Крајем 2020. године обављена су заштитна истраживања на две локације на локалитету Подвиник у Ни... more Крајем 2020. године обављена су заштитна истраживања на две локације на локалитету Подвиник у Нишу. Том приликом су откривени остаци два римска водовода – старијег и млађег, па резултати ових истраживања представљају важан сегмент у осветљавању проблема водоснабдевања римског и касноантичког Наисуса. За потребе овог текста искоришћена је и до сада или тек делимично публикована или потпуно непубликована документација са локалитета који се могу везати за водоводну мрежу античког града. Резултати археолошких истраживања на већем броју локалитета у другој половини 20. и са почетка 21. века умногоме су послужила за реконструкцију траса којима су водоводи спроводили воду до Наисуса, али и за могуће решавање проблема снабдевања вила у околини града. Основни циљ овог рада је да систематизује досадашње податке и на основу тога реконструише пут којим је вода допремана у град, као и да опише и објасни начине којима су становници града успевали да реше задатак водоснабдевања града и околних вила. Радна хипотеза, која је у највећој мери потврђена, у тексту се ослањала на раније претпоставке да је град величине Наисуса свакако морао имати више од једног водовода како би задовољио своје потребе за водом.
The paper reviews long-standing interpretation of the late Iron Age site of Židovar as “Celtic”, ... more The paper reviews long-standing interpretation of the late Iron Age site of Židovar as “Celtic”, “Dacian” and “Celto-Dacian”. Arguing that this standpoint is derived from biased culture-historical ethno-determinism, the evidence is reconsidered from excavation journals of Branko Gavela and published research on Židovar. Evidential basis is discussed, such as sratigraphic difficulties and chronology, as well as some common misconceptions of the site’s characteristics. Deadlocks are emphasized regarding the conclusions on its ethnic belonging. The paper calls for a new approach that goes beyond ethno-cultural determinism and urges the employment of “relational locality”. This perspective considers the site and its immediate surroundings as the first order community, i.e. the spatio-social focal point entangled in diverse, multidirectional and supra-regional relational networks. This would mean that the community of Židovar actively mediated different templates coming from the “globali...
Louise Revell, Ways of being Roman: Discourses of Identity in the Roman West, 2016, Oxford: Oxbow... more Louise Revell, Ways of being Roman: Discourses of Identity in the Roman West, 2016, Oxford: Oxbow books, 175 pp.
Review of the book: Danijel Dzino. 2010. Illyricum in Roman politics 229 BC-AD 68 . Cambridge: C... more Review of the book: Danijel Dzino. 2010. Illyricum in Roman politics 229 BC-AD 68 . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 223 pp.
The period between the two world wars is extremely important for the history of Serbian and Yugos... more The period between the two world wars is extremely important for the history of Serbian and Yugoslav archaeology, because this is the time when the discipline was rapidly institutionalized – new museums are established, new professionals are trained, and large fieldwork projects are initiated. At that moment, as well as immediately after – during the World War II, European archaeology is to the great extent oriented towards the German professionals and institutions. In Germany and Austria institutionalization started earlier, by the beginning of the 20th century, so a great number of the Serbian and Yugoslav archaeologists was educated in the German centres – Marburg, Berlin, Munich, Vienna and other universities. Adam Oršić started working in archaeology in 1930s, self-taught and leaning primarily on the experience of older colleagues, rather than on formal education, which he did not possess at the time. However, he started fieldwork on the sites in Niš and the surrounding area, ...
