JOURNAL OF ANCIENT HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY
The Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology is seeking to publish profound, rigorous, well-written, high-quality, high-impact papers to generate discussion, debate, fresh perspective. The research area is the worldwide history starting with Antiquity up to the Byzantine period. The topics are: ancient history, ancient philology, epigraphy, papyrology, numismatics, archaeological material, archaeological reports, digital archaeology, archaeometry, reviews. The journal has four issues per annum. We strongly encourage the interdisciplinary or ‘bridge-building’ approach of different academic disciplines. The journal uses a peer-review system. The readers have free access with the pdf version ready to download. We want to make the Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology a ‘must read’ publication for those who want to learn more about Ancient History.
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Alin Henț, Rethinking the Late Iron Age Dacians. A Historiographical and Archaeological Perspective on Status Identities, Cluj-Napoca, Mega Publishing House, 2025, 259 p. ISBN 978-606-020-997-3.
Copyright (c) 2026 JOURNAL OF ANCIENT HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Denis Topal, Griffin Daggers of the Issyk Type and the Akinakai of Eastern Eurasia. [In Russian], Almaty: NITSIA Begazy-Tasmola, 2024, 224 p. ISBN 978-601-7106-96-6
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF SOLITUDE: IUDITA WINKLER (1925-1985)
Among the few female archaeologists in Romania, Iudita Winkler stands out not only for her seriousness and expertise, but also for her life story. A Holocaust survivor, Iudita Winkler overcame her destiny and excelled in numismatics. Based on documents from different sources, this essay follows her life and celebrates her erudition.
SERBIAN JOURNALS OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY ON THE POSITION OF CHRISTIANS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Numerous studies have been written on the position of Christians in the Roman Empire. This paper will emphasize the sources related to this issue and the works published in Serbian journals that were issued during the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century in the Kingdom of Serbia and the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The journals in the Kingdom of Serbia that speak about the position and persecution of Christians during the reign of Emperor Nero are Škola, Rodoljub, Učitelj, Podmladak and Vesnik srpske crkve; and in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy: Danica, Beseda, Golub, Pravoslavlje and Novi srpski vek. Based on the aforementioned works, the paper aims to highlight how the position of Christians in the Roman Empire was viewed during the reign of the persecutor emperor. Furthermore, by analyzing the works in these journals, the paper will examine how the position of Christians during the time of Emperor Nero was intended to serve as an example for the youth of the 19th and 20th centuries in developing Christian morality.
AGONISTIC DEPICTIONS AND SPORTS CULTURE ON COINS FROM THE CITIES OF PISIDIA DURING THE ROMAN IMPERIAL PERIOD
This study examines agonistic representations on coins minted in the cities of Pisidia during the Roman Imperial period and evaluates their significance within the broader framework of sports history. The findings demonstrate that these numismatic materials function not merely as economic instruments but as dense communicative artifacts encoding the institutional, ideological, and socio-political dimensions of ancient athletic culture. From a sports historical perspective, coins provide rare and direct material evidence for understanding how athletic practices were organized, legitimized, and symbolically reproduced across both local and imperial contexts. Consistent with existing scholarship, agonistic practices in antiquity extended far beyond physical competition, operating as structuring principles of social life. The Pisidian evidence reinforces this interpretation by illustrating the continuity and transformation of agonistic ideology within the Roman imperial framework. In this context, athletic festivals and their representations on coinage emerge as mechanisms through which cities articulated identity, negotiated status, and positioned themselves within imperial hierarchies. A key contribution of the study lies in identifying visual narratives of justice and institutional regulation. Coin depictions of lot-drawing scenes reflect procedural fairness and transparency, suggesting that such imagery actively constructed public legitimacy rather than merely reflecting practice. The recurrent presence of Themis further embeds athletic competition within a cosmological and theological order, highlighting the integration of divine justice into sporting procedures. Additionally, representations of wrestling scenes reveal the performative and embodied dimensions of ancient sport, while combined prize symbols wreaths, palm branches, amphorae, and money bags indicate a hybrid system integrating symbolic honor and material rewards. The appearance of the term IEROS underscores the hierarchical and institutionalized nature of festivals. Overall, the study demonstrates the value of numismatic evidence as a primary source, proposing a methodological model for reconstructing the cultural, ideological, and socio-economic foundations of ancient sport.
