
Besides these vessels and vessel fragments from funerary contexts, further terra sigillata
finds, consisting mostly from Drag. 37 fragments, are known from: Deta, Kovaicaapa,
Kuvin, Banatska Palanka, Panevo, Vrac, ZrenjaninBatka35, Dolovo, Delibata, Perlez, Aradac,
Boto, Boar36. The abovementioned sites are all located in Banat and are dated to the Roman
period, however the contexts of discovery are unknown37.
Instances of terra sigillata are known in the Sarmatian settlements from TimioaraCioreni,
Hodoni, Iecea Mic, TimioaraFreidorf, Satchinez, Criciova, Becicherecul Mic38, Foeni
Selite39, while amphorae fragments were reported in the case of: TimioaraCioreni, Iecea Mic,
TimioaraFreidorf, Satchinez, Biled40. Unfortunately, because of the fragmentary state of the
material, especially in the case of the amphorae, a chronological classification is impossible at
this stage, indeed the finds are most often elusively dated to the period encompassed by the 1st
4th centuries AD41. The only available data in this regard is that the contexts containing terra
sigillata finds from TimioaraFreidorf, are dated between the 3rd and the 4th centuries AD42
(more likely in the 3rd century AD).
In the case of Tibiscum, an important Roman and post-Roman centre, it was found that
the proportion of pottery imports is extremely low. Indeed, only 7% of the total amount of
33
This is due to the fact that during the early period of the Principate, its commercial relations with the
Sarmatians were very weak. The main target for Roman export at that time was the Germanic territory of Maroboduus
and later that of Vannius, see GABLER 1968, 242; GABLER 1975, 92, 105.
34
VADAY 2005, 13.
35
GABLER/VADAY 1986, 14, 21, 2324, 3031.
36
GABLER 1975, Abb.1; BRUCKNER 1990, 203205.
37
Further imports of Roman pottery goods are known from the Serbian side of the Banat (amphorae, jugs,
beakers, brick-red bowls and terra sigillata imitations). In this case too, the discovery contexts are uncertain, see
BRUCKNER 1990, T.34. 7.
38
BENEA/BEJAN 1992, 253.
39
TIMOC/SZENTMIKLOSI 2008, 134, Pl.XV.
40
BENEA/BEJAN 1992, 253.
41
BENEA 1996A, 123.
42
MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 5253.

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

71

imports come from the late phase of the site, these consist of: terra sigillata, amphorae, glazed
pottery and stamped white pottery (Pl.2/15). The rest of the imports (93%) come from the
early periods of the site (2nd century AD).
Glazed pottery is almost absent from Tibiscum even during the earlier periods of
the site, apart from a few fragments with barbotine decoration and a plate with the stamp:
CRISPIN(us)43. Only a handful of glazed bowl fragments with relief decoration both on the
inner and outer surface, are known from the late periods. The category of late amphorae is
represented by the type Dressel 24 similis, in use starting with the mid-3rd century AD44, but
discovered in Tibiscum in a context dated to the 4th century AD45. According to A.Arde an
amphora fragment belonging to the type Carthage LRA 4, dated to the period of the 3rd4th
centuriesAD, was discovered in Tibiscum-Iaz46. The type known as Dressel 24 or Dressel 24
similis is the most well represented in Tibiscum, the discoveries spanning from the rule of
Hadrian, down to the post-Roman period47. Also worth mentioning is the discovery in a postRoman context of an amphora belonging to the type Opai 2, in TibiscumJupa48. These discov
eries indicate vivid commercial activities oriented especially to the East which started from the
Severan period and continued probably until the 4th century AD.
In the case of further late-Roman / post-Roman centers considered here (Dierna, Mehadia)
no late imports are known.

4. The pottery production of the late-Roman / post-Roman centers of Banat

The late Roman pottery production centers situated in the western part of the former
Dacian province: Dierna, Mehadia and Tibiscum, are known for their mostly high quality red
pottery produced according to the tradition of the 2nd and 3rd century provincial wares49.
The auxiliary fort from Mehadia (Ad Mediam? Praetorium?), during the late Roman period
exhibits a number of specific constructions situated in the central area of the fort, among which
there is also a pottery workshop dated to the 4th century AD50. The workshops consisted of two
kilns and a levigation basin. The basin was produced from recycled Roman building material
while the kilns belong to the type with a central pillar and additional rectangular bricks placed
on the floor between the pillar and the walls of the kiln (type Henning A, Pl.3/1)51. The kilns
were constructed with reused Roman building material. D.Benea provided numerous analogies
for these types of kilns from Moesia Inferior (during the 2nd 3rd centuries AD) and Dacia
Ripensis (during the 4th century AD)52.
The products of the centre at Mehadia consisted mostly of fine and semi-fine wheel-thrown
red wares, occasionally color-coated, with abundant mica in the composition and occasional
cut-glass decoration. The proportion of grey wares within the assemblages is quite low, while the
handmade pottery is entirely absent53. From a functional point of view the material is composed
of: dolia, of quite considerable dimensions (H = 90 cm, D = 5060 cm), flagons with trefoil
mouth, pots belonging to four distinct types characteristic for the Lower Danube area, as well


45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

43
44

BENEA1996A, 133.
OPAI 2007, 630632.
ARDE 2009A, 200.
ARDE 2009B, 137, 342, pl.XXXIV.
BENEA 2000, 437438.
BENEA 2000, 437, Fig.1/5.
BENEA 2007, 818.
BENEA 2005, 307.
The kiln typology employed was adopted from HENNING 1977.
BENEA 2005, 308.
BENEA 2005, 309, 313.