Natpisi na kamenim urnama gladijatora, sahranjenim u bliskom okruženju amfiteatra u Saloni, pruža... more Natpisi na kamenim urnama gladijatora, sahranjenim u bliskom okruženju amfiteatra u Saloni, pružaju nam uvid u društveni status gladijatora, što predstavlja pravu retkost u arheološkom zapisu. Informacije koje nam ti natpisi pružaju govore nam o preferiranom identitetu sahranjenih gladijatora. S jedne strane, radi se o robovima bez rimskog građanskog prava sa ograničenim poljem društvenog delovanja, dok se sa druge strane način sahrane (kamena urna sa natpisnim poljem i predstavom) ne razlikuje mnogo od sahrana rimskih građana iz istog perioda. Iako su gladijatori bili veoma popularni, spadali su zajedno sa glumcima, prostitutkama, podvodačima i trenerima u grupu infames prema kojoj se rimsko društvo odnosilo kao prema jednoj od društveno neprihvatljivih grupa. Ipak, i pored takvog društvenog statusa gladijatora, podaci dobijeni kroz natpise sa urni, govore o biranim informacijama upućenim na način na koji se od posmatrača očekuje da prepozna određenu sliku – sliku o pripadnosti gla...
The traditional concept of Romanization has heavily influenced the methodology of research of the... more The traditional concept of Romanization has heavily influenced the methodology of research of the Roman monuments in Europe. The basic principles of the concept have been laid out by Theodor Mommsen, the German historian and an expert in epigraphy, who was the first to define the relationships between the Roman…
The professional career of Adam Oršić went through many ups and downs and odd detours. He began h... more The professional career of Adam Oršić went through many ups and downs and odd detours. He began his professional life in Niš, as an assistant in the Museum to whose foundation he contributed, and during the World War II he focused upon his studies and the archaeological projects in Austria, with the aid of Oswald Menghin. The unstable political circumstances in the Balkans at the time, and the personal and professional decisions Oršić made, led to his long career in Brazil. During the four decades of devoted work, Oršić took part in numerous archaeological projects throughout Europe and South America, and his pioneering work in Brazil is still the subject of discussion in the archaeological community. The results of the work of Oršić in Yugoslavia have been largely ignored and finally forgotten. The paper presents an attempt to point to the importance of the research of Adam Oršić and the relevance of his results for the generations of archaeologists.
The site Crkvine is situated in the vicinity of the village Stubline in the borough of Obrenovac ... more The site Crkvine is situated in the vicinity of the village Stubline in the borough of Obrenovac around 40 km to the southwest of Belgrade (Serbia). In the first section of this work we present the comprehensive report about the investigations carried out so far. The geomagnetic prospection undertaken from 2006 to 2008 covered an area of 32,400 square meters and the obtained results indicate the existence of around 100 houses built in rows around the rather large open areas as well as the trenches surrounding the settlement. The investigations of the house 1/2008 dating from the Vinca culture D-2 period yielded in addition to the data concerning its interior organization also a unique find of the group of 46 figurines with 11 models of miniature tools. In the second section of this work we discuss the prospects, which future investigations of this site and its environment could provide concerning the study of the social organization in the very end of the Vinca culture.
ISTRAŽIVANJA, Јournal of Historical Researches, 2019
There are approximately 40 Roman baths dating from the 1st to 4th century AD that have been disco... more There are approximately 40 Roman baths dating from the 1st to 4th century AD that have been discovered in the territory of Moesia Superior. Most of them were systematically investigated, while some were only indirectly confirmed, either by means of surveys or through epigraphic monuments. The presence and layout of the rooms in these baths points to the conclusion that most activities in the baths of Moesia Superior were similar to those in other parts of the Empire. However, the baths from this territory also show some peculiarities, setting them apart from other parts of the Roman Empire. Although insufficiently investigated and reported on, the portable archaeological finds point to a whole host of activities that were not connected with the bath’s essential function – hygiene and health. Musical instruments, styluses, board game accessories and spindle discs are just some of the objects that illustrate the activities in baths, suggesting that it is not enough to interpret these ...
