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Cronica cercetărilor arheologice din România – campania 2006
Colectivul de cercetare a efectuat mai multe cercetări de
suprafaţă în hinterland pentru o localizare a nucleelor de
locuire, a necropolelor etc. Cu această ocazie a fost localizată
la aprox. 1 km SE de cetate, în punctul Groapa Cailor, o
fortificaţie de perioadă otomană, cu val şi şanţ, care făcea
parte dintr-un sistem de mai multe fortificaţii de acest tip. O
fortificaţie asemănătoare, dar de dimensiuni cu mult mai mari,
o întâlnim chiar în interiorul cetăţii Noviodunum. De asemenea,
am continuat cercetarea şi în zona necropolei romane, unde
au fost găsite monede, fragmente ceramice, un unguentariu
din sticlă şi chiar fragmente de ceramica otomană.
Pl. 43
Note:
1. Suceveanu, Barnea 1991, p. 182, fig.10.
2. Barnea şi colaboratorii 1979, p. 123, fig. 106.
3. Barnea şi colaboratorii 1979, p. 123, fig. 106.
4. Scorpan 1980, p 190, fig. XLVI.
5. Scorpan 1980, p 190, fig. XLVI.
Abstract:
The archaeological research in 2006 has preceded in the
Southeast sector of the fortress of Noviodunum and at the
“Great Tower”, “A Tower”, and “Corner Tower” sectors.
The research work at the “Corner Tower” sector has
distinguished a tower with a horseshoe shape, which had
analogies with other fortresses from Dobrudja.
The future archaeological investigations had in view to
clear some aspects which are bound by chronological
elements and constructive stages of the walls, from late
Roman Period and Byzantine Period.
The Noviodunum Archaeological Project (NAP):
Summary Report of the 2006 Season
Adrian Popescu
The programme of excavation and field survey at
Noviodunum, which began in 2005, continued in July 2006 and
ran for eight weeks. The project team consisted of: Kris
Lockyear (Institute of Archaeology, University College London
[IoA], director) Adrian Popescu (Fitzwilliam Museum, University
of Cambridge, director); Timothy Sly (Archaeology, University
of Southampton [SU], director); Simon Davis, Agnieszka
Bystron, Iris Rodenbeusch (Museum of London Archaeological
Service, excavation supervisors); Elizabeth Popescu
(Cambridgeshire Archaeology, excavation supervisor); Doru
Bogdan (excavation supervisor); Michael Bamforth (IoA,
excavation supervisor); Sylvia Kennedy (excavation
supervisor); Mihaela Ciauşescu (Cluj, pottery specialist); Robin
Symonds (l'Institut National de Recherches en Archéologie
Préventive, pottery specialist); Gareth Beale (SU, computing
specialist); Jane Sidell (IoA and English Heritage,
environmental coordinator); Yvonne Edwards (IoA, faunal
remains); Martyn Allen (SU, faunal remains); Nichole Doub
(IoA, conservation); Kim Lockyear (logistical support); Elliott
Rampley (IoA, photography); Richard Farrant (finds support),
as well as students from the Institute of Archaeology,
University of Cambridge, University of Southampton,
Bucharest University and other institutions.
One of the major aims was to excavate the wall found in
the previous season on the south-facing slope of the fortress
near to the SW corner of the Ottoman fort, within the Roman
defensive walls in the anticipated position of a tower (Area 1).
189
Since the geophysical survey failed to provide clear evidence
for a tower in this position, a new trench was opened in the
putative location in order to verify its presence and character.
The result was, however, negative as the depth of the deposits
proved too thick at the base of the steep slope.
Three other trenches were opened to check the results of
the geophysical survey, which suggested the existence of two
parallel curtain walls. These confirmed the existence of a wall
similar to the one excavated in Area 1, probably contemporary
with those excavated by V.H. Baumann further to the east. The
wall uncovered in two of the three trenches seems to form part
of the same structure as the 2m thick wall (context 1065)
excavated in the 2005 season (Lockyear 2006). Although the
ashlar facing of the two sections of the newly excavated wall
had been robbed, the mortar and rubble core survives. The
section of the wall nearest to the Ottoman fort had a vertical
clay pipe running through it (Fig. 1), the function of which is as
yet uncertain. The final phases of activity are associated with
the robbing out of the ashlar facing from the curtain wall to
provide building material for the later structures on the site, as
well as for modern houses. A 16th-century silver plated forgery
of a German taler produced after 1577, recovered from the
robbing trench of the wall with the clay pipe, offers a terminus
post quem for one of the robbing phases.
Most of the 2006 contexts excavated in Area 1, which is
within the Roman defensive walls, derive from medieval
settlement (ephemeral buildings and numerous pits) but
truncated late Roman contexts, which were evident in the base
of pits. Detailed dating of the medieval contexts awaits
completion of finds analysis, but most appear to be 11th to
13th century.
One of the significant finds of the season was a
fragmented dolium (context 1206), from which a large
collection of charred oak root/knotwood was recovered. Wheat
and barley were noted in its fill and a number of sample
residues from surrounding deposits contained charred lentils.
Small finds consisted of coins (Roman to Byzantine) and a
largely late Byzantine assemblage of glass bracelets, iron
tools, bone and antler artefacts. Of particular note is a copper
alloy finger from a Roman statue found re-deposited.
A new area was opened in 2006 (Area 2), lying on the
north-facing slopes of elevated land to the south of the site of
the Roman fortress and civil settlement, c.1km from the
excavations in Area 1. This excavation sought to demonstrate
the character of extra-mural settlement and was positioned
between a late Roman building of relatively high status (with
constructional materials including marble and water pipe) and
a number of contemporary tile kilns, both of these areas having
been explored in previous work by staff from Tulcea Museum.
The excavation trench lies within the confines of an
extensive late Byzantine cemetery, spanning the 11th to 13th
centuries A.D. A group of fourteen articulated skeletons was
excavated in 2006, comprising eleven adults and three
juveniles. The burials were found in simple, relatively shallow,
earth cut graves orientated east to west with the uppermost
graves having been disturbed and compressed by later
ploughing. At least two phases of burials were apparent, the
graves lying in clear parallel rows and occasionally intercutting.
Few finds were directly associated with the burials, although a
small iron knife was found beneath one individual indicating
that it had been worn at the back of the belt.