72

Lavinia Grumeza

as platters displaying typical 2nd3rd century AD forms. Consequently it can be said that the
local pottery production is based exclusively on Roman types, although the typological variety
is lower (Pl.3/212)54.
The site of Tibiscum is located today on the territory of two villages, Jupa and Iaz (both
in Cara-Severin County) separated by the Timi River. The military forts and urban settlement
of Tibiscum was situated on the western border of Roman Dacia, being an important defensive
and commercial centre of the province. The withdrawal of the Roman administration during
the reign of Aurelian did not put an end to the urban life of the settlement as there are practi
cally no archaeological traces of destruction, the Roman buildings were still inhabited (either
by Romans or by another population) while new ones were still being built. Archaeological
research has led to the discovery of pottery workshops in addition to workshops producing glass
beads, in use during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD55.
Hitherto a total of eight public buildings were excavated in TibiscumIaz, all of which
having a late phase as well (Benea phase IV: mid-3rd 4th century AD = Arde phase IV A:
AD 211271 and IV B: AD 271335)56. A total number of 2354 pottery vessel fragments
belonging to the latter phase (IV) were registered from the site (Pl.4/2). Even though, out of
this impressive number only 384 fragments could be classified from a functional and typological
point of view, the image conveyed was that of considerable variety.
The majority consists of cooking ware (pots, cooking bowls, lids, mortaria), transport and
storage vessels (jugs, amphorae, dolia) followed by tableware, which was separated in the analysis
into food serving vessels (plates, bowls) and drinking vessels (cups)57. There is a striking variety of
cooking pots within the assemblage, consisting of both wheel-thrown types (85%) and handmade
variants (15%) and even pots with handles (Pl.4/1; Pl.6/1). The cooking bowls display a great
variety as well, while the lids exhibit the same typological uniformity as during the 2nd and early
3rd centuries AD (Pl.5/2; Pl.6/3). A similar degree of diversity can be seen in the case of the
tableware (bowls and plates). The diameter of the plates increases (2630 cm on average), their base
is straight, the vessels bodies incorporate sharp corners, while the rims are somewhat thickened,
rounded and reverted (Pl.5/3). The bowls are mostly of brick-red color and sometimes display
rosette-shaped stamped decoration58, painted decoration or color-coating (Pl.5/1).
The proportion of drinking vessels is conspicuously low (18 instances). The number of
flagons is similarly low (21 instances) the types belonging to this category are identical with the
ones from the previous phase of the site (2nd early 3rd century AD). With regard to the cultic
vessels, even though their numbers are low (10 turibula), their proportion is still higher than
during the previous periods, also exhibiting a more complex decoration (Pl.4/3). A likely change
in the rituals involving these vessels might have triggered modifications in their functionality
aswell.
The fabrics of the vessels are mostly either fine or semi-fine, the majority were fired in
oxidizing environments and some display red color-coating (Pl.4/2). Coarse fabrics were
overwhelmingly employed in the case of handmade vessels (74%) but are also encountered
within the category of wheel-thrown vessel (23%), in both cases one can note the nearly total
absence of decoration. The coarse fabrics display different colors and shades, mostly brick-red
and grey, and their temper includes quartz particles of different sizes and mica.
Similar observations and statistics were made by D.Benea with regard to the late Roman
pottery from the opposite side of the Timi River, at TibiscumJupa. In this case too, the vessel


56

57

58

54
55

BENEA 2005, 312.

BENEA 2004, BENEA 2007.
BENEA 1996A, 126; BENEA 2000, 435; ARDE 2009B, 22.
For a more detailed version of this analysis, see GRUMEZA 2014.
ARDE 2009B, 28.

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

73

shapes and their fabrics display marked similarities with production of the previous period.
The main differences comprise of a somewhat lower quality standard in the production of the
vessels, as well as higher quantity of temper (especially mica) incorporated into the fabrics.
Surprisingly, there is only a small quantity of handmade pottery of La Tne type as opposed to
a high proportion of red handmade ware. Reduced wares represent 31%, consisting mostly of
dolia and large pots59. In similar fashion, at Porolissum, a settlement analogous to Tibiscum:
the red wares are more common than the grey wares. Moreover, the native handmade pottery
represents about 1% of the local assemblages60.
Within building VIII from the municipium in TibiscumJupa, a late-Roman pottery
workshop was discovered (late 3rd early 4th century AD), consisting of a platform for clay
processing (30090 cm), two levigation basins with brick walls (D = 50 cm) and a kiln of
Henning type A built on a clay base, having a central pillar (H = 35 cm, D = 90 cm) (Pl.8/12).
The firing chamber is entirely built from recycled bricks and roof tiles61. The products of this
workshop consisted mostly of wheel-thrown brick-red color-coated ware (98.2%) with semi-fine
fabrics analogous to the 2nd3rd century provincial wares62. Even so, some aspects of the material
are typical for late-Roman pottery. In some cases the fabrics are coarsely tempered, their finish
is mediocre, a high proportion of simple-shaped, mostly undecorated bowls, the sole decorative
elements being the straight or wavy incised lines on the vessels surface63.
The most characteristic vessel categories within the workshop-assemblage are the pots,
bowls and to a lower extent the jugs (Pl.8/38). The pots are mostly of small and medium size,
wheel-thrown, having globular shapes, occasionally decorated with incisions similar with ones
recorded at TibiscumIaz, Dierna and Gornea in the 3rd4th centuries AD64.
In conclusion one can assert that the pottery discovered in the late phases of the afore
mentioned sites does not differ radically from the production of earlier periods, neither from
the point of view of the firing (overwhelmingly oxidised) nor from that of the employed vessel
shapes. Based on these observations it seems that even in this period a Roman lifestyle was
still perpetuated, at least in the sense of the food and drink preparation and consumption,
furthermore the pottery supply was based on the local production, just as in previous times.
Site
Mehadia
TibiscumJupa
GrdinariSelite
VracCrvenka
Dragina
Hodoni
TimioaraFreidorf
Panevo

No.of
Clay
Type
Wells
Annexes
Technique/Firing
kilns
pits
2
Henning A

Levigation basin
Wheel-thrown, oxidised
Clay processing plat
1
Henning A

Wheel-thrown, oxidised
form and two basins
4
Henning B

Wheel-thrown, reduced
1
Henning C
1
Pottery storage
4 Wheel-thrown, reduced
1
Henning B

Wheel-thrown, reduced
1
Henning B

Wheel-thrown, reduced
2
Local (?)