The paper reviews long-standing interpretation of the late Iron Age site of Židovar as "Celtic", ... more The paper reviews long-standing interpretation of the late Iron Age site of Židovar as "Celtic", "Dacian" and "Celto-Dacian". Arguing that this standpoint is derived from biased culture-historical ethno-determinism, the evidence is reconsidered from excavation journals of Branko Gavela and published research on Židovar. Evidential basis is discussed, such as sratigraphic difficulties and chronology, as well as some common misconceptions of the site's characteristics. Deadlocks are emphasized regarding the conclusions on its ethnic belonging. The paper calls for a new approach that goes beyond ethno-cultural determinism and urges the employment of "relational locality". This perspective considers the site and its immediate surroundings as the first order community, i.e. the spatio-social focal point entangled in diverse, multidirectional and supra-regional relational networks. This would mean that the community of Židovar actively mediated different templates coming from the "globalized" koines of La Tène Pannonian, Danubian-Carpathian and Roman worlds, and bricolaged them in distinctive local ways.
Крајем 2020. године обављена су заштитна истраживања на две локације на локалитету Подвиник у Ни... more Крајем 2020. године обављена су заштитна истраживања на две локације на локалитету Подвиник у Нишу. Том приликом су откривени остаци два римска водовода – старијег и млађег, па резултати ових истраживања представљају важан сегмент у осветљавању проблема водоснабдевања римског и касноантичког Наисуса. За потребе овог текста искоришћена је и до сада или тек делимично публикована или потпуно непубликована документација са локалитета који се могу везати за водоводну мрежу античког града. Резултати археолошких истраживања на већем броју локалитета у другој половини 20. и са почетка 21. века умногоме су послужила за реконструкцију траса којима су водоводи спроводили воду до Наисуса, али и за могуће решавање проблема снабдевања вила у околини града. Основни циљ овог рада је да систематизује досадашње податке и на основу тога реконструише пут којим је вода допремана у град, као и да опише и објасни начине којима су становници града успевали да реше задатак водоснабдевања града и околних вила. Радна хипотеза, која је у највећој мери потврђена, у тексту се ослањала на раније претпоставке да је град величине Наисуса свакако морао имати више од једног водовода како би задовољио своје потребе за водом.
The paper reviews long-standing interpretation of the late Iron Age site of Židovar as “Celtic”, ... more The paper reviews long-standing interpretation of the late Iron Age site of Židovar as “Celtic”, “Dacian” and “Celto-Dacian”. Arguing that this standpoint is derived from biased culture-historical ethno-determinism, the evidence is reconsidered from excavation journals of Branko Gavela and published research on Židovar. Evidential basis is discussed, such as sratigraphic difficulties and chronology, as well as some common misconceptions of the site’s characteristics. Deadlocks are emphasized regarding the conclusions on its ethnic belonging. The paper calls for a new approach that goes beyond ethno-cultural determinism and urges the employment of “relational locality”. This perspective considers the site and its immediate surroundings as the first order community, i.e. the spatio-social focal point entangled in diverse, multidirectional and supra-regional relational networks. This would mean that the community of Židovar actively mediated different templates coming from the “globali...
Louise Revell, Ways of being Roman: Discourses of Identity in the Roman West, 2016, Oxford: Oxbow... more Louise Revell, Ways of being Roman: Discourses of Identity in the Roman West, 2016, Oxford: Oxbow books, 175 pp.
Review of the book: Danijel Dzino. 2010. Illyricum in Roman politics 229 BC-AD 68 . Cambridge: C... more Review of the book: Danijel Dzino. 2010. Illyricum in Roman politics 229 BC-AD 68 . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 223 pp.
The period between the two world wars is extremely important for the history of Serbian and Yugos... more The period between the two world wars is extremely important for the history of Serbian and Yugoslav archaeology, because this is the time when the discipline was rapidly institutionalized – new museums are established, new professionals are trained, and large fieldwork projects are initiated. At that moment, as well as immediately after – during the World War II, European archaeology is to the great extent oriented towards the German professionals and institutions. In Germany and Austria institutionalization started earlier, by the beginning of the 20th century, so a great number of the Serbian and Yugoslav archaeologists was educated in the German centres – Marburg, Berlin, Munich, Vienna and other universities. Adam Oršić started working in archaeology in 1930s, self-taught and leaning primarily on the experience of older colleagues, rather than on formal education, which he did not possess at the time. However, he started fieldwork on the sites in Niš and the surrounding area, ...