TITULI PICTI BETA ON DRESSEL 20 AMPHORAE FROM THE COLLECTION OF EMILIO RODRÍGUEZ ALMEIDA FROM MONTE TESTACCIO (ROME)
The tituli picti beta found on Dressel 20 amphorae provide information about the merchants involved in the trade of Baetic olive oil. These inscriptions, painted systematically on amphorae, belong to a very specific field of epigraphic study in which the scholar Emilio Rodríguez Almeida excelled. This paper presents data on the history of the collection and epigraphic developments of the tituli picti beta that Emilio Rodríguez Almeida did not publish or was unable to read completely, originating from his prospecting campaigns. The study of this epigraphic treasure from Monte Testaccio in Rome makes it possible to reinterpret or complement his work, deepening our knowledge of Roman merchants of Baetic olive oil through new data, connections, and interpretations. Specifically, the different subtypes of tituli picti beta are analyzed, related to private merchants or to Rome as an agent of these transports from Baetica to the city of Rome. Furthermore, the specimens discussed here, taken out of context from their stratigraphy on the Mount, are related to parallels that are available to us, mainly from Dressel's publications and the latest excavations on the Mount, thanks to which we can obtain other data such as chronology and other associations between merchants, without forgetting the specific epigraphic differences of each inscription.
EARLY ROMAN POTTERY (2ND –3RD CENTURIES AD) DISCOVERED IN A BUILDING WITHIN A RURAL SETTLEMENT IN THE TERRITORY OF TOMIS
As a result of the construction of the Constanța bypass (A4 motorway), carried out between 2010 and 2011, a large rural Roman settlement was identified between kilometers 8+400 and 9+500. The site is broadly dated to the 2nd–4th centuries AD and includes several phases and sub-phases of occupation. Within the investigated area, a residential building conventionally designated House 1 – CC was identified in Lot no. 2. The building has a rectangular ground plan and is subdivided into two rooms and a porch. The present study focuses on the ceramic assemblage recovered from the porch area. It is most likely that, at the end of the occupation phase, the ceramic material was discarded in this space. The assemblage is dated to the 2nd and first half of the 3rd centuries AD and includes several ceramic categories: tablewares, cooking wares, lightning equipment, transport vessels, and building materials. Each category is analyzed according to the criteria of functionality, chronology, and provenance. The assemblage shows a clear preference for products that were most probably manufactured within the province of Moesia Inferior. Imported wares are limited in quantity and include vessels from Aegean and Pontic production centers. Statistical analysis highlights the predominance of cooking wares—both wheel-made and hand-made products (non–Roman pottery, influenced by the local Getae tradition)—which together account for nearly half of the pottery recovered.
AN INSCRIBED EARLY BYZANTINE FIBULA FROM SERBIA: SOME REMARKS ON THE CULT OF SAINT MENAS IN THE BALKANS
A fragmentary bronze fibula with the inscription MINNA was uncovered at the archaeological site of Kladenčište near Bela Palanka, Serbia. Based on its archaeological context and comparisons with similar finds—characterized by a backward-bent foot resembling the Latin letter U and featuring inscriptions on the foot, known exclusively from the Balkans—the Kladenčište fibula is dated to the 6th century CE. The inscription most likely refers to Saint Menas (also known as Minas, Mina, or Mena), an Egyptian martyr who was persecuted under Diocletian. Together with at least five other fibulae bearing Menas’ name and the evidence of so-called Menas flasks, the Kladenčište fibula strengthens the case for the widespread veneration of St. Menas in the central and eastern Balkans during the Early Byzantine period.