Wheel-thrown, reduced
1
?

Wheel-thrown, reduced

BENEA 1996A, 132, 138.

DE SENA 2010, 966.
61
The construction technique (especially the use of recycled material), its peculiar shape, the stratigraphy, the
altering of the buildings functionality with the construction of the kiln within its precinct and the pottery material
found in the 2nd chamber of the workshop are all indicative of a late dating, see BENEA 2007, 818.
62
BENEA 1996A, 138; BENEA 2007, 818.
63
BENEA 2007, 820.
64
BENEA 2007, 818820.
59
60

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Lavinia Grumeza

5. The pottery production from the Sarmatian Barbaricum in Banat

Three pottery kilns belonging to Henning type B were researched at GrdinariSelite along
with households and rubbish pits65. These type of kilns are known for their central walls and flue.
Their body is conical with a circular raised oven-floor, except for kiln no. 2, which has an oval
plan, somewhat resembling a horseshoe (Pl.9; Pl.10/13)66. Adjacent to kiln no. 3 is the furnace
chamber, as well as a short portion of the flue belonging to another kiln, abandoned before the
building of kiln no. 367. The dating of the contexts starts with the first half of the 3rd first half of
the 4th century AD, based on the coins of Gordian III, Claudius II Goticus and Constantius II68.
The pottery from the area of the kilns is overwhelmingly wheel-thrown (95%), only a
small portion is handmade (5%). The material from the households as well as the stoke-pits
consists predominantly of good quality reduced wares, mainly: cooking bowls of different sizes,
pots, jugs, to a lesser extent flagons, most of them displaying burnished or incised decoration
(Pl.1113)69. The handmade pottery displays usually a blackish-brown color, the character
istic decorative element in this case being the alveolar cordon placed either on the maximum
diameter of the vessel, or on the vessels rim (Pl.10/4)70.
The settlement is situated in the vicinity of the Lederata-Arcidava (Vrdia)-BerzobisTibiscum road, at only 3 km from the fort and civilian settlement from Vrdia71. Taking into
account the position of the site as well as the number of kilns analyzed, one can presume that
the workshop was of considerable dimensions. A similar settlement, although much larger, was
researched at ll, southwest from Budapest, also in the immediate vicinity of the limes, where
approximately 50 kilns were excavated72.
The special feature of most kilns from ll is the total lack of support of the raised ovenfloor. Based on our knowledge73 of kiln technology in this region one can assume that most
Roman period kilns in the Barbaricum belong to the La Tne type with a so-called tongue
support dividing the fire box and the flue. Another widely spread method of supporting the
raised oven-floor is a central pillar built of different materials (daub, either pure or mixed with
pottery and bricks or roof tiles). This sort of construction is common in Roman period pottery
manufacturing centers all over Europe. None of these examples characterize a particular period.
It seems that each pottery workshop whether Roman or Barbarian has many special, local
features and ll is no exception74.
Similar kilns to the ones from ll, which cannot be classified based on Hennings
typology, were recorded within the settlement of TimioaraFreidorf, dating from the period
between the 3rd century and the last third of the 4th century AD75. One of the kilns had an oval
shape, its diameter varying between 60 and 70 cm; the superstructure was not preserved, the
walls had clay lining on the interior, their preserved height being 24 cm. The kiln had a crosslike daub structure composed of four arms (Pl.14/12). The second kiln was similar, the only
major difference was the presence of six arms instead of four76.


67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

65
66

BOZU 1990.
BOZU 1990, 149.
BOZU 1990, 150.
BOZU 1990, 157.
BOZU 1990, 151.
BOZU 1990, 152.
BOZU 1990, 158.
KULCSR/MERAI 2011.
KULCSR/MERAI 2011.
KULCSR/MERAI 2011, 66.
MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 49, 52.
MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 11.