Natpisi na kamenim urnama gladijatora, sahranjenim u bliskom okruženju amfiteatra u Saloni, pruža... more Natpisi na kamenim urnama gladijatora, sahranjenim u bliskom okruženju amfiteatra u Saloni, pružaju nam uvid u društveni status gladijatora, što predstavlja pravu retkost u arheološkom zapisu. Informacije koje nam ti natpisi pružaju govore nam o preferiranom identitetu sahranjenih gladijatora. S jedne strane, radi se o robovima bez rimskog građanskog prava sa ograničenim poljem društvenog delovanja, dok se sa druge strane način sahrane (kamena urna sa natpisnim poljem i predstavom) ne razlikuje mnogo od sahrana rimskih građana iz istog perioda. Iako su gladijatori bili veoma popularni, spadali su zajedno sa glumcima, prostitutkama, podvodačima i trenerima u grupu infames prema kojoj se rimsko društvo odnosilo kao prema jednoj od društveno neprihvatljivih grupa. Ipak, i pored takvog društvenog statusa gladijatora, podaci dobijeni kroz natpise sa urni, govore o biranim informacijama upućenim na način na koji se od posmatrača očekuje da prepozna određenu sliku – sliku o pripadnosti gla...
The traditional concept of Romanization has heavily influenced the methodology of research of the... more The traditional concept of Romanization has heavily influenced the methodology of research of the Roman monuments in Europe. The basic principles of the concept have been laid out by Theodor Mommsen, the German historian and an expert in epigraphy, who was the first to define the relationships between the Roman…
The professional career of Adam Oršić went through many ups and downs and odd detours. He began h... more The professional career of Adam Oršić went through many ups and downs and odd detours. He began his professional life in Niš, as an assistant in the Museum to whose foundation he contributed, and during the World War II he focused upon his studies and the archaeological projects in Austria, with the aid of Oswald Menghin. The unstable political circumstances in the Balkans at the time, and the personal and professional decisions Oršić made, led to his long career in Brazil. During the four decades of devoted work, Oršić took part in numerous archaeological projects throughout Europe and South America, and his pioneering work in Brazil is still the subject of discussion in the archaeological community. The results of the work of Oršić in Yugoslavia have been largely ignored and finally forgotten. The paper presents an attempt to point to the importance of the research of Adam Oršić and the relevance of his results for the generations of archaeologists.
The site Crkvine is situated in the vicinity of the village Stubline in the borough of Obrenovac ... more The site Crkvine is situated in the vicinity of the village Stubline in the borough of Obrenovac around 40 km to the southwest of Belgrade (Serbia). In the first section of this work we present the comprehensive report about the investigations carried out so far. The geomagnetic prospection undertaken from 2006 to 2008 covered an area of 32,400 square meters and the obtained results indicate the existence of around 100 houses built in rows around the rather large open areas as well as the trenches surrounding the settlement. The investigations of the house 1/2008 dating from the Vinca culture D-2 period yielded in addition to the data concerning its interior organization also a unique find of the group of 46 figurines with 11 models of miniature tools. In the second section of this work we discuss the prospects, which future investigations of this site and its environment could provide concerning the study of the social organization in the very end of the Vinca culture.
ISTRAŽIVANJA, Јournal of Historical Researches, 2019
There are approximately 40 Roman baths dating from the 1st to 4th century AD that have been disco... more There are approximately 40 Roman baths dating from the 1st to 4th century AD that have been discovered in the territory of Moesia Superior. Most of them were systematically investigated, while some were only indirectly confirmed, either by means of surveys or through epigraphic monuments. The presence and layout of the rooms in these baths points to the conclusion that most activities in the baths of Moesia Superior were similar to those in other parts of the Empire. However, the baths from this territory also show some peculiarities, setting them apart from other parts of the Roman Empire. Although insufficiently investigated and reported on, the portable archaeological finds point to a whole host of activities that were not connected with the bath’s essential function – hygiene and health. Musical instruments, styluses, board game accessories and spindle discs are just some of the objects that illustrate the activities in baths, suggesting that it is not enough to interpret these ...
