- www.hieronymus.ro
www.damasus.ro
- Medieval History, Sociology of Religion, Balkan Studies, Medieval Balkans, Balkan History, Byzantine historiography, and 25 moreKievan Rus', Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, Byzantine history and archaeology, Early medieval Bulgaria, Medieval Archaeology, Byzantium, South East European Studies, Early Medieval Archaeology, Stove Tiles, Church Archaeology, Mediaeval Archaology, Funerary Archaeology, Religious Studies, Post-Byzantine and Modern Greek Church Architecture and Archaeology, Medieval Fortifications, Castles, Fortified Settlements (Archaeology), Castles and Fortifications, Archaeology, Medieval castles, Landscape Archaeology, Fortifications, History of Ornament, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, 19th Century (History), and Etnogénesisedit
Transylvania has some of the most valuable monuments of medieval architecture in Europe. The oldest church was built in the 10th century, but most others came into being only after 1200. Later changes have considerably modified the... more
Transylvania has some of the most valuable monuments of medieval architecture in Europe. The oldest church was built in the 10th century, but most others came into being only after 1200. Later changes have considerably modified the appearance of still-standing buildings. Written sources are lacking for answers to questions about the identity of the builders and patrons. Countering the idea that only standing structures can reflect the history of medieval churches in Transylvania, this book uses archaeological sources in order to answer some of those questions and to bring to light the hidden past of many monuments.
Research Interests: Romanian History, Early Christianity, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Church History, and 10 moreRomanesque Art, Urban archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Orthodox Christianity, Archaeology of churches, Gothic architecture, Medieval Towns, Catholic Church, Medieval church architecture, and History of Transylvania
Christianization in Early Medieval Transylvania A Church Discovered in Alba Iulia and its Interpretations Volume Editors: Daniela Marcu Istrate, Dan Ioan Muresan, and Gabriel Tiberiu Rustoiu Little is known about the Christianization of... more
Christianization in Early Medieval Transylvania
A Church Discovered in Alba Iulia and its Interpretations
Volume Editors: Daniela Marcu Istrate, Dan Ioan Muresan, and
Gabriel Tiberiu Rustoiu
Little is known about the Christianization of east-central and eastern
Europe, due to the fragmentary nature of the historical record. Yet
occasionally, unexpected archaeological discoveries can ofer fresh angles
and new insights. This volume presents such an example: the discovery of
a Byzantine-like church in Alba Iulia, Transylvania, dating from the 10th
century - a unique nd in terms of both age and function. Next to its ruins,
another church was built at the end of the 11th century, following a Roman
Catholic architectural model, soon to become the seat of the Latin
bishopric of Transylvania.
Who built the older, Byzantine-style church, and what was the political,
religious and cultural context of the church? How does this new discovery
afect our perception of the ecclesiastical history of Transylvania? A new
reading of the archaeological and historical record prompted by these
questions is presented here, thereby opening up new challenges for further research.
A Church Discovered in Alba Iulia and its Interpretations
Volume Editors: Daniela Marcu Istrate, Dan Ioan Muresan, and
Gabriel Tiberiu Rustoiu
Little is known about the Christianization of east-central and eastern
Europe, due to the fragmentary nature of the historical record. Yet
occasionally, unexpected archaeological discoveries can ofer fresh angles
and new insights. This volume presents such an example: the discovery of
a Byzantine-like church in Alba Iulia, Transylvania, dating from the 10th
century - a unique nd in terms of both age and function. Next to its ruins,
another church was built at the end of the 11th century, following a Roman
Catholic architectural model, soon to become the seat of the Latin
bishopric of Transylvania.
Who built the older, Byzantine-style church, and what was the political,
religious and cultural context of the church? How does this new discovery
afect our perception of the ecclesiastical history of Transylvania? A new
reading of the archaeological and historical record prompted by these
questions is presented here, thereby opening up new challenges for further research.
Research Interests: Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology, Byzantine Architecture, Byzantine Archaeology, Death and Burial (Archaeology), and 12 moreByzantine monasticism, Church Archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Archaeology of churches, Byzantine churches, Medieval Towns, Archaeology of death and burial, Catholic Church History, Medieval church architecture, Christianization in Medieval Europe, Superstition, Germany and Eastern Europe countries, History of Transylvania, and Early Medieval Transylvania
Research Interests:
Dieses Poster geht auf die Problematik mittelalterlicher Bauten ein, die in Sumpfgebieten im südlichen Siebenbürgen angelegt wurden. Zwei Beispielewerden präsentiert:die siebenbürgisch-sächsische Kirchenburg Moșna (Meschen) sowie die Burg... more
Dieses Poster geht auf die Problematik mittelalterlicher Bauten ein, die in Sumpfgebieten im südlichen Siebenbürgen angelegt wurden. Zwei Beispielewerden präsentiert:die siebenbürgisch-sächsische Kirchenburg Moșna (Meschen) sowie die Burg Făgăraș (Fogarasch). 1998 bis 2001 fanden Archäologische Untersuchungen in Verbindung mit Restaurierungsarbeiten statt. Heute noch steht das Grundwasser hoch an, Tatsache, die zur Konservierung der Holzbefunde beigetragen hat.
