Bronze Age in Romania

See also: Bronze Age in Transylvania, Bronze Age in Southeastern Europe, and Bronze Age in Europe
Bronze Age
↑ Chalcolithic Europe
Europe (c. 3200–600 BC)

Aegean (Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean)

Bronze Age Balkans, Bell Beaker culture, Únětice culture, Nordic Bronze Age, Tumulus culture, Urnfield culture

Bronze Age Britain, Atlantic Bronze Age, Argaric culture

Nuragic culture, Terramare culture, Apennine culture, Proto-Villanovan culture, Canegrate culture, Golasecca culture

Bronze Age Caucasus, Catacomb culture, Abashevo culture, Poltavka culture, Sintashta culture, Andronovo culture, Srubnaya culture
↓Iron Age Europe

The Bronze Age is a period in the Prehistoric Romanian timeline and is sub-divided into Early Bronze Age (c. 3500–2200 BC), Middle Bronze Age (c. 2200–1600/1500 BC), and Late Bronze Age (c. 1600/1500–1100 BC).[1]

Periodization

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Several Bronze Age chronologies have been applied to the Romanian area. An example would be the Periodization of Paul Reinecke for the Central European space, which split the Bronze Age into four phases (A, B, C and D) based upon the associations among the found bronze objects.[1]

Features

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Coţofeni culture pottery at the Aiud History Museum, Aiud
Wietenberg culture artifacts. In display at the National Museum of Transylvanian History, Cluj-Napoca

During the Bronze Age, there were some important developments from the Chalcolithic, with significant improvements in the economy.

The local bronze-aged economy was based on rearing livestock (sheep, goats and pigs). The Wietenberg culture reared large cattle and horses for both transportation and food. At this time, the artistic output also significantly increased, for example the Gârla Mare culture who created intricate clay statuettes.

In the Early Bronze Age (c. 3500–2200 BC), we see the archaeological evidence of various cultures developing, including the Baden-Coţofeni culture, the Cernavodă III-Belleraz culture, the Glina-Schneckenberg culture and the Verbicioara culture. Common occupations were agriculture, mining, and animal husbandry. Houses were rectangular and medium-sized. The last period of the Early Bronze Age produced a broad range of ornaments (loop rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants comprising copper, gold, and silver and particularly bronze).

Verbicioara culture was identified in 1949 by the eponymous resort excavations.[citation needed] Regarding burial customs, it was considered the beginning of the burial of the dead.[2]

In the Middle Bronze Age (c. 2200–1600/1500 BC), the population of Romania and neighboring countries was demarcated by the appearance of several major cultures. Some that stand out include the Otomani culture (seen also in Slovakia), Wietenberg culture (seen in Transylvania), Mureş culture, and Gârla Mare culture (from which impressive clay figurines and statuettes have been found).

Religion

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The Bronze Age introduced solar, or Uranian, cults. Some ornaments, considered to be solar symbols, were frequently pictured on ceramic or metal parts: concentric circles, circles accompanied by rays, and the swastika.[citation needed] Cremation is considered to be connected to these cults.[3]

In the Romanian territory, there are three known bronze-aged sanctuaries: Sălacea, Bihor County (Ottomány culture, phase II). The only cultures of this area well represented in this regard are the Gârla Mare Zuto Brdo culture and the Bijelo Szeremle Brdo-Dalj culture (also present in Hungary and Croatia). About 340 pieces were found in the area of the two cultures, of which 244 are in the Gârla Mare area.[3]

Clay miniature axes (axes, hammers or double axes) belonging to this period have been found. Labrys double-axes are frequently found in the Cretan and Mycenaean worlds, where they occur most often in complex rituals and tombs (for example the Tomb of double ax of Knossos).[citation needed] In the Mycenaean context, the labrys has a wide range of sizes, from miniature forms to giant forms that measure 1.20 meters. However, the labrys site is frequently associated with the moon and can be a symbol of a goddess of vegetation, the forerunner of Demeter, who, on Mycenaean seals, is found under a tree. The goddess has an ax in her hand and receives as gifts poppies and fruits.[citation needed]

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  • Sarasau hoard 1300-1200 BC
    Sarasau hoard 1300-1200 BC
  • Sarasau hoard 1300-1200 BC
    Sarasau hoard 1300-1200 BC

See also

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Bronze Age
↑ Chalcolithic
Africa, Near East (c. 3300–1200 BC)
Egypt, Anatolia, Caucasus, Elam, Levant, Mesopotamia, Sistan, Canaan Late Bronze Age collapse
East Asia (c. 3100–300 BC)
Erlitou, Erligang, Gojoseon, Jomon, Majiayao, Mumun, Qijia, Siwa, Wucheng, Xindian, Yueshi, Xia dynasty, Shang dynasty, Sanxingdui, Zhou dynasty
Eurasia and Siberia (c. 2700–700 BC)
Poltavka culture, Abashevo culture, Sintashta culture, Andronovo culture, Mezhovskaya culture, Cherkaskul culture
Europe (c. 3200–900 BC)
Aegean (Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean), Caucasus, Catacomb culture, Srubnaya culture, Bell Beaker culture, Apennine culture, Terramare culture, Únětice culture, Tumulus culture, Urnfield culture, Proto-Villanovan culture, Hallstatt culture, Canegrate culture, Golasecca culture, Argaric culture, Atlantic Bronze Age, Bronze Age Britain, Nordic Bronze Age
Indian subcontinent (c. 3300–1200 BC)
Indus Valley Civilisation, Bronze Age India, Ochre Coloured Pottery, Cemetery H
Topics
Arsenical bronze, writing, literature, Sword, Chariot
↓ Iron Age

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Cristian Ștefan-Epoca Bronzului, page 1
  2. ^ "Cu Privire La Descoperirile Funerare Ale Grupei Verbicioara". Archaeology.ro. 2004-12-09. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
  3. ^ a b "Credinte religioase si piese de cult in epoca bronzului - Prehistoire". Prehistoire.e-monsite.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-13. Retrieved 2012-02-09.

References

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