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

75

Inside kiln no. 1 from TimioaraFreidorf, reduced wheel-thrown fragments of pots and
cooking bowls were found made from fine fabrics; inside the stoke-pit reduced wheel-thrown
pottery fragments, along with fragments of handmade pots made with yellowish-red coarse
fabrics, decorated with alveolar cordons were found77.
Within the assemblages from the settlement, the wheel-thrown fine reduced ware has the
highest proportion, followed by the brownish color handmade coarse ware. A low number of
fragments belonging to oxidized color-coated Roman provincial wares, as well as amphorae and
terra sigillata fragments were also discovered78.
The local pottery thrown on the slow wheel is also present in significant numbers79, and
dated between the second third of the 4th century and beginning of the 5th century AD80. The
decoration of the vessels is quite varied, the techniques employed consist of stamping, rouletting
and comb decoration. This local production has both oxidized and reduced variants and consists
mainly of medium and large pots, lids and strainers (Pl.15/115)81. The local handmade pottery
was produced from grog-tempered coarse fabrics employed for the production of pots, lids and
rectangular vessels82.
The wheel-thrown, reduced fine grey, mostly burnished ware is present in significant
amounts and great variety within the considered assemblages (Pl.15/1617). This category
consists mainly of tableware (bowls, flagons, beakers and cups) but also small-sized storage
vessels, such as jars, two-handle jars and dolia 83.
A late Sarmatian-period pottery workshop was discovered at VracCrvenka, which was
only partially researched with the excavation of its western side84. According to the results of
the investigation, the sunken kiln has a stepped section and rectangular plan (370226 cm),
belonging to Henning type C (Pl.16/1)85. At a distance of 6 m east of the kiln a well was
discovered (D = 112 cm, H = 480 cm), probably part of the workshop, given that the water
source is a prerequisite of pottery production (Pl.16/2). In addition, four clay extraction pits
were found nearby, their depths varying between 280 and 340 cm (Pl.16/3)86.
The products of the workshop consist predominantly of fine reduced pottery decorated
with a wide range of burnished motifs such as sharp triangles and wavy lines (Pl.16/4)87. It is
interesting to note that in the vicinity of the workshop a sunken pottery storage deposit was
identified with a daub roof. The material of the deposit consists of flagons, globular vessels,
storage vessels and bowls made of a reduced fine grey fabric (Pl.17). The storage deposit was
dated to the second half of the 4th century AD, in similar fashion to VracCrvenka workshop88.
In Dragina, on the left bank of the Timi River a large pottery kiln of Henning type B,
with central wall, was discovered89. The products linked to the kiln consist of storage vessels
(11.82%) with bi-conical bodies, pots as well as bowls with either foot-ring or raised platform
(Pl.18), produced mostly of semi-fine fabrics90. The majority of the vessels consists of grey


79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

77
78

MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 28.

MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 12.
The proportions are not specified.
MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 44.
MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 43.
MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 48.
MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 45.
RAAJSKI 1957, 55.
RAAJSKI 1957, 55.
RAAJSKI 1957, 55.
RAAJSKI 1957, 56.
SIMOVLEVI 1957, 6062.
MICLE 1997, 77.
MICLE 1997, 78.

76

Lavinia Grumeza

reduced ware, tempered with sand and mica (91.6 %). The presence of flagons is rather low, these
belonging to two different types based on the diameter of their mouth opening (Pl.18/34)91.
The decoration consists of a relief cordon sometimes with incised thin chases92. There is only one
instance of handmade pottery within this category, namely a fragment of a bi-conical pot made
from a black coarse fabric (Pl.18/1)93.
In the settlement from Hodoni dated to the 3rd 4th centuries AD, a circular pottery kiln
was discovered (type Henning B?) with the diameter of 1.7 m, its raised oven floor destroyed
probably already in Antiquity. The stoke-pit widens towards the west and is 140 cm deep. Very few
pottery fragments were found in the fill of the kiln94. The pottery from the settlement consists of
handmade and wheel-thrown vessels. The former, amounting to 10% of the assemblage, is made
up of coarse brownish-grey pots, while the latter (Pl.19) consists mostly of reduced fine-ware
(70%) in addition to some oxidized fine-ware (30%)95. From a typological point of view, no major
differences could be established between the reduced and the oxidized ware. The most common
category is that of the pots96. The bowls are either burnished or decorated with horizontal incised
lines, both wavy and straight. The number of flagons and jugs are much lower97.
The existence of further production centers is presumed in the Serbian Banat at Baranda
Ciglana, PadejCiglana, Banatski KarlovacCiglana and AlibunarMale livade (Pl.1/2). The
activity of these centers is dated to the 4th century AD, and their production included a wide
range of pots, lids, bowls, cooking bowls, and barrel-shaped vessels. The vessels, fired in a
reducing atmosphere are mostly wheel-thrown, some of them produced on the slow wheel98.
No further pottery workshops are known in the area.
The Sarmatian pottery from the Carpathian Basin appears thus as the combination
between technical and stylistic elements adopted from the Dacian, Celtic and especially the
Roman pottery production traditions.99 Within the settlements from the Great Hungarian
Plain the categories which make up the majority of the assemblages belong to storage vessels,
followed by the pots, bowls, globular vessels and flagons, mostly fired in a reducing atmosphere
(Pl.4/45)100.
The burnished grey storage vessels are characteristic for the 4th century as well as the
first decades of the 5th century AD101, after which there is a shift in the culinary practices
throughout the Great Hungarian Plain102. These vessels are produced in multiple series in the
local workshops103, in similar fashion to the so-called globular/spherical vessels. There is also an
increase in the capacity of the aforementioned vessel categories during this period104.
The burnished wheel-thrown vessels are characteristic especially to the late Sarmatian
period. The burnished decoration consisting of geometrical motifs is gradually introduced
starting from the 2nd century AD and is constantly in use until the late Sarmatian Hun period105.


93

94

95

96

97

98

99

MICLE 1997, 80.

MICLE 1997, 79.
MICLE 1997, 80.
BEJAN 1981A, 154.
BEJAN 1995, 376.
BEJAN 1995, 376.
BEJAN 1995, 377.
TRIFUNOVI 2000.
VADAY/JANKOVICH/KOVCS 2011, 232.
100
VADAY 1999, fig.6; VADAY/JANKOVICH/KOVCS 2011, 210. Unfortunately, no other sites in Banat
have similar statistical data, apart from Arad-Barier, see GRUMEZA/URSUIU/COPOS 2013.
101
MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011, 48.
102
VADAY 1989, 177.
103
VADAY 1989, 137138; Abb. 3334.
104
VADAY 1989, 153.
105
VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993, 63.
91
92