This article examines a medallion-shaped bronze apotropaic amulet discovered during the 2024 excavations at Syedra in Cilicia from technical and iconographic perspectives. On the obverse, the object bears the “Holy Rider” scene, in which a nimbed mounted figure attacks a female demon with a spear. Although the Syedra example is uninscribed, its iconographic core still allows it to be situated within the broader repertoire of protective images that became widespread in the Eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity and the Early Byzantine period. The study focuses in particular on the production technique and typological position of the object. While many such medallions are known to have been produced as composite two-part objects (A+B), the expected B side of the Syedra amulet was not recovered. In addition, the absence of the running lion motif, which frequently appears in repoussé medallions of this group, suggests a local variant that preserves the common typological core without fully repeating the standard scheme. Since the possibility of redeposition in the H3 context limits the value of stratigraphic dating, the chronology is discussed on the basis of iconographic and typological parallels as well as regional distribution; on this basis, the most probable date for the amulet is proposed as the fifth to sixth centuries CE.
TEST EXCAVATIONS AT THE ROMAN-AGE NECROPOLIS OF CAȘUNCA (FLOREȘTI DISTRICT, REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA)
The diagnostic archaeological research conducted in 2025 at the Roman-era necropolis at Cașunca-la Movile (Florești District, Republic of Moldova) was intended to evaluate the results of geophysical surveys that revealed the existence of an characterized by 63 grave pits and multiple quadrilateral ditch-type structures, specific to the Sarmatian environment of the Prut–Nistru region. The invasive research confirmedthe existence of the necropolis and allowed for the investigation of two inhumation graves, attributed to an adult male and a juvenile female. The archaeological inventory, relatively poor and disturbed as a result of post-funeral interventions, includes fragments of Roman amphorae, an imported vessel, glass paste and amber beads, gold pieces (pendants, tubes, beads, and wires), as well as a bell-shaped pendant. These finds reflect the local community’s integration into the trade networks of the Barbaricum and its contacts with the Roman world, allowing the complex to be dated to phases B2a–C1 (late 1st century – first half of the 3rd century AD). Of particular relevance are the enclosure-and-ditch structures, interpreted as ritual spaces associated with funerary practices, likely used for conducting rituals and funeral feasts. The typological and comparative analysis reveals parallels both in the Eastern Carpathian region and in the Pontic and Carpathian Basin regions. The study highlights the importance of correlating archaeological data with interdisciplinary research to reconstruct the funerary practices, chronology, and population dynamics of the Sarmatian peoples in the Roman-Barbarian contact zone.
LATE SCYTHIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL CULTURE: A THREATENED PART OF UKRAINIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE
The paper contains the description and research of Late Scythian hillforts and burial grounds of the Lower Dnieper basin of the 2nd century BC – 3rd century AD, located along the right (12 hillforts and 3 burial grounds) and left (5 hillforts, separate burials) banks of the Dnieper River. The text includes the brief history of the study of sites with the author's version of the origin of the Late Scythian culture of the region; the general characteristics of the Late Scythian culture of the Lower Dnieper; a description of topography of the hillforts of two types, features of their fortification; characteristics of three known burial grounds with classification of the burial constructions with analysis of funeral rites and grave goods etc. The text is accompanied by maps, plans and aerial photographs of the sites, satellite images, archival and modern photographs. Particular attention is paid to the destructive consequences of Russian invasion and the subsequent fate of the Lower Dnieper Late Scythian sites, which found themselves in the epicenter of hostilities.
THE PROCURATORES PRAESIDIALES OF DACIA POROLISSENSIS UNDER ANTONINUS PIUS AND THE QUEST FOR THE PRAETORIUM PROCURATORIS AT POROLISSUM
This paper gives an overview regarding the procuratores praesidiales of Dacia Porolissensis during the reign of the emperor Antoninus Pius, based on the latest research on the topic and newest data provided especially by the military diplomas. Its focus is to recreate the chronology of these governors and resume the debate concerning their main seat in the province.