Die südlich der Stadt Mediasch gelegene und 1283 erstmals urkundlich erwähnte OrtschaftMeschenwurde vermutlich im 12. Jahrhundert von Hospites–westliche Gastsiedler aus dem Heiligen Römischen Reich - gegründet. Heute besteht die Gesamtanlage der Kirchenburg aus einer spätgotischen Kirche (13.-16. Jh.), einer in Resten erhaltenen Kapelle (14.-15. Jh.) sowie aus der mit mehreren Türmen verstärkten Ringmauer (Abb. 8).
Etwa 50 km Luftlinie südöstlich von der Kirchenburg Meschenliegt die Fogarascher Burg, eine der wichtigsten befestigten fürstlichen Residenzen Siebenbürgens (Erstnennung im Jahre 1291 als Besitz possessioFogros des Magisters Ugrinus). Erhalten ist die mittelalterliche Burg mit Befestigungsmauern und vier Türmen (14. Jh. -15. Jh.). Im 16. Jh. erfolgte der Ausbau zu einem Schloss, ergänzt schließlich im 16.-17. Jahrhundert mit einer mit vier Bastionen versehene Festung sowie einem breiten Wassergraben (Abb. 7).
Die südlich der Stadt Mediasch gelegene und 1283 erstmals urkundlich erwähnte OrtschaftMeschenwurde vermutlich im 12. Jahrhundert von Hospites–westliche Gastsiedler aus dem Heiligen Römischen Reich - gegründet. Heute besteht die Gesamtanlage der Kirchenburg aus einer spätgotischen Kirche (13.-16. Jh.), einer in Resten erhaltenen Kapelle (14.-15. Jh.) sowie aus der mit mehreren Türmen verstärkten Ringmauer (Abb. 8).
Etwa 50 km Luftlinie südöstlich von der Kirchenburg Meschenliegt die Fogarascher Burg, eine der wichtigsten befestigten fürstlichen Residenzen Siebenbürgens (Erstnennung im Jahre 1291 als Besitz possessioFogros des Magisters Ugrinus). Erhalten ist die mittelalterliche Burg mit Befestigungsmauern und vier Türmen (14. Jh. -15. Jh.). Im 16. Jh. erfolgte der Ausbau zu einem Schloss, ergänzt schließlich im 16.-17. Jahrhundert mit einer mit vier Bastionen versehene Festung sowie einem breiten Wassergraben (Abb. 7).
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Research Interests: Anthropology, Historical Archaeology, Medieval History, Medieval Studies, Urban History, and 27 moreEarly Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, Medieval Europe, Church History, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Burial Practices (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Urban archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Church architecture, Archaeology of churches, Archaeology, Historical Archaeology. Medieval Archaeology, Anthropology, Social Identities, Material Culture, Artefact Studies, Diaspora Studies, Trade and Exchange, Archaeology of burials, Funerary Practices, Transylvanian Saxons, Archaeology of death and burial, Burial Customs, Cemeteries, Catholic Church History, Medieval and Early Modern History of the German Minority in Transylvania/Hungary, Medieval church architecture, History of Transylvania, Medieval Church Archaeology, Cemetery Studies, and Fisical Anthopology
Research Interests: Architecture, Medieval History, Urbanism (Archaeology), Urban History, German diaspora (Migration and Ethnicity), and 44 moreEarly Medieval Archaeology, Architectural History, Medieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, History of Art, Church History, Ceramics (Art History), Ceramic Analysis (Archaeology), Medieval ceramics (Archaeology), Ceramics and medieval rural settlements (Archaeology), Ceramics (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Urban archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Early Medieval Europe (Archaeology), Roman Catholicism, History of architecture, Colonization, Archaeology of churches, Ceramics, Post-Medieval Archaeology, Ceramica postmedievale, Mass Graves, Transylvanian Saxons, Catholic Church, Funerary Chapels, Catholic Church History, Chamber Graves, 14th Century, Stove Tiles, Medieval cemeteries, Architectural Ceramics And Tiles Of 19th & 20th C, Medieval church architecture, Historic Cemetery, 15th Century, Medieval Chapels, Middle Age Stoves, Lime Kiln, Cemetery Studies, Saint Ladislas, Early medieval churches, Hermannstadt, Round Churches, and German colonization in Middle Ages
Research Interests: Architecture, Medieval History, Medieval Studies, Unesco, Medieval Church History, and 22 moreArchitectural History, Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Europe, Early Modern Church History, Church History, Early Modern History/Central European History/ Transilvania, Church Archaeology, Medieval Hungary, History of architecture, Archaeology of churches, Medieval Art History, Fortifications, Medieval Fortifications, Cemeteries, Catholic Church History, Medieval castles, Knives, Historic Cemetery, Medieval Castles and Fortresses, Cemetery Studies, Medieval fortifications in Eastern Europe. The case of Jassy in Moldavia. Churches fortified., and UNESCO world heritage
Research Interests: Historical Archaeology, Medieval History, Pottery (Archaeology), Hungarian, Medieval Church History, and 18 moreMedieval Archaeology, Papacy (Medieval Church History), Funerary Archaeology, Byzantine Studies, History of Hungary, Migration Studies, Church History, Medieval Pottery, Early Modern History/Central European History/ Transilvania, Church Archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Archaeology of churches, Archeaology, Gothic architecture, Catholic Church History, Stove Tiles, Medieval and Early Modern History of the German Minority in Transylvania/Hungary, and Architettura Romanica
The volume is (with slight modifications) the Romanian version of "A gyulafehérvári római katolikus székesegyház és püspöki palota. Régészeti kutatása (2000-2002)".