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

77

The geometrical motifs employed consist overwhelmingly of wavy line compositions, while the
figural motifs appear less often and are characteristic for the late Sarmatian Hunperiod106.
The pottery decorated with floral motifs and elaborate figural compositions makes its
appearance during the latter half of the 4th century AD, partially as a result of the influence
exerted by the Cernjachov culture and the arrival of new populations in the Great Hungarian
Plain. The vessels exhibiting a combination of burnished geometrical and animal motifs known
from the late period consist mostly of flagons, various vessels with one or two handles as well
as bowls with high foot-stands107. These finds are characteristic for the Middle Tisa Basin, the
southern part of the Great Hungarian Plain, western Banat and Baka108.
The finds consisting of vessels decorated with burnished figural and elaborate geometrical
motifs are quite common in the Banat region. K.Sskuti and G.Sz. Wilhelm distinguished
four different types of figural ornaments typical for the Great Hungarian Plain109, three of these
can also be encountered within the Sarmatian pottery from the Banat:
1. Figural decoration consisting of two or more twisting lines rendering the figure of a snake
(Drachendarstellung/Srknybrzols), known from the settlements of Deszk, Szreg
Homokbnya, SzregIvn-tglagyr and FoeniSelite (Pl.20/14). The vessels consist
entirely of grey or blackish grey bowls fired in a reducing atmosphere and produced from a
fine fabric.
2. Spiral and meander-like figural motifs, present on vessels discovered in Lenauheim and Jebel
(Pl.20/56). According to K.Sskuti and G.Sz. Wilhelm these ornaments appear exclusively
on pots and on flagons110. In 1960, in the village of Lenauheim numerous vessels dated to
the 3rd4th centuries AD (based on a current assessment the dating of the finds to the 4th and
early 5th centuries AD is more realistic) were discovered111. According to the only information
regarding the context of discovery the vessels were found together in a single feature. The
material consists of wheel-thrown, grey colored reduced wares. In two instances burnished
decoration can be observed, one of these vessels is a bi-conical container with two handles
(161026.5 cm), its upper part decorated with a register consisting of the succession of
an animal motif repeated six times and displayed around the pot112. Almost identical vessels
were discovered in SzabadkaSubotica, McskovicsZiegelei, produced probably by the
same workshop113. During a survey in the township of Jebel, numerous wheel-thrown and
handmade vessels were discovered. The upper part of one of the pots (H = 30 cm) is decorated
with a composition consisting of a group of wavy and straight lines, rendering the figure of a
snake114. Unfortunately little is known concerning the archaeological contexts of these finds.
3. Figurative decoration consisting of realistically rendered animal motifs (birds, in our case).
Vessels (bowls) exhibiting this kind of decoration were only reported from Orlovat and
Farkadin (Pl.20/7), but can also be found in a collection (J.Bajalov) preserved in the
museum from Zrenjanin115. The vessels, known only from the Banat and Baka116, were
produced from fine fabrics and decorated with geometrical and animal motifs consisting of
bird-figures.


108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

106
107

VADAY/JANKOVICH/KOVCS 2011, 229230.

VADAY 1982, 121, 128.
VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993, 63.
SSKUTI/WILHELM 2005; SSKUTI/WILHELM 2006.
SSKUTI/WILHELM 2005, 54.
BEJAN 1981B, 21.
BEJAN 1995, 388.
The same is true for the examples from Bks and Szreg, see VADAY 1982, T.5/1ab, 3ab.
BEJAN 1995, 388.
BARAKI 2004, 134.
BARAKI 2004, 134.

78

Lavinia Grumeza

These vessels, displaying individually unique decoration117, are the products of pottery
workshops which functioned in the southern part of the Hungarian Plain during the 4th century
AD118. In addition to the material of the settlements, similar complex and varied decoration can
also be found on the funerary and ritual pottery. In these cases however the decorative motifs are
not burnished, but incised on small prismatic vessels. The funerary pottery of the Banat region
consists also of small-sized handmade vessels, either prismatic or with rectangular bases and reverted
walls. Often consistent deposits of soot and dark stains were noted in the interior of the vessels,
the remains probably of different substances, perhaps resins which were deposited or burnt within
these containers. A part of these vessels display decoration. Two ritual vessels with almost identical
decoration, consisting of double or triple incised circles, were documented at jszentivn within
an unknown funerary context (probably from the spot known as Tglagyr)119 as well as grave no.
1 from VracCrvenka (Pl.21/34). It is possible that the aforementioned decorative elements on
the prismatic vessels from jszentivn and Vrac are symbolic replacements for the perforations
found on early Sarmatian incense burners from theeast120.
A further decorated ritual vessel comes from Kovaica, from an unknown archaeo
logical context (Pl.21/1). The small-sized vessel121 displays a horizontal stylized human figure
surrounded by zigzag lines. A radial solar disc is featured on another side of the vessels, while
the third side is decorated with xidized pine branch composition. Ritual vessels with complex
decorations, such as the one from Kovaica, or adorned with tamga signs are extremely rare
within the grave-finds from the Hungarian Plain and are known only from GyulaSzeregyhza,
Sarkad, Krs-ht122 and iria (Pl.21/5)123. The tamga signs appear only rarely in the Carpathian
Basin and are probably restricted to the local handmade pottery belonging to a newly arrived
population. This category of vessels had a clearly cultic function124.
A further small-sized, handmade prismatic vessel with incised decoration was discovered
during a field-walking at TimioaraCioreni (Pl.21/2). The small (66 cm) blackish grey
vessel, decorated with incised motifs (ante cocturam) consisting of: swastika, horse (?), bird(?),
snake, rooster (?), human representation (a procession directed towards the left) as well as
further images in connection with a solar cult125. Similar motifs (a stylized snake, an unknown
animal, a bird and a human figure) can be found on a miniature rectangular vessel discovered
at SarkadKrsht126.
These types of ritual vessels are not found throughout the entire Hungarian Plain, the
reason for this may be that not all of the local groups and population practiced such rituals127.
These finds which are extremely rare in the central and northern parts of the Hungarian Plain,
are on the other hand very common in the cemeteries from Banat i Baka, along with the
pottery decorated with elaborate figural ornaments, and the practice of placing multiple vessels
inside the grave128. According to A.Vaday and P.Medgyesi these funerary features are dated to
the late 4th early 5th centuries AD129.