THE BRONZE ARTEFACT FROM THE WIETENBERG CEMETERY IN SIBIŞENI
By chance, the bronze artifact from the Wietenberg culture necropolis at Sibişeni-Deasupra Satului was rediscovered. It comes from near the urn in grave 19. The piece, found among materials from another site (Ocna Sibiului-Triguri), is preserved in an envelope specifying its provenance. The artifact is fragmentary, having been cut from a sheet (?) of bronze. The piece is slightly twisted and has a quadrilateral cross-section, but neither end is preserved, so we cannot determine its possible function. We can only surmise that it may have been a needle or a small chisel. On this occasion, the bronze pieces from the Wietenberg funerary inventories (Sibişeni, Luduş, Şoimuş, Dumbrăviţa, Sebeş, Cluj-Napoca) are discussed, noting their small number as well as their limited utility (pendants, saltaleoni, needles).
KHIRBET BEIT ʿATÂB AND THE MÛGHÂRET BIR EL HASÛTAH CAVE COMPLEX: A MULTI-PERIOD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN THE JERUSALEM HILLS
: Khirbet Beit ʿAtâb, strategically located in the Jerusalem Hills, has attracted scholarly attention since the 19th century, yet fundamental questions about its most enigmatic feature—the Mûghâret Bir el Hasûtah cave complex—have remained unresolved. Previous researchers debated whether this extensive underground network represents an artificial hiding system or a natural karstic formation. This study synthesizes archival research, field observations, and speleological analysis to demonstrate that Mûghâret Bir el Hasûtah represents a natural karst system enhanced through selective human modifications for refuge purposes. Morphological analysis reveals diagnostic evidence of phreatic cave formation, while constructed retaining walls and passage constrictions indicate deliberate human adaptation. The site exhibits multi-period occupation from the Iron Age through the Ottoman period. A kokhim tomb indicates late Second Temple–period Jewish settlement, whereas Crusader remains may correspond to the documented Bethaatap estate. The columbarium installation provides chronological parameters from the Hellenistic through Byzantine periods. Rather than functioning as a direct fortress-to-spring tunnel, the 104 m cave system served refuge purposes, following patterns documented throughout Judean Hills hiding complexes. This integrated approach to natural feature adaptation characterizes sustainable settlement strategies in the semi-arid Jerusalem Hills environment.
ROMAN AND LATE ANTIQUE GLASS BOTTLES IN THE ADANA MUSEUM COLLECTION: AN EVALUATION OF TYPOLOGY AND PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES
This study examines the glass bottles in the Adana Museum collection, dated to the Roman and Late Antique periods, from typological, technical, and chronological perspectives. Dated between the 1st and 10th centuries AD, these examples reflect the formal diversity, technological development, and aesthetic approach of the Eastern Mediterranean glassmaking tradition. Within the scope of the study, the distribution of free-blowing and mould-blowing techniques within the collection was assessed; it was determined that mould-blowing is more prominent in the earlier phases, whereas free-blowing becomes more evident in the later phases. The collection presents a wide typological range, including examples such as oinochoai, amphoriskoi, gutti, aryballoi, as well as bottles with spiral and zigzag decoration, ribbed forms, and long-necked and globular-bodied specimens. Comparative analyses indicate that a significant portion of the assemblage reflects Eastern Mediterranean glass-production traditions. However, the distinctive qualities observed in formal details and technical features indicate the presence of an active local glass-production tradition in the region of Cilicia. These findings demonstrate that the region was not merely an area of commercial distribution, but also a centre where production activities were maintained. The data obtained indicate that Cilicia assumed a central role within Eastern Mediterranean glass production and trade networks throughout the Roman and Late Antique periods. The Adana Museum glass collection constitutes a significant representative assemblage documenting the technical and typological development of this process; the study offers new archaeological and typological assessments regarding Cilicia’s position in the history of glassworking.