Research Interests: Medieval History, Pottery (Archaeology), Medieval Studies, Urban History, Medieval Church History, and 29 moreGlass, Medieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, History of Hungary, Byzantine Archaeology, Medieval Architecture, Migration Studies, Medieval Pottery, Roman Pottery, Glass (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Urban archaeology, Cathedrals (Medieval Studies), Roman Glass, Archaeology of churches, Coins finds as archaeological artefacts, Archaeology, Historical Archaeology. Medieval Archaeology, Anthropology, Social Identities, Material Culture, Artefact Studies, Diaspora Studies, Trade and Exchange, Fortifications, Medieval Weapons and Equipment, Coins, Medieval castles, Stove Tiles, Medieval jewellery, Medieval church architecture, Late Antique and Byzantine Jewellery, History of Transylvania, Funeral Rites, Roman Archaeology, and Gyulafehérvár
Research Interests: Medieval History, Pottery (Archaeology), Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Church History, Architectural History, and 36 moreMedieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, History of Hungary, Medieval Architecture, Church History, Medieval Pottery, Medieval ceramics (Archaeology), Early Modern History/Central European History/ Transilvania, Roman Pottery, Medieval Art, Ceramics (Archaeology), Cathedrals (Medieval Studies), Funerary Architecture, Post medieval pottery, Archeologia medievale, Gothic Cathedral construction, Roman Architecture, Episcopal Palaces, Gepids, Avars, Stove Tiles, Vauban, Early Medieval Burials, Medieval Art and Architecture, Medieval church architecture, History of Transylvania, Gepidic period, Early Medieval Cemetery, Castles and Palaces of the 16th to 18th century in Central and Southeastern Europe, Gothique, Alba Iulia, Archaeology, Roman Archaeology, Castro Urdiales (Cantabria, Spain), Roman Common Ceramics, Flaviobriga, Excavation Results, Romanization, Roman Sigillata Ceramics: Italic - Gallic - Hispanic, Centuries I ° and II ° AC, Gyulafehérvár, Round Churches, Modern and Contemporary Ceramics, Graves Built of Bricks, and Walled Graves
Research Interests: Archaeology, Medieval History, Material Culture Studies, Medieval Studies, Medieval, and 12 moreUrban History, Medieval Church History, History of Hungary, Medieval Europe, Church Archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Archaeology of churches, Gothic architecture, Romanesque architecture, Medieaval Archaeology, Catholic Church History, and Architettura Romanica
Research Interests: Archaeology, Medieval History, Pottery (Archaeology), Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Church History, and 23 moreMedieval Archaeology, Church History, Roman Pottery, Glass (Archaeology), Ceramics (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Ancient jewellery, Roman coins, Roman Glass, Archaeology of churches, Coins finds as archaeological artefacts, Jewellery, Glasses, Medieval Weapons and Equipment, Catholic Church History, Tiles, Coins, Gepids, Avars, Stove Tiles, Medieval jewellery, History of Transylvania, and Roman Archaeology
Research Interests: Medieval History, Pottery (Archaeology), Medieval urban history, Medieval Church History, Church Archaeology, and 7 moreChurch architecture, Archaeology of churches, Archaeology, Historical Archaeology. Medieval Archaeology, Anthropology, Social Identities, Material Culture, Artefact Studies, Diaspora Studies, Trade and Exchange, Gothic architecture, Medieaval Archaeology, Catholic Church History, and Medieval church architecture
The volume (in Romanian and English, with an abstract in German) is a brief presentation of the results of the archaeological investigations performed in the historical center of Brasov [Kronstadt], in the vecinity of the Black Church.
Research Interests: Medieval History, Medieval Studies, Archaeozoology, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, and 21 moreFunerary Archaeology, History of Hungary, Medieval Architecture, Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology), Cistercian architecture, Cistercians, Medieval Pottery, Church Archaeology, Archaeology of Medieval Monasteries, Archaeology of churches, Funerary Practices, Post-Medieval Archaeology, Transylvanian Saxons, Archaeology of death and burial, Interested in cremation and inhumation of funerary rituals of the past., Premonstratensians, Medieval cemeteries, Medieval and Early Modern Archaeology, Anthopology, History of Transylvania, and Brasov - Kronstadt - Brasso
The volume (published in Romanian, Magyar and English) is a brief presentation of the results of the archaeological investigation recently performed at Ardud Fortress, in north-western Romania (late medieval and early modern finds).