119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

117
118

SSKUTI/WILHELM 2006, 29.

VADAY 1982, 127128.
The dimensions of the vessel are: Db = 6.4/5 cm, Df = 5.6/4.5 cm, H = 3.6 cm (VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993, 83).
VADAY 2002, 218.
The dimensions of the vessel are: Db = 7 cm, Df = 5.5 cm, H = 7.2 cm; VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993, 83.
VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993, fig.2.1,3, 4.
BERZOVAN/PDUREANU 2010, Fig.2.
VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993, 87.
BENEA 1996B, 376.
VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993, Fig.4/13.
VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993, 87.
VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993, 83.
VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993, 83; VADAY 2002, 218.

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

79

A further category typical for the late period consists of the so-called barrel-shaped vessels.
These vessels, as opposed to their Roman counterparts, have neither handles nor foot-stands
and are often asymmetrical with on or three openings, serving probably as containers for butter
or other dairy products130, or even alcohol products131. Their asymmetrical shape indicates the
fact that these vessels were usually suspended132. This category is usually found in the settle
ments from the central and southern parts of the Hungarian Plain133, while the only funerary
contexts associated with these finds come from the cemeteries at Deszkjmajor and Saravale
(Pl.22/12).
The origin as well as the functionality of these vessels was intensively debated in the
archaeological literature. It is a known fact however that they were produced in the southern
Banat during the 4th century AD, examples are known from BarandaCiglana and Banatski
KarlovacCiglana (Pl.22/35)134.

5. Conclusions
During the late-Roman and post-Roman periods the pottery assemblages from centers
of the western limes display an extremely varied local production combined with a very low
proportion of imports. The case of Tibiscum is revealing in this respect, the locally produced
common pottery is present during this late period (phase IV) in quantities paralleled only during
the settlements economic peak between 118 and 170 AD (phase II). Moreover, the material
from the late period speaks of a considerable technological progress in pottery production135.
From a functional standpoint, the highest proportion within the assemblages is represented by
the cooking wares followed by the storage and transport vessels and by the tableware, excluding
the drinking vessels which are present in extremely low proportions. The flagons and the lids
are also quite rare, the latter are identical with their counterparts from the previous period (2nd
early 3rd century AD).
The inhabitants of Tibiscum, Mehadia or Dierna, whether Roman or not, still engaged in
a Roman lifestyle reflected by the material culture, namely the pottery. There is a clear preference
on their side for high quality oxidized ware, as opposed to their Sarmatians neighbours, who
produced and used grey colored reduced pottery with burnished decoration, adopting only the
Roman shapes.
The kilns are almost identical to the ones known from the provincial environment of
Dacia during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, the sole considerable differences lie in the choice of
construction materials, the late period kilns incorporating reused and recycled building materials
and the fact that they were often placed within disaffected structures such as houses and forts.
According to the standard interpretations these small production centers with Roman
tradition also supplied the settlements from the Sarmatian Barbaricum136. Nevertheless in the
settlements of the Banat Lowlands the predominating material is considerably different and can
be linked to much more extensive production centers.

VADAY1989, 159.
TRIFUNOVI 2000, 89; MUSCALU 2012, 221.
132
MUSCALU 2012, 221.
133
For a complete list of the finds from the settlements see VADAY 1989, 159160 and MUSCALU 2012,
221222.
134
TRIFUNOVI 2000, 86.
135
ARDE 2009B, 183; see also the case of the workshop from Mehadia (BENEA 2005, 314).
136
RUSU-BOLINDE 2011, 115 with bibliography.
130
131

80

Lavinia Grumeza

Post-Roman centres
The Sarmatian Barbaricum
on the Western Limes
Shapes
Pots, bowls, storage vessels, flagons, jugs Storage vessels, pots, globular vessels, bowls,
(in lower numbers)
flagons (in lower numbers), barrel-shaped vessels
16
Firing
Oxidised
Reduced
Decoration Red colour-coating, incised decoration
Burnishing, geometrical and elaborate figural motifs
Quality
High quality pottery from fine and semifine fabrics
Coarsewares
Technology
Wheel-thrown
Slow wheel, handmade
Imports
Local pottery production, very few, or no imports
Pottery
Small-sized (consisting of 12 kilns),
Larger workshops, produced for both local and
workshops produced for local supply
regional supply (see the distribution of burnished
pottery with figural and geometrical ornaments)
Placed within 2nd and 3rd century AD
New pottery production tradition
disaffected Roman buildings
Types of
Type Henning A
Type Henning B and C
kilns
Roman provincial kilns also known from New types also emerge (e.g. TimioaraFreidorf)
previous periods but constructed with
reused building material
137

Translated by David Petru

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GUDEA/MOU 1983
N.GUDEA/I.MOU, Observaii n legtur cu istoria Banatului n epoca roman. Banatica
7, 1983, 151202.
HENNING 1977
J.HENNING, Entwicklungstendenzen der Keramikproduktion an der mittleren und unteren
Donau im 1. Jahrtausend u. Z.Zeitschrift fr Archologie 11/2, 1977, 181206.
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V.IVANIEVI/I.BUGARSKI, Western Banat during the Great Migration Period. In:
B.Niezabitowska-Winiewska, M.Juciski, P.uczkiewicz, S.Sadowski (Eds.), The Turbulent
Epoch, II (Lublin 2008), 3961.
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V.KULCSR/D.MERAI, Roman or Barbarian? Provincial models in a Sarmatian Pottery
center in the Danube frontier. In: E C.De Sena, H.Dobrzanska (Eds.), The Roman Empire
and Beyond: Archaeological and Historical Research on the Romans and Native Cultures in
Central Europe (Oxford 2011), 6180.