COINS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF A SANCTUARY: NUMISMATIC EVIDENCE FROM THE SANCTUARY OF MEN ASKAENOS IN PISIDIAN ANTIOCH
Excavations carried out at the Sanctuary of Men Askaenos, located within the territory of Pisidian Antioch, have yielded 214 coins alongside votive objects, figurines, miniature offering vessels, and other finds. As proven by the coin finds, site was actively used from the 2nd century BC until the late 4th century AD, documenting its long-term function as a religious and cultural center. The transformation of the Roman Empire in favor of Christianity accelerated particularly during the 4th and 5th centuries AD through a series of legal decrees. The law issued on July 10, 399, ordered the destruction of pagan temples in rural areas; another decree dated August 30, 415, mandated the transfer of all properties belonging to the pagan cult to the Church. Finally, the law of December 18, 435, required the complete demolition of any surviving temples, shrines, and altars, and their purification through consecration with crosses, the sacred symbols of the Christian faith. These laws established a legal framework for the systematic eradication of pagan sanctuaries and their conversion into Christian places of worship within the Late Roman Empire. The Late Roman coins found in the Sanctuary of Men Askaenos provide valuable insights into how this transformation was implemented at the local level. In particular, they shed light on how the decrees compiled in the Codex Theodosianus affected regional religious structures and illustrate the process by which pagan cult sites were replaced by Christian worship spaces.
AGAIN ABOUT THE COINS OF MOSKON – AN ENIGMATIC RULER FROM DOBRUDJA IN THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD
In the lands of today’s Northern Dobrudja in Romania – south of the Danube River around the Delta, several single silver coins have been found, as well as three coins found as included in a mixed coin hoard – all of the coins with the title basileus and the name Moskon on the reverse. After all such finds, discussions about the dating of these coins, as well as about the ethnic identification of this ruler, have not subsided. Moskon has been identified as the ruler of the Getae from the lands of Dobrudja, but his identification is still disputed. The date of these coins has so far varied widely from ca. the middle of the 4th century BC until the end of the 2nd century BC/beginning of the 1st century BC. Here are presented completely new observations on the silver coins of the ruler Moskon. The two known denominations of this ruler’s coins have been previously defined as follows – the larger denomination – didrachm, the smaller denomination – hemidrachm. It was found that the denomination presented as a hemidrachm was incorrect, as it was a drachm in weight. It has been established that there is a third denomination of coins of this ruler, previously unknown, which is represented here as a tetrobol, minted by different pair of dies. Moskon was probably a ruler of the Bastarnae around the middle of the 2nd century BC.
WHY DID THEY NOT RECOVER THE HOARDS? INSECURITY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
The phenomenon of coin hoarding in ancient Rome has been a subject of considerable scholarly interest. Various factors contributed to the inability of Romans to recover their buried hoards. Historical Context: It is suggested that the practice of burying coins was not universally intended for recovery. Recent archaeological findings, such as the Frome hoard, indicate that many hoards were buried during periods of instability, leading to the assumption that recovery was not always feasible. Socioeconomic Factors: The decline in population and economic turmoil during the later periods of the Roman Empire may have hindered recovery efforts. As communities faced invasions and internal strife, the original owners of the hoards may have perished or relocated, making recovery impossible. Archaeological Evidence: Studies of hoard distributions indicate that many hoards were never recovered, as evidenced by the lack of subsequent finds in the vicinity of known hoard locations. This suggests that the original intent to recover was often thwarted by changing circumstances.
SETTLING STRATEGIES OF HUMAN COMMUNITIES IN PANNONIAN HOLOCENE RIVERSCAPE. A MICRO ZONE CASE STUDY FROM BANAT (ROMANIA)
To balance the advantages and disadvantages of living near a river, communities faced strategic choices when establishing their settlements: settling along an active river channel, a fossil (abandoned) channel, or avoiding watercourses. In this research, we tried to identify these ancient options, establishing an absolute chronology for the fossil river channels. Therefore, in addition to producing a distribution map of historical human settlements, our study aims to reconstruct part of the local paleo-hydrographic network by integrating multiple methodological approaches. Former human settlements were identified through a systematic field survey covering the entire study area. The paleochannel network was reconstructed using high-resolution LiDAR data, which enabled a detailed analysis of the micromorphology of both, inhabited and uninhabited areas. Furthermore, sediment samples were collected by drilling into former riverbeds and analyzed using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL), dating to establish an absolute chronology for each paleochannel. By correlating the results obtained from these approaches, we achieve a partial reconstruction of the spatial and temporal relationship between past human communities and nearby water resources.