Research Interests: Architecture, Medieval History, Pottery (Archaeology), Medieval Studies, Medieval Archaeology, and 20 moreHistory of Hungary, Archaeology of Architecture, Medieval Pottery, Roman Pottery, Brick and tile (Archaeology), Archaeology of Pipes and Smoking, History of architecture, Coins finds as archaeological artefacts, Archaeology, Historical Archaeology. Medieval Archaeology, Anthropology, Social Identities, Material Culture, Artefact Studies, Diaspora Studies, Trade and Exchange, Fortifications, Medieval Weapons and Equipment, Caste, Brick and Tile, Coins, Stove Tiles, Castles and Fortifications, History of Transylvania, Medieval Castles and Fortresses, Bathory (Bathori) Family, and Drágfi of Beltiug
Research Interests: Anthropology, Medieval History, Pottery (Archaeology), Urbanism (Archaeology), Urban History, and 26 moreMedieval urban history, Archaeozoology, Medieval Church History, Early Medieval History, Medieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, Cistercian architecture, Cistercians, Medieval Pottery, Church Archaeology, Urban archaeology, Fortifications, Teutonic Knights, Paleozoology, Cistercian Studies, Mass Graves, Premonstratensians, Medieval Cities and Urbanism, Horses, Stove Tiles, Castles and Fortifications, Medieval and Early Modern History of the German Minority in Transylvania/Hungary, Medieval cemeteries, History of Transylvania, Cemetery, and Archaeology of Horse and Riders
Research Interests: Art History, Historical Archaeology, Medieval History, Pottery (Archaeology), Cult of Saints, and 20 moreSaints' Cults, Medieval Archaeology, History of Art, Ceramics (Art History), Medieval Pottery, Medieval Art, Ceramics (Archaeology), Post medieval pottery, Medieval Art History, Pottery technology and function, Gothic Art, Pottery kilns, Tiles, Stove Tiles, Kachelöfen, Mediaeval Cult of Relics and Saints, Middle Age Stoves, Architectural Ceramics and Tiles from 16th to 21th Centuries, Tile Stoves, and Renaissance Kachelofen
The volume presents the results of archaeological investigations undertaken in Sibiu [Hermannstadt] close to the Catholic church, the Jesuit College and other historical buildings.
Research Interests: German Studies, Medieval History, Pottery (Archaeology), Medieval Studies, Urbanism (Archaeology), and 24 moreUrban History, Medieval urban history, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, History of Hungary, Church History, Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology), Medieval Water Management, Medieval Pottery, Church Archaeology, Urban archaeology, Medieval Glasses (Archaeology), Post medieval pottery, Church architecture, Archaeology, Historical Archaeology. Medieval Archaeology, Anthropology, Social Identities, Material Culture, Artefact Studies, Diaspora Studies, Trade and Exchange, Post-Medieval Archaeology, Transylvanian Saxons, Medieval Cities and Urbanism, Medieval and Early Modern Archaeology, History of Transylvania, Medieval Archaeology Urban Archaeology Early and High Medieval Fortified Centrescentre, Metals In Medieval Artefacts, Sibiu, and Gesichte Der Stadt Hermannstadt
Research Interests:
At the start of the 21th century, the fortress in the city of Aiud housed two churches, one larger, of Calvinist Rite, with a 15th‑century Gothic aspect, the other one smaller, of Lutheran Rite, rebuilt in the 19th‑century over the... more
At the start of the 21th century, the fortress in the city of Aiud housed two churches, one larger, of Calvinist Rite, with a 15th‑century Gothic aspect, the other one smaller, of Lutheran Rite, rebuilt in the 19th‑century over the demolished structure of an older one, which was likely dating back to the 14th century. The large church had also suffered modifications over its long history, mostly in Baroque style, but its origins and actual age were unknown.
Archaeological excavations at the large church of the Aiud Fortress first started in 2008, and were then resumed in 2018, in the context of a restoration project. Continuing to this day, the investigations brought to light a plethora of new data about the historical development of the site, foremost amongst them being the discovery of the ruins of an earlier church underneath the 15th century one. Inside the present‑day choir, robber trenches and remnants of foundation masonry retraced the outline of a sanctuary which ended eastwards in a polygonal apse, propped on the corners by buttresses. Further west, in the first bay of the present‑day southern side‑aisle, were brought to light the ruins of the interlocking between the old nave and its sanctuary. Nevertheless, this older church, already showing a Gothic layout, had not been the first Christian cult building of Aiud, as rather conclusively proved by the fact that its apse overlapped a grave. However, at this time, it cannot be concluded if this burial should be connected with the original small church, or with an even older structure on the site of the large one.
Regarding the present‑day large church, the excavations evinced a multistage evolution, with the sanctuary being built at first as an expansion of the older cult building. The construction of the sanctuary actually involved two distinct phases, the second one being effectively a rebuilding from foundation up, on an only slightly different trajectory. The erection of the new naves, and the demolition of the older one, came only at a later time. After this, there were a series of small scale interventions, and then the 18th‑century brought major transformations. The church was burned down at the start of the century, and remnants of historical pavement still covered in soot and ashes could still be found during the excavations, underneath elements of fallen vaults. After functioning for a long while in improvised circumstances, the interior of the church was refurbished in the Baroque style at the end of the century, only the sanctuary retaining its historical Gothic looks. As part of the renewal, the inner ground level was raised with almost 1 m of rubble and various backfills, and, during the current renovation, the top layer of this re‑levelling has produced about 400 coins, spread over the 19th and 20th century, with only a few pieces from the second part of the 18th one. The newest major makeover of the interior took place in 2019, when, stirred by the archaeological results, the renovation team lowered the ground level of the sanctuary back to its original pre‑18th‑century one.
Besides the data regarding the evolution of the built structures of the church, the archaeological excavations also brought to light a number of burials, both predating the present‑day cult built and performed inside it, a myriad of fragmented architectonical elements, and archaeological materials, mostly of ceramic nature, spread over a time frame ranging from Roman times to the early modern and contemporary periods.
Due to the huge amount of data, this paper presents only a brief look on the results of the archaeological excavations undertaken inside the church. The results of the investigations carried out outside the church will be presented at a later date.
