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    STUDIA HISTORIA - Issue no. 1-2 / 2009  
         
  Article:   DACIAN WEAPONS DISCOVERED AT ARDEU (HUNEDOARA COUNTY).

Authors:  .
 
       
         
  Abstract:  A. Emplacement of the site: Ardeu village is located in South-Western Transylvania (Fig. 1/3), on the Ardeu Valley (Fig. 1/2). From a geographical point of view, the arrea belongs to the Metaliferi Mountains – a small group in the Southern part of the Romanian Western Carpathians. The “Cetăţuie” Hill is placed right near the road named DJ 705, with a good positon on the shortest way from the Dacian Kingdom’s capital (Fig. 1/1) area to the region rich in golden minerals in the Apuseni Mountains (Romanian Western Carpathians). The hill was inhabited during several historical periods. B. The discoveries: This ancient pieces that we intent to present in this paper were found fortunately, but also through archaeological investigations. C. The weapons: 1. Iron shield boss - MCDR-Deva nr. inv. 40993 (Fig. 2/2), fragmentary; 2. Iron curved-dagger scabbard - MCDR-Deva nr. inv 40599 (Fig. 3/3), fragmentary; 3. Bone dagger handle - MCDR-Deva nr. inv. 40608 (Fig. 3/2), fragmentary; 4. Iron lance-head - MCDR-Deva nr. inv. 40950 (Fig. 3/5), fragmentary; 5. Iron lance-butt - MCDR-Deva, nr inv. 23387 (Fig. 3/4), fragmentary; 6. Iron lance-butt - MNIR, box 157, without inventory number (Fig. 3/1). D. Analogies and chronology: Three of the pieces which we present here (Fig. 2/2-3, Fig. 3/2) were discovered in the same complex, partially investigated, but very probably dated at the end of the Ist century B.C. or, at the begining of the Ist century A.D. The other objects are dated, based on the analogies, during the Ist century B.C. - Ist century A.D. Except the bone dagger handle, all the pieces are well-known in Dacian fortifications, funerary contexts and, sometimes, in settlements. Although the dagger handle is an unique discovery in regards to its shape, there are other kinds of bone handles known from the same area, with similar ornamentation. E. Final Considerations: Although in a small number and even if only some of them have belonged to the same archaeological complex, the weapons discovered at Ardeu cover a large typology. In fact, almost all the weapons of the Dacian warrior’s panoply are represented in this case (Fig. 4/3).

Key-words: Pre-roman Dacia, Apuseni Mountains, Dacian armament, warlike elites.
 
         
     
         
         
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