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

83

MARE 2004

M.MARE, Banatul ntre secolele IVIX (Timioara 2004).
MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011
M.MARE/D.TNASE/F.DRAOVEAN/G.ELSUSI/S.S.GL,TimioaraFreidorf.
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D.MICLE, Mormntul sarmatic de la Saravale, judeul Timi. ARHE, Buletin de Studii i
cercetri studeneti de istorie veche, arheologie i epigrafie I,1996, 6874.
MICLE 1997
D.MICLE, Un centre de poterie dans lagglomration daco-romaine de Dragina (Dpartement
de Timi). Bibliotheca Historica et Archaeologica I, 1997, 7781.
MICLE 2008
D.MICLE, Elemente de cartografiere digital i analiz spaial a habitatului rural daco-roman
din Dacia de sud-vest n sec. IIV d. H.(PhD Diss Sibiu 2008).
MUSCALU 2009
B.MUSCALU, Cultura material i spiritual n teritoriul dintre Dunre i Tisa. Sarmaii iazygi
i relaiile cu Imperiul Roman (PhD Diss., Timioara 2009).
MUSCALU 2012
B.MUSCALU, Views concerning barrel-shaped vessels in the Sarmatian Iazyges environment
Acta Musei Napocensis 4748, 20102011 (2012), 219228.
OPAI 2004
A.OPAI, Local and Imported Ceramics in the Roman Province of Scythia (4th 6th
centuriesAD) (Oxford 2004).
OPAI 2007
A.OPAI, From DR 4 to LR 2. LRCW 2, Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and
Amphorae in the Mediterranean: Archaeology and Archaeometry II, 2007, 627644.
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R.RAAJSKI, Sarmatska lonarska radionica iz Crvenke kod Vrca. Rad Vojvodjanskih Muzeja
6, 1957, 3955.
PRDUCZ 1945

M.PRDUCZ, Deszk-jmajori szarmatakori temet. Folia Archeologica 5, 1945, 7494.
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J.REIZNER, Sasllsi s szreghi leletekrl. Archrt 23, 1903, 4350.
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V.RUSU-BOLINDE, Pottery workshops from Roman Dacia. In: J.Bemmann, U.Brosseder,
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Joachim (Eds.), Drehscheibentpferei im Barbaricum Technologietransfer und
Professionalisierung eines Handwerks am Rande des Rmischen Imperiums, Akten der
Internationalen Tagung in Bonn vom 11. bis 14. Juni 2009 (Bonn 2011), 91115.
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N.SIMOVLJEVI, Sarmatski stratum na Crvenki kraj Vrca. Rad muzeja Vojvodine 6, 1957,
5765.
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K.SSKUTI/SZ.G.WILHELM, Srknyok az Alfldn II.Meanderes-spirlis dszts
ednyek a Krpt-medencei Szarmata Barbaricumban. In: A Npvndorlskor Fiatal Kutatinak
XVI.konferencijn elhangzott elads. Nagykovcsi, 2005. szeptember 2628 (Nagykovcsi
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SSKUTI/WILHELM 2006
K.SSKUTI/SZ.G.WILHELM, Srknyok az Alfldn I.Besimtott szalagos test figurlis
motvumok Szarmata ednyeken (tipolgia s elterjeds). Tatabnyai Mzeum Tudomnyos
Fzetek 8, 2006, 1154.
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Selite. Banatica 17, 2005, 5973.
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F.TOPOLEANU, Ceramica roman si romano-bizantin de la Halmyris, sec. IVII d. Chr.
(Tulcea 2000).
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(jud. Timi). Analele Banatului S.N.16, 2008, 113134.
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and Slavs in Banat and Baka). Journal of the Serbian Archaeological Society 1516, 19992000
(2000), 43106.
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A.VADAY, Corpus der rmischen Funde im Barbaricum, Ungarn Band 1. Komitat Szolnok
(Budapest 2005).
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A.VADAY/P.MEDGYESI, Rectangular Vessels in the Sarmatian Barbaricum in the Carpathian
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A.VADAY/D.B.JANKOVICH/L.KOVCS, Archaeological Investigations in County Bks
19861992 (Budapest 2011).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

85

Mure

Hodoni
Timioara-Freidorf

Izvin
Dragina

Tibiscum
Vrac-Crvenka
Grdinari-Selite

Jabuca

Mehadia

Panevo
Dolovo

Drobeta

Danube

1:600.000

Tisza

Padej

LIMIG
AMICENSES

100 km

ANTE
S

Timi

PICENSES
Pannonia II

Alibunar
Baranda
Bantski Karlovac

Danube

Moesia I

Pl.1. 1. Pottery workshops in Banat; 2. South of Banat in the Late period according to ancient sources,
the finds from settlements and pottery workshops (redrawn after TRIFUNOVI 2000).