Archaeological excavations at the large church of the Aiud Fortress first started in 2008, and were then resumed in 2018, in the context of a restoration project. Continuing to this day, the investigations brought to light a plethora of new data about the historical development of the site, foremost amongst them being the discovery of the ruins of an earlier church underneath the 15th century one. Inside the present‑day choir, robber trenches and remnants of foundation masonry retraced the outline of a sanctuary which ended eastwards in a polygonal apse, propped on the corners by buttresses. Further west, in the first bay of the present‑day southern side‑aisle, were brought to light the ruins of the interlocking between the old nave and its sanctuary. Nevertheless, this older church, already showing a Gothic layout, had not been the first Christian cult building of Aiud, as rather conclusively proved by the fact that its apse overlapped a grave. However, at this time, it cannot be concluded if this burial should be connected with the original small church, or with an even older structure on the site of the large one.
Regarding the present‑day large church, the excavations evinced a multistage evolution, with the sanctuary being built at first as an expansion of the older cult building. The construction of the sanctuary actually involved two distinct phases, the second one being effectively a rebuilding from foundation up, on an only slightly different trajectory. The erection of the new naves, and the demolition of the older one, came only at a later time. After this, there were a series of small scale interventions, and then the 18th‑century brought major transformations. The church was burned down at the start of the century, and remnants of historical pavement still covered in soot and ashes could still be found during the excavations, underneath elements of fallen vaults. After functioning for a long while in improvised circumstances, the interior of the church was refurbished in the Baroque style at the end of the century, only the sanctuary retaining its historical Gothic looks. As part of the renewal, the inner ground level was raised with almost 1 m of rubble and various backfills, and, during the current renovation, the top layer of this re‑levelling has produced about 400 coins, spread over the 19th and 20th century, with only a few pieces from the second part of the 18th one. The newest major makeover of the interior took place in 2019, when, stirred by the archaeological results, the renovation team lowered the ground level of the sanctuary back to its original pre‑18th‑century one.
Besides the data regarding the evolution of the built structures of the church, the archaeological excavations also brought to light a number of burials, both predating the present‑day cult built and performed inside it, a myriad of fragmented architectonical elements, and archaeological materials, mostly of ceramic nature, spread over a time frame ranging from Roman times to the early modern and contemporary periods.
Due to the huge amount of data, this paper presents only a brief look on the results of the archaeological excavations undertaken inside the church. The results of the investigations carried out outside the church will be presented at a later date.
Research Interests: Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Burial Practices (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Urban archaeology, and 8 moreMedieval Hungary, Archaeology of churches, Gothic architecture, Medieval Fortifications, Medieval cemeteries, Fortified churches, History of Transylvania, and Roman Archaeology
The restoration of the interior of the Lutheran Church of Sibiu was accompanied by archaeological researches. In 2018 the excavations focused on the central area of the building, while in early 2019 investigations were made inside the... more
The restoration of the interior of the Lutheran Church of Sibiu was accompanied by archaeological researches. In
2018 the excavations focused on the central area of the building, while in early 2019 investigations were made inside the
choir. Running on a relatively important area, especially in the east, towards the sanctuary, the archaeological investigations
have brought to light a considerable amount of information. Several built structures were revealed, and over 1500
artifacts with more than 200 fragments of carved stone were discovered. Of these, it is noteworthy that more than 500
medieval and modern coins have been recovered. As for the built structures, the archaeologists have identified the ruins of
the older church (built with basilical ground-plan in Romanic style), and the remains of some structures that functioned
in connection with the present church and were demolished at different moments of its existence: the ruins of a rood
screen (Lettner), those of a previously unknown western tribune, as well as numerous side chapels. The presentations
summarizes the results of archaeological surveys, and suggests a debate on the premises, difficulties and prospects of an
archaeological investigation associated with the restoration of an urban monument.
2018 the excavations focused on the central area of the building, while in early 2019 investigations were made inside the
choir. Running on a relatively important area, especially in the east, towards the sanctuary, the archaeological investigations
have brought to light a considerable amount of information. Several built structures were revealed, and over 1500
artifacts with more than 200 fragments of carved stone were discovered. Of these, it is noteworthy that more than 500
medieval and modern coins have been recovered. As for the built structures, the archaeologists have identified the ruins of
the older church (built with basilical ground-plan in Romanic style), and the remains of some structures that functioned
in connection with the present church and were demolished at different moments of its existence: the ruins of a rood
screen (Lettner), those of a previously unknown western tribune, as well as numerous side chapels. The presentations
summarizes the results of archaeological surveys, and suggests a debate on the premises, difficulties and prospects of an
archaeological investigation associated with the restoration of an urban monument.
Research Interests:
Vorliegende Arbeit stellt eine Einführung in die Archäologie der bedeutendsten Stadtkirchen Südsiebenbürgens dar und zwar der Kirchen von Hermannstadt, Kronstadt, Schässburg und Mühlbach. Es sind insgesamt Bauten von außergewöhnlichem... more
Vorliegende Arbeit stellt eine Einführung
in die Archäologie der bedeutendsten Stadtkirchen
Südsiebenbürgens dar und zwar der
Kirchen von Hermannstadt, Kronstadt,
Schässburg und Mühlbach. Es sind insgesamt
Bauten von außergewöhnlichem Wert,
die schon seit jeher im Mittelpunkt des Interesses
von Bau- und Kunstgeschichte des
Mittelalters standen.
in die Archäologie der bedeutendsten Stadtkirchen
Südsiebenbürgens dar und zwar der
Kirchen von Hermannstadt, Kronstadt,
Schässburg und Mühlbach. Es sind insgesamt
Bauten von außergewöhnlichem Wert,
die schon seit jeher im Mittelpunkt des Interesses
von Bau- und Kunstgeschichte des
Mittelalters standen.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This paper discusses the chronology of the orthodox St Nicholas church in Densuș, Transylvania, based on its architecture, wall and archaeological studies. The author has concluded that, the original church was built during the 10th or... more
This paper discusses the chronology of the orthodox St Nicholas church in Densuș, Transylvania, based on its architecture, wall and archaeological studies. The author has concluded that, the original church was built during the 10th or 11th centuries, being related to the 10th century Byzantine church in Alba Iulia.