The paper reviews long-standing interpretation of the late Iron Age site of Židovar as "Celtic", ... more The paper reviews long-standing interpretation of the late Iron Age site of Židovar as "Celtic", "Dacian" and "Celto-Dacian". Arguing that this standpoint is derived from biased culture-historical ethno-determinism, the evidence is reconsidered from excavation journals of Branko Gavela and published research on Židovar. Evidential basis is discussed, such as sratigraphic difficulties and chronology, as well as some common misconceptions of the site's characteristics. Deadlocks are emphasized regarding the conclusions on its ethnic belonging. The paper calls for a new approach that goes beyond ethno-cultural determinism and urges the employment of "relational locality". This perspective considers the site and its immediate surroundings as the first order community, i.e. the spatio-social focal point entangled in diverse, multidirectional and supra-regional relational networks. This would mean that the community of Židovar actively mediated different templates coming from the "globalized" koines of La Tène Pannonian, Danubian-Carpathian and Roman worlds, and bricolaged them in distinctive local ways.
Zaštitna arheološka istraživanja na trasi magistralnog gasovoda od granice Bugarske do granice sa Mađarskom, deonica 4, na teritorijama opština Kanjiža, Senta i Ada, 2021
Most of our knowledge of the Late Iron Age populations of the Western Balkans is based upon the t... more Most of our knowledge of the Late Iron Age populations of the Western Balkans is based upon the texts written by the Greek and Roman authors. Traditionally, these texts have been used to demarcate areas inhabited by these populations and to associate certain material culture with various ethnic groups. Such reasoning is inspired by previous identification of material culture with ethnicity. The contexts of finds with mutually different ethnic associations were observed as imports or as a result of exchange, loot or war trophy. The more or less strict division between prehistorians and Romanists within the discipline has additionally complicated the clarification of the archeological situations from the 1st century AD where the local material culture was found together with the Roman objects. Little attention was paid to such finds, neglecting their potential to illustrate processes that occurred during the 1st century AD. Finds like these are not only important for tracing the cultural change, but also for explaining the construction of new hybrid provincial identities and their maintenance. The Iron Age populations are driven into the new social circumstances and in order to maintain their status in the new situation, they used visible parts of the “Roman” culture and integrated them into their own local needs. As a result, we can recognize new, hybrid identities, created by two (or more) different parties.
The main goal of this paper is to break down the opposition between the Iron Age “ethnic groups” and the “Roman culture” through the ongoing debate on cultural transformation, known as the process of Romanization. This approach, different than the traditional one, suggest the reexamination of the nature of the non-Romans/Romans relation. According to this approach, the non-Roman people were never transformed to the Romans, but were creating a new local Roman culture. The Roman culture was reinvented in different local context, allowing the coexistence of imperial context of social changes and the local adoption of the Roman identity.
Findings related to Roman board games are much common at Roman sites across the Balkans. More tha... more Findings related to Roman board games are much common at Roman sites across the Balkans. More than 250 findings were discovered across the forty Roman sites of different size, scale and context. The most obvious fact about these findings is that more than seventy percent has been found in grave context. Unfortunately, we do not have complete information about graves, but we have enough data to make some general conclusions. By now, there are no obvious regular traits considering burial rites, grave architecture or biological and social characteristics of deceased. Board game accessories were found in both male and female burials, adults and children. The number of finds is almost equal in graves with inhumated and incinerated deceased, and analyses of grave architecture shows great variations in context – lead and stone sarcophagus, brick graves and simple pits dugout in earth. Association with other findings is also inconclusive. These findings were found in very “poor” and very “rich” graves. Scale is moving from single iron nail to vast variety of golden jewelry.