APPLICATION OF ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES AND MACHINE LEARNING MODELS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND CULTURAL ATTRIBUTION OF ANCIENT POTTERY: A CASE STUDY FROM BOLU CLAUDIOPOLIS, TURKEY
Understanding the origin, manufacturing technology, and cultural connections of ancient pottery is a primary goal in interdisciplinary research spanning archaeology and materials science. This study investigated 20 pottery samples from the ancient site of Bolu Claudiopolis (modern-day Bolu, Turkey). For a detailed and multifaceted analysis, a combination of scientific techniques—including X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)—were employed to obtain the chemical, mineralogical, and structural characteristics of the pottery. The resulting data were input into various machine learning algorithms (KNN, SVM, Random Forest) implemented using Weka software. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was utilized for dimensionality reduction and pattern discovery. To enhance accuracy in identifying and distinguishing possible civilizational origins (Roman and Greek), Fuzzy Logic was applied to define rules for combined classification. Furthermore, data fusion methods were used to combine and analyze information across different data levels (chemical, mineral, structural). The results demonstrated significant differences in the chemical and mineral composition of the samples, which can be interpreted in relation to different civilizations. The Random Forest model showed the highest classification accuracy. Fuzzy analysis indicated that most samples had a high dependency on the Roman civilization, while some exhibited a mixed tendency toward the Greek civilization. XRD and FTIR results suggested the use of a medium firing temperature and silicate soils with specific mineral granules. This study exemplifies a new interdisciplinary approach that utilizes advanced scientific techniques and machine learning to enable a deeper analysis of ancient pottery and its civilizational provenance.
CHARACTERIZATION OF EASTERN SIGILLATA C (ESC) FROM THE YK SECTOR AT KLAROS: AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ARCHAEOMETRIC APPROACH
The popularity of the sanctuary of Klaros began to rise around the turn of the millennium, reaching its zenith in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Recent excavations in the YK Sector, situated near the propylon of the oracle centre, have yielded significant data regarding this period. The Roman-period fine ware assemblage recovered from the sector includes Italian Sigillata, Eastern Sigillata A, B, and C, Late Roman C (LRC), African Red Slip Ware, and Late Roman Light-Coloured Ware. This study focuses specifically on Eastern Sigillata C (ESC), a group not previously examined as a distinct assemblage at Klaros, providing new evidence for the sanctuary’s role as one of the consumption centres in Ionia. Comprising 75 diagnostic fragments, the ESC assemblage contributes significantly to the chronology of the sanctuary. The majority being dated to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, these finds correspond to the final major phase of activity before the sanctuary lost its original oracular function. Moreover, parallel to the transformation of the sanctuary, the ESC group represents a transitional stage between terra sigillata and Late Roman Red Slip wares. Archaeometric analyses of the relevant samples from the site proved to be a helpful method in classifying specimens that are typologically and macroscopically indistinguishable from many Eastern Sigillata B and early LRC examples. Compositional analyses also highlighted hints on the predecessor-successor relationship, particularly between ESC and LRC. Furthermore, the chemical analysis results demonstrate that the samples compositionally correlate to those of Çandarlı (Pitane) productions, confirming it as a primary source. The typological and archaeometric examination on ESC wares offers new insights on the history of the sanctuary as well as the shifting ceramic consumption patterns of the region.
REVISITING THE CULT OF ARES IN GRECO-ROMAN ASIA MINOR
This article revisits the cults of Ares in Asia Minor, with particular attention to the southern regions of the peninsula. It starts from the interpretation of these cults as local manifestations of indigenous warrior deities assimilated to the Greek Ares, while focusing on specific features that complicate such a model. The study first analyses the distinctive iconography of Ares holding a trident at Amblada in eastern Pisidia, as attested in numismatic evidence. It then investigates the god’s oracular dimension, especially in connection with alphabetical oracles in Kabalia and neighbouring regions. The alleged dedication of a statuette of Hermanubis to Ares is also considered in relation to this divinatory aspect. Finally, two Clarian oracles from Syedra and Iconium prescribing the erection of statues of Ares alongside Hermes (Argeiphontes) and Dike/Thesmos are re-examined, with attention to their historical context and religious content. The evidence presented in the article underscores the local particularities and the complexity of cult practices within the hybrid ritual landscape of Greco-Roman Asia Minor.