Research Interests:
Abstract: Turda, one of the foremost settlements of Transylvania and the seat of the homonymous medieval county, appears in documents ever since the 11th century. Except for the Chamber House, the historical secular architecture of the... more
Abstract: Turda, one of the foremost settlements of Transylvania and the seat of the homonymous medieval county, appears in documents ever since the 11th century. Except for the Chamber House, the historical secular architecture of the city’s central area has disappeared. Nevertheless, part of its ecclesiastical architecture has survived, primarily the Reformed Church of Turda Veche, located between the southern end of the central square and the left bank of the Racilor (Crayfish) Valley, and which, despite the changes that have affected it over time, remains to this day one of the most representative monuments produced by Transylvania’s ecclesiastical medieval architecture. The church starts to show up in documents in the early
14th century, when it belonged to the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine and only much later on, during the 17th century, in the wake of the Reformation, it came into possession of the Reformed community of Turda Veche. The edifice underwent numerous modifications during its existence, so it does not survive in its original shape. Today it stands as a chancel-less hall-church – the choir was demolished in the Early Modern Age – with galleries on its eastern and western sides, Gothic portals on its northern and western sides and a massive southern tower, erected in a historicizing style in the early 20th century. Although it was the subject of a variety of art history studies, until recently the monument did not benefit from archaeological research to shed light on its tangible history.
The first scientific archaeological excavations to touch the structure of the Reformed Church of Turda Veche were undertaken in 2010, when
preliminary work for a church restoration project took place. In 2018, research was resumed and intermittently continued until 2020, as part of the project “The Rehabilitation of the Reformed Church “Turda Veche”, Turda Municipality, Cluj County”. During these years, excavations undertaken in ten archaeological research units, both inside and outside the monument, as well as observations carried out during utilitarian works, allowed researchers to begin reconstructing the structural development and decline of the Reformed Church of Turda Veche and of its site.
The foremost result of the investigation was identifying an earlier stage of the church, respectively a ruined northern wall, the protruding
foundation of a triumphal arch and areas of pavement surviving at too great a depth. Due to the limited extent of the excavations, neither the
dimensions nor the shape of this earlier church could be determined. Nevertheless, several clues – such as a grave overlapped by the apse, irregularities noticeable in the aboveground structure of the nave, the foundation of a buttress abutting the foundation of the nave, etc. – hint that the changes the church underwent were on a far greater scale than the excavations were able to reveal so far and that it involved expansions both eastward and westward.
The early 14th century probably marked the end of this structure, on whose ruins was erected the current-day church, at least 0.5 m wider in its northern area and likely much longer. The implemented ground plan presented the peculiarity that the nave and the choir were separated from the very beginning by a continuous wall, interrupted only by a single door with a simple stone frame. Later on, a gallery-type rood screen with a continuous wall on its western side, abutted to the northern and southern walls of the nave and similarly interrupted only by a single door, was assembled in the easternmost area of the nave. After surviving a first major fire, the rood screen was demolished after a second one, and the present-day western gallery eventually replaced it.
Regarding the razed choir, the research proved unable to uncover chronological indicia able to date its disappearance; based on documentary evidence, it was already in ruins in the 18th century. Its former inside area was reused for the construction of a bell-tower – which collapsed in 1862 – and on its northern wall rose a regular building – the Bell-Ringers House, which survived until the early 20th century. The ruins of both these structures could be partially investigated in 2020.
A surprise was the appearance, south-west of the church, during utilitarian works, of several ruined masonry structures. Although it is likely that they belong to monastery buildings, some of them may be Roman in origin. One of the walls was still standing in the 18th century, but not the others, three of which shaped a compartment in which a roof made of Roman tiles collapsed, and which was succeeded southwards by a cobbled alley (?).
Excluding the pieces dating from recent times (18th–20th century), the uncovered material was scarce, limited to several coins, some sherds and a few clothing accessories. Conversely, a large quantity of fragmentary architectonical elements was brought to light, some of them from the choir, others from the rood screen while others from structures that cannot yet be identified. The amount of Roman construction materials, often bearing stamps, salvaged and reused in mass for the structures of the medieval church was also impressive. In any case, the presence of several disturbed coins in the backfill of the graves from inside the church is worthy of notice, especially that of a Parvus issued by Charles Robert d’Anjou sometime between 1330 and 1336, a period that matches surprisingly well with the first documentary mention of the monastery – the year 1331.
Although still only at its beginning, the archaeological investigation carried out at the Reformed Church of Turda Veche confirmed the richness of dormant historical data harboured by the subsoil of the site. Continued research – due to happen at some uncertain point of the future – will certainly shed more light on this monument of so great significance for the architectonical past of Transylvania.