By now, there are a few actual interpretations. Most of them are trying to connect these finds with religious practice and philosophical views. One of the explanations is that game accessories are connected with the Venus burial cult – the so-called Venus Funeraria. Dealing with grave inventory, it suggests that these findings were not to be found in graves with other Venus-connected inventory like bone pins with goddess’s bust or dolphins. Yet, this explanation is not satisfying considering the fact that the similar explanation also can be used for any other cult. In that case, absence of findings cannot be positive argument. The second opinion is trying to explain this phenomenon through stoicism views, trying directly to connect dice before all with philosophical fatalistic view. Nevertheless, there are no explanations which could observe these finds through everyday life. As we can see, we cannot point out any social group based on any criteria that we can identify it. That is the main reason why this paper is trying to explain board game accessories as a part of everyday identity of Roman or Roman-like society. Board games do represent a part of life where one can lose social, ethnic or any other boundaries that separate us in some other daily activities. These game-connected finds represent a part of identity that does not reflect any of the usual aspects that archaeologists recognize in their work.
There is only one case noted in Moesia Superior where a complete board game has been found. Most of them are represented by only one or two counters or dice. Also, there is an obvious lack of gaming boards in Roman graves. This can also outline that we are dealing with an idea reflection, where small pieces are evidently enough to present the meaning of such practices. Unfortunately, that meaning is lost and we can only catch small and scarce fragments of it. This paper has no ambition to solve all problems connected with these finds, but to merely move the point of view and point out some alternative directions.
We are happy to announce the call for papers for the fourth conference Imperialism and Identities... more We are happy to announce the call for papers for the fourth conference Imperialism and Identities at the Edges of the Roman World. The conference covers various topics within the theme of social interactions directly or indirectly connected to the Roman socio-political system operating for several centuries in the Mediterranean and continental parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. The goal of the conference is to enable an open discussion on a variety of approaches from different theoretical and methodological positions, as well as various disciplinary perspectives (archaeology, history, anthropology, art history, heritage studies). The IIERW is set to establish a wide network of scholars with different geographic and academic backgrounds and research experiences dealing with Roman imperialism and related issues.
We are happy to announce the call for papers for the third conference Imperialism and Identities ... more We are happy to announce the call for papers for the third conference Imperialism and Identities at the Edges of the Roman World. The conference covers various topics within the theme of social interactions directly or indirectly connected to the Roman socio-political system operating for several centuries in the Mediterranean and continental parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. The goal of the conference is to enable an open discussion on variety of approaches from different theoretical and methodological positions, as well as various disciplinary perspectives (archaeology, history, anthropology, art history, heritage studies). The IIERW is set to establish a wide network of scholars with different geographic and academic backgrounds and research experiences dealing with the Roman imperialism and related issues.
Interviews with CONPRA secondees from University of Belgrade taken during CONPRA Conference, Roun... more Interviews with CONPRA secondees from University of Belgrade taken during CONPRA Conference, Round table and Workshop held in Belgrade in November 2016 (CONPRA, Contributing Preventive Archaeology is EU funded project , FP7, Industria et Academia, Maria Curie)
Pervading Empire: Relationality and Diversity in the Roman Provinces, 2020
Pervading Empire addresses the issue of diversity within the Roman Empire and promotes interpreta... more Pervading Empire addresses the issue of diversity within the Roman Empire and promotes interpretations that go beyond general and often abstract theoretical framings. The baseline of the volume is the notion that reality is created by the endless and multi-directional relations of different human and inhuman actors, and that the sorts and modes of correlations create specific phenomena. The volume offers a variety of theoretically and methodologically well-informed geographical, chronological and thematic case studies, written by established and emerging specialists in the field of Roman Studies, on a range of different research questions such as the integration in the Roman world, inter-cultural perceptions, (mis)communications, transfers and exchanges, transformations of social structures and landscape, patterns of consumption and related identities and the dynamics in the sphere of religion among others. Thereby, Pervading Empire demonstrates the complex and fluctuating nature of the Roman world and emphasizes the fertility of such approaches within Roman Studies.
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важан сегмент у осветљавању проблема водоснабдевања римског и касноантичког Наисуса. За потребе овог текста искоришћена је и до сада или тек делимично
публикована или потпуно непубликована документација са локалитета који се могу
везати за водоводну мрежу античког града. Резултати археолошких истраживања на већем броју локалитета у другој половини 20. и са почетка 21. века умногоме су послужила за реконструкцију траса којима су водоводи спроводили воду до
Наисуса, али и за могуће решавање проблема снабдевања вила у околини града.