YERVAND H. GREKYAN (ED.), BY GOD'S GRACE: ANCIENT ANATOLIAN STUDIES PRESENTED TO ARAM KOSYAN ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 65TH BIRTHDAY
Yervand H. Grekyan (ed.), By God’s Grace: Ancient Anatolian Studies Presented to Aram Kosyan on the Occasion of his 65th Birthday. Ancient Near Eastern Studies Supplement Series 61. Leuven – Paris – Bristol, CT.: PEETERS PUB & BOOKSELLERS, 2023. Pp. XX+366. ISBN: 9789042948686; E-ISBN: 9789042948693
YERVAND H. GREKYAN. THE URARTIAN ONOMASTICON: A PROSOPOGRAPHIC STUDY, ARAMAZD: ARMENIAN JOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIES
Yervand H. Grekyan. The Urartian Onomasticon: A Prosopographic Study, ARAMAZD: Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies. Editor–in–Chief Aram Kosyan, Vol. XVII, Issue 2. Association for Near Eastern and Caucasian Studies. Archaeopress Publishing Ltd: Oxford, UK. Yerevan-Oxford 2023. ISSN 1829-1376, ISBN 978-1-80327-706-6. 128 pp.
STANISLAV GRIGORIEV, INDO-ARYANS IN THE BRONZE AGE, ARCHAEOPRESS ARCHAEOLOGY, BICESTER 2025
Stanislav Grigoriev, Indo-Aryans in the Bronze Age, Archaeopress Archaeology, Bicester 2025, 298 pages, 92 figures, 2 tables. ISBN Hardback: 9781805830665, Digital: 9781805830672, DOI 10.32028/9781805830665
YU. MONAKHOV, E. V. KUZNETSOVA, A. N. KOVALENKO, N. B. CHUREKOVA, A. G. YAZOVSKIKH, AMPHORAE OF THE 6TH–3RD CENTURIES BC FROM MUSEUM COLLECTIONS OF ROSTOV-ON-DON
S. Yu. Monakhov, E. V. Kuznetsova, A. N. Kovalenko, N. B. Churekova, A. G. Yazovskikh, Amphorae of the 6th–3rd Centuries BC from Museum Collections of Rostov-on-Don [in Russian], Saratov: Amirit, 2025, 284 pages, 123 figs, 5 tables, and 199 catalogue illustrations integrated into the text. ISBN 978-5-00207-976-6.
V. SYMONENKO, O. S. DZNELADZE, D. M. SIKOZA, ATLAS OF LATE SCYTHIAN SITES OF THE LOWER DNIEPER.
O. V. Symonenko, O. S. Dzneladze, D. M. Sikoza, Atlas of Late Scythian Sites of the Lower Dnieper. [In Ukrainian], Kyiv: Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 2024. 214 p. ISBN 978-617-7810-43-7.
Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
TWO GEPIDIC AGE BURIALS RECENTLY DISCOVERED AT ALBA IULIA. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL EVALUATION
The article presents two inhumations discovered during the rescue archaeological excavations conducted at Alba Iulia, nearby site Apulum II. These are ascribed to the Gepidic period (the 5th–6th century AD), the main focus of the study, being integrated to a broader archaeological context that is characterised by extensive inhabitancy during the period. The first burial belongs to a mature male individual, placed in a supine position with the head oriented to the West, within a rectangular pit. The grave had been looted in antiquity, with only a few coffin nails being identified. The anthropological analysis evidences an average-to-high stature and reveals traces of marked dental wear and degenerative spinal changes, consistent with age and lifestyle. The second burial belongs to an adult female, placed within the grave in a similar position, in oval pit. The grave goods comprise a decorated double-sided comb and an iron buckle. The typological analysis of the comb, characterised by decoration made in the “stab-and-drag” technique and zigzag motifs, indicates a broad dating within the interval between the second half of the 5th century and the 6th century AD. The authors place the two graves within a more extensive Gepidic cemetery identified through previous research in the area, with more than forty identified graves. Although the lack of complete publication of these finds hinders the reconstruction of the cemetery layout, it is suggested that the analysed graves belong to one of its peripheral areas. Traces of habitation were also identified nearby, indicative of existing local communities. In conclusion, the authors highlight the inhabitancy density in the Alba Iulia area during the 5th–6th century AD and emphasize the role of Roman date infrastructure in shaping the post-Roman habitat. Moreover, they draw attention to the need for systematic publication of finds for a better understanding of settlement dynamics and spatial organisation during the Gepidic period.