14th century, when it belonged to the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine and only much later on, during the 17th century, in the wake of the Reformation, it came into possession of the Reformed community of Turda Veche. The edifice underwent numerous modifications during its existence, so it does not survive in its original shape. Today it stands as a chancel-less hall-church – the choir was demolished in the Early Modern Age – with galleries on its eastern and western sides, Gothic portals on its northern and western sides and a massive southern tower, erected in a historicizing style in the early 20th century. Although it was the subject of a variety of art history studies, until recently the monument did not benefit from archaeological research to shed light on its tangible history.
The first scientific archaeological excavations to touch the structure of the Reformed Church of Turda Veche were undertaken in 2010, when
preliminary work for a church restoration project took place. In 2018, research was resumed and intermittently continued until 2020, as part of the project “The Rehabilitation of the Reformed Church “Turda Veche”, Turda Municipality, Cluj County”. During these years, excavations undertaken in ten archaeological research units, both inside and outside the monument, as well as observations carried out during utilitarian works, allowed researchers to begin reconstructing the structural development and decline of the Reformed Church of Turda Veche and of its site.
The foremost result of the investigation was identifying an earlier stage of the church, respectively a ruined northern wall, the protruding
foundation of a triumphal arch and areas of pavement surviving at too great a depth. Due to the limited extent of the excavations, neither the
dimensions nor the shape of this earlier church could be determined. Nevertheless, several clues – such as a grave overlapped by the apse, irregularities noticeable in the aboveground structure of the nave, the foundation of a buttress abutting the foundation of the nave, etc. – hint that the changes the church underwent were on a far greater scale than the excavations were able to reveal so far and that it involved expansions both eastward and westward.
The early 14th century probably marked the end of this structure, on whose ruins was erected the current-day church, at least 0.5 m wider in its northern area and likely much longer. The implemented ground plan presented the peculiarity that the nave and the choir were separated from the very beginning by a continuous wall, interrupted only by a single door with a simple stone frame. Later on, a gallery-type rood screen with a continuous wall on its western side, abutted to the northern and southern walls of the nave and similarly interrupted only by a single door, was assembled in the easternmost area of the nave. After surviving a first major fire, the rood screen was demolished after a second one, and the present-day western gallery eventually replaced it.
Regarding the razed choir, the research proved unable to uncover chronological indicia able to date its disappearance; based on documentary evidence, it was already in ruins in the 18th century. Its former inside area was reused for the construction of a bell-tower – which collapsed in 1862 – and on its northern wall rose a regular building – the Bell-Ringers House, which survived until the early 20th century. The ruins of both these structures could be partially investigated in 2020.
A surprise was the appearance, south-west of the church, during utilitarian works, of several ruined masonry structures. Although it is likely that they belong to monastery buildings, some of them may be Roman in origin. One of the walls was still standing in the 18th century, but not the others, three of which shaped a compartment in which a roof made of Roman tiles collapsed, and which was succeeded southwards by a cobbled alley (?).
Excluding the pieces dating from recent times (18th–20th century), the uncovered material was scarce, limited to several coins, some sherds and a few clothing accessories. Conversely, a large quantity of fragmentary architectonical elements was brought to light, some of them from the choir, others from the rood screen while others from structures that cannot yet be identified. The amount of Roman construction materials, often bearing stamps, salvaged and reused in mass for the structures of the medieval church was also impressive. In any case, the presence of several disturbed coins in the backfill of the graves from inside the church is worthy of notice, especially that of a Parvus issued by Charles Robert d’Anjou sometime between 1330 and 1336, a period that matches surprisingly well with the first documentary mention of the monastery – the year 1331.
Although still only at its beginning, the archaeological investigation carried out at the Reformed Church of Turda Veche confirmed the richness of dormant historical data harboured by the subsoil of the site. Continued research – due to happen at some uncertain point of the future – will certainly shed more light on this monument of so great significance for the architectonical past of Transylvania.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Die evangelische Stadtpfarrkirche in Kronstadt, nach einem verheerenden Brand im Jahre 1689 vor allem als Schwarze Kirche bekannt, ist eine der bedeutendsten Kirchen Siebenbürgens. Die Marienkirche, vor der Reformation als Pfarrkirche für... more
Die evangelische Stadtpfarrkirche in Kronstadt, nach einem verheerenden Brand im Jahre 1689 vor allem als Schwarze Kirche bekannt, ist eine der bedeutendsten Kirchen Siebenbürgens. Die Marienkirche, vor der Reformation als Pfarrkirche für die katholische Sachsengemeinde des Ortes erbaut, war zu jener Zeit – und ist, so scheint es, immer noch – das größte gotische Bauwerk östlich von Wien. Der Bezug des beeindruckenden Bauwerks zu bedeutenden europäischen Bauvorhaben betrifft nicht nur die gotische Formensprache, sondern vielleicht auch einen ganz konkreten handwerklichen Beitrag . Ihre wie auch immer geartete Bauhütte war beginnend mit den letzten Jahrzehnten des 14. Jahrhunderts über einen Zeitraum von einem Jahrhundert beinahe durchgehend in Betrieb und brachte ein für seine Zeit modernes Bauwerk hervor, bei dem sowohl Chor als auch Langhaus je drei gleich hohe Schiffe besaßen. Diese Bauform, als Hallenkirche bekannt, war in Siebenbürgen im Aufkommen begriffen, wobei als erster ausgeführter Bau der Mühlbacher Kirchenchor gilt. Doch nur in Kronstadt war es gelungen, das Bauprinzip der Hallenkirche sowohl bei den Kirchenschiffen als auch beim Chor anzuwenden, weswegen das Bauwerk als Hauptvertreter der hiesigen Spätgotik betrachtet wird .