86

Lavinia Grumeza

1
3

10
11

12
0

4 cm

Pl.2. Late Roman imports in Banat: 1. White stamped pottery from TibiscumIaz (ARDE 2009B);
2. Glazed pottery form TibiscumIaz (GRUMEZA 2014); 3. Dressel 24 similis type amphora from
TibiscumIaz; 45. Dressel 24 type amphorae from TibiscumJupa (BENEA 2000, ARDE 2009B);
6. Terra sigillata from jszentivnIvn tglagyr (REIZNER 1903); 7

10. Terra sigillata from

KiszomborB, not to scale; 1112. Terra sigillata (copies) from SzegedSzreg (GABLER/VADAY 1986).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

87

1m

9
5
10

11
7

12

Pl.3. 1. Pottery workshop from Mehadia; 24. Pots from the civilian settlement; 56. Plates from the
North sector of the vicus; 710. Pots from the kiln 2; 1112. Jugs (BENEA 2005).

88

Lavinia Grumeza
32%
vessels used
for transport
and food
storage

28%
food serving
vessels

Wheel-thrown,
oxidized
Wheel-thrown,
reduced

5%
drinking
vessels

35%
cooking ware

Handmade,
oxidized
Handmade,
reduced

Fine

Semifine

Coarse

145

678

83

13

739

83

95

73

101

87

Type I

Type II

Type III

Type IV

Pl. 4. 1. Common (utilitarian) pottery from TibiscumIaz. Functionality; 2. Common (utilitarian) pottery
from TibiscumIaz. Quality and mode of firing (number of samples); 3. Turribula from TibiscumIaz
(GRUMEZA 2014); 4. Functions of vessels in the Sarmatian site AradBarier (GRUMEZA/URSUIU/
COPOS 2013); 5. Vessel shape ratios of sites in Great Hungarian Plain (VADAY 1999).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

Type I

Type II

89

Type I

Type II

Type III

Type III

Type IV

Type I

Type II
Type V

Type III

Pl.5. TibiscumIaz; 1. Bowls; 2. Terrines; 3. Plates (GRUMEZA 2014).

90

Lavinia Grumeza

Type I

Type I

Type II
Type II
Type III

Type III
2
Type IV

Type V

Pl.6. TibiscumIaz; 1. Wheel-thrown cooking pots/ vessels used for cooking;

2. Handmade cooking pots; 3. Lids (GRUMEZA 2014).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

Type III

Type I

Type II

Type I

Type II

Pl.7. TibiscumIaz; 1. Cups; 2. Jugs (GRUMEZA 2014).

91

92

Lavinia Grumeza

3
pottery kiln

Roman road

10 cm

Pl.8. TibiscumJupa; 12. Pottery kiln; 3, 78. Types of pots discovered in building VIII;
4. Jug from building VIII; 56. Bowls from building VIII (BENEA 2007).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

Pl.9. Pottery kilns from GrdinariSlite (photos: O.Bozu).

93

94

Lavinia Grumeza

- 90 cm

1
2
-75 cm

-135 cm

-155 cm

-75 cm

6
4

Pl.10. 13. Pottery kilns from GrdinariSlite; 46. Handmade semifine pottery
from the kilns area (BOZU 1990).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

3
4

Pl.11. GrdinariSlite; 13. Semifine gray pottery (jugs, cups and globular vessels)
from the kilns area; 4. Coarse, gray pots from the kilns area (BOZU 1990).

95

96

Lavinia Grumeza

Pl.12. GrdinariSlite; 1. Fine, gray storage vessels; 2. Fine, red storage vessels (BOZU 1990).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

Pl.13. GrdinariSlite; 12. Fine, red plates and bowls; 3. Coarse gray bowls;
4. Fine, gray bowls (BOZU 1990).

97

98

Lavinia Grumeza

Pl.14. TimioaraFreidorf; 12. Pottery kiln; 38. Pottery from the kiln
(GVAN 2007; MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

99

7
12
8

16
9

13

10
14

11

17

15

Pl.15. TimioaraFreidorf; 115. Slow wheel-thrown pottery; 1617. Fine, gray-burnished vessels
(MARE/TNASE/DRAOVEAN/EL SUSI/GL 2011).

100

Lavinia Grumeza

1m

Pl.16. VracCrvenka; 1. Pottery workshop; 2. Well; 3. Clay extracting pits;

4. Burnished decorations on the vessels found in VracCrvenka (RAAJSKI 1957).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

101

1
2

3
4

6
0

10 cm

Pl.17. VracCrvenka, pottery storage deposit (SIMLOVEVI 1957).

20 cm

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Lavinia Grumeza

Pl.18. Dragina; 1. Handmade pot, made of coarse fabric; 28. Fine and semi fine vessels
(bowls, jugs and pots) (MICLE 1997).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

Pl.19. Hodoni; 18. Semifine gray pottery (globular vessels, pots and bowls) (BEJAN 1995).

103

104

Lavinia Grumeza

4
2

Pl.20. Vessels with figural burnish decoration; 1. SzregHomokbnya; 2. SzregIvntglagyr

(SSKUTI/WILHELM 2006); 3. FoeniSelite (TIMOC/SZENTMIKLOSI 2008); 4. Deszk (VADAY
1982); 5. Lenauheim (BEJAN 1981B); 6. Jebel (BEJAN 1995); 7. Farkadin (BARAKI 2004).

Post Roman and Sarmatian Pottery Workshops in Banat

105

3
4

Pl.21. Decorated censers/ ritual vessels from Banat and north Mure river: 1. Kovaika (VADAY/
MEDGYESI 1993); 2. TimioaraCioreni (BENEA 1996B); 3. jszentivn; 4. VracCrvenka
(VADAY/MEDGYESI 1993); 5. iria (BERZOVAN/PDUREANU 2010).

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Lavinia Grumeza

1
0

5 cm

5 cm

Pl.22. Barrel-vessels recorded on the territory of Banat; 1. Saravale (MICLE 1996); 2. Deszkjmajor
(PRDUCZ 1945, not to scale), 3. Banatski KarlovacCiglana stari iskop, 45. BarandaCiglana
(TRIFUNOVI 2000).