Основни циљ овог рада је да систематизује досадашње податке и на основу тога
реконструише пут којим је вода допремана у град, као и да опише и објасни начине
којима су становници града успевали да реше задатак водоснабдевања града и
околних вила. Радна хипотеза, која је у највећој мери потврђена, у тексту се ослањала на раније претпоставке да је град величине Наисуса свакако морао имати
више од једног водовода како би задовољио своје потребе за водом.
важан сегмент у осветљавању проблема водоснабдевања римског и касноантичког Наисуса. За потребе овог текста искоришћена је и до сада или тек делимично
публикована или потпуно непубликована документација са локалитета који се могу
везати за водоводну мрежу античког града. Резултати археолошких истраживања на већем броју локалитета у другој половини 20. и са почетка 21. века умногоме су послужила за реконструкцију траса којима су водоводи спроводили воду до
Наисуса, али и за могуће решавање проблема снабдевања вила у околини града.
Основни циљ овог рада је да систематизује досадашње податке и на основу тога
реконструише пут којим је вода допремана у град, као и да опише и објасни начине
којима су становници града успевали да реше задатак водоснабдевања града и
околних вила. Радна хипотеза, која је у највећој мери потврђена, у тексту се ослањала на раније претпоставке да је град величине Наисуса свакако морао имати
више од једног водовода како би задовољио своје потребе за водом.
The main goal of this paper is to break down the opposition between the Iron Age “ethnic groups” and the “Roman culture” through the ongoing debate on cultural transformation, known as the process of Romanization. This approach, different than the traditional one, suggest the reexamination of the nature of the non-Romans/Romans relation. According to this approach, the non-Roman people were never transformed to the Romans, but were creating a new local Roman culture. The Roman culture was reinvented in different local context, allowing the coexistence of imperial context of social changes and the local adoption of the Roman identity.
By now, there are a few actual interpretations. Most of them are trying to connect these finds with religious practice and philosophical views. One of the explanations is that game accessories are connected with the Venus burial cult – the so-called Venus Funeraria. Dealing with grave inventory, it suggests that these findings were not to be found in graves with other Venus-connected inventory like bone pins with goddess’s bust or dolphins. Yet, this explanation is not satisfying considering the fact that the similar explanation also can be used for any other cult. In that case, absence of findings cannot be positive argument. The second opinion is trying to explain this phenomenon through stoicism views, trying directly to connect dice before all with philosophical fatalistic view. Nevertheless, there are no explanations which could observe these finds through everyday life. As we can see, we cannot point out any social group based on any criteria that we can identify it. That is the main reason why this paper is trying to explain board game accessories as a part of everyday identity of Roman or Roman-like society. Board games do represent a part of life where one can lose social, ethnic or any other boundaries that separate us in some other daily activities. These game-connected finds represent a part of identity that does not reflect any of the usual aspects that archaeologists recognize in their work.
There is only one case noted in Moesia Superior where a complete board game has been found. Most of them are represented by only one or two counters or dice. Also, there is an obvious lack of gaming boards in Roman graves. This can also outline that we are dealing with an idea reflection, where small pieces are evidently enough to present the meaning of such practices. Unfortunately, that meaning is lost and we can only catch small and scarce fragments of it. This paper has no ambition to solve all problems connected with these finds, but to merely move the point of view and point out some alternative directions.
The volume offers a variety of theoretically and methodologically well-informed geographical, chronological and thematic case studies, written by established and emerging specialists in the field of Roman Studies, on a range of different research questions such as the integration in the Roman world, inter-cultural perceptions, (mis)communications, transfers and exchanges, transformations of social structures and landscape, patterns of consumption and related identities and the dynamics in the sphere of religion among others. Thereby, Pervading Empire demonstrates the complex and fluctuating nature of the Roman world and emphasizes the fertility of such approaches within Roman Studies.