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A MONOLITHIC DORIC ENTABLATURE FROM IASOS
The artifact examined in this study was discovered in 2023 during the excavations at the temenos of the Artemis Astias sanctuary in the ancient city of Iasos. It consists of a complete Doric entablature comprising its architrave, triglyph-metope, and geison-sima elements. The block is carved from a single piece of white marble. The artifact was used as spolia material in a wall dated to the Late Roman/Early Byzantine period and has been preserved in remarkably good condition. The sanctuary where the entablature was discovered lies directly south of the Roman Agora of Iasos. The temenos, a significant portion of which has now been uncovered, is bounded to the north by the Agora’s south stoa, to the south by the temenos exedra/archive building, and to the east and west by single-row column stoas dated to the late Hellenistic period. At the center of the area stands an in antis temple associated with the cult of Aphrodite, dating to the Hekatomnid dynasty. The temenos is known as a sanctuary dedicated to Artemis Astias, based on inscriptions related to repairs and additions made during the Roman Imperial period. The piece is a complete, monolithic Doric entablature, rectangular in shape, with four sides. With these characteristics, it is unique both in the Caria region and throughout the wider Mediterranean area. First, the study identifies the stylistic features of the piece. Next, the criteria relevant to its dating are determined, followed by a comparison with the block itself and other examples of Doric architecture in the ancient city of Iasos and the Caria region. The final section presents data and suggestions regarding the artifact’s function, its possible other components, and its location in the ancient city of Iasos.
NOMADS OF ZERENDY AND SANDYKTAU AT THE TURN OF ERAS (NORTHERN KAZAKHSTAN)
The article publishes archaeological excavation data from the Aydarly burial ground and archaeological reconnaissance conducted in the Zerendy and Sandyktau districts of the Akmola region of the Republic of Kazakhstan by the Ishim stationary archaeological expedition in 2010 and by the A.Kh. Margulan Institute of Archaeology in 2024–2025. The burial ground consisted of three structures: two barrows with undercut (catacomb) graves and one ritual structure. The barrows differ in the composition of the mound and the pit construction. Barrow No. 1 with a soil embankment has a standard undercut grave with the entrance of the burial chamber located below the bottom of the access pit. Under the stone and earth embankment of barrow No. 2, an undercut burial chamber with the entrance located above the bottom of the access pit was discovered. The accompanying inventory from the burial in barrow No. 1 included ceramic, iron arrowheads, a knife, and sacrificial animal bones. These grave goods combined with the ritual, allow us to date its construction to the second half of the 2nd-1st century BC or the turn of the era. The chamber type in barrow No. 2 and its southern orientation, determined by the in-situ calcaneus bones, allow it to be synchronized with barrow No. 1. Three statuary objects were discovered at the site during excavation. The first anthropomorphic slab was discovered beneath the mound of barrow No. 1. Two more statuary objects were recorded during excavations of barrow No. 2 – in the burial pit and as part of a ritual arrangement. The archaeological survey revealed archaeological sites with similar layouts and mound types. A stone slab with a tamga (sign) was discovered near one of them. Analysis of the burial rites, grave goods, sculptures, and tamgas of the Aydarly and Karagayly burial grounds, as well as the Sarkara burial ground explored last century, suggest that at the turn of the eras, Sarmatians penetrated the central part of the Kokshetau Upland from the Ilek River basin or from the Turgay region. Judging by four recorded tamgas, these communities interacted with populations from the southern regions of Central Asia.