Research Interests:
Erstmals 1240 unter dem Namen „Castrum Sancte Mariae“ erwähnt, ist Marienburg eine der bekanntesten mittelalterlichen Siedlungen in Siebenbürgen, hauptsächlich als Sitz des Deutschen Ordens in den Jahren 1211–1225. Der Ort wurde bereits... more
Erstmals 1240 unter dem Namen „Castrum Sancte Mariae“ erwähnt,
ist Marienburg eine der bekanntesten mittelalterlichen Siedlungen in
Siebenbürgen,
hauptsächlich als Sitz des Deutschen Ordens in den Jahren
1211–1225. Der Ort wurde bereits Mitte des 12. Jahrhunderts von
deutschen Ansiedlern gegründet und sollte als Brückenkopf nicht nur
für die Organisation des südöstlichen Siebenbürgen (Burzenland) dienen,
sondern auch für die Expansion des ungarischen Königreichs und der
katholischen Kirche über den Karpatenbogen hinaus.
In der Entwicklungsgeschichte des mittelalterlichen Siebenbürgen
sticht Marienburg als atypische Siedlung hervor, sowohl wegen der frühen
Ansiedlung und der komplexen Struktur, als auch wegen des Zusammenhangs
mit Ereignissen, welche die europäische Geschichte beeinflussten.
Ungeachtet der wissenschaftlichen Aufmerksamkeit, die dem Ort in den
letzten Jahrzehnten geschenkt wurde, birgt der geschichtliche Werdegang
der mittelalterlichen Marienburg noch viele Rätsel, die nur durch eine
ständige archäologische Begleitung der Modernisierungsbestrebungen
des heutigen Orts gelöst werden können.
ist Marienburg eine der bekanntesten mittelalterlichen Siedlungen in
Siebenbürgen,
hauptsächlich als Sitz des Deutschen Ordens in den Jahren
1211–1225. Der Ort wurde bereits Mitte des 12. Jahrhunderts von
deutschen Ansiedlern gegründet und sollte als Brückenkopf nicht nur
für die Organisation des südöstlichen Siebenbürgen (Burzenland) dienen,
sondern auch für die Expansion des ungarischen Königreichs und der
katholischen Kirche über den Karpatenbogen hinaus.
In der Entwicklungsgeschichte des mittelalterlichen Siebenbürgen
sticht Marienburg als atypische Siedlung hervor, sowohl wegen der frühen
Ansiedlung und der komplexen Struktur, als auch wegen des Zusammenhangs
mit Ereignissen, welche die europäische Geschichte beeinflussten.
Ungeachtet der wissenschaftlichen Aufmerksamkeit, die dem Ort in den
letzten Jahrzehnten geschenkt wurde, birgt der geschichtliche Werdegang
der mittelalterlichen Marienburg noch viele Rätsel, die nur durch eine
ständige archäologische Begleitung der Modernisierungsbestrebungen
des heutigen Orts gelöst werden können.
Research Interests:
Parish-churches are representative monuments of medieval urban life, significant not only for the local community, but also on regional level. Some of them keep their medieval structure and form, while others were transformed or... more
Parish-churches are representative monuments of medieval urban life, significant not only for the local community, but also on regional level. Some of them keep their medieval structure and form, while others were transformed or destroyed. Preserved entirely or partially, the parish churches and the surrounding churchyard cemeteries, are witness and exceptional source of social and economic aspects, material culture and first of all spiritual life of medieval urban society. The building of the church, with stages from Romanesque through Gothic and early modern times, its decorative fittings, equipment and furniture are the result of outstanding and long lasting efforts of the urban communities, comprising local and long-distance experiences. Moreover, churchyard cemeteries provide first-hand source on the local community, especially through the anthropological data and the rich series of grave-goods. The regional and long-distance contacts of urban communities, through trade and other economic and social relations, are well documented in written sources and these contacts create a solid background for establishing direct links between the town's parish churches, their architectural and artistic features and the connected material culture. This session aims to create a complex perspective on the archaeologically research of major parish churches of the Carpathian Basin, widening the analysis to the connected buildings and cemeteries. Papers focusing on case studies are welcomed, but authors are encouraged to consider the material culture connected to the church and the surrounding cemetery, the detectable elements of cult, and especially the regional and long-distance connections as a possible element of network formation. Several papers will present the Transylvanian parish churches of Brașov (Brassó/Kronstadt), Sibiu (Szeben/Hermannstadt), ClujNapoca(Kolozsvár/Klausenburg), Baia Mare (Nagybánya/Neustadt)-all of them placed on the main north-south trade route which connected medieval Hungarian Kingdom with Poland and the Levant. Similar cases from Carpathian Basin and beyond are welcome.
Research Interests:
The Rise of the Religious Landscape in Carpathian Basin: The Archaeology of Round Shaped Churches and Their European Context Content: Round churches represent one of the most important part of the medieval ecclesiastical landscape in... more
The Rise of the Religious Landscape in Carpathian Basin: The Archaeology of Round Shaped Churches and Their European Context
Content:
Round churches represent one of the most important part of the medieval ecclesiastical landscape in Europe. Inspired by the architecture of the Holy Sepulcher and subsequently the imperial chapel in Aachen, this special architectural type has spread especially between the 9th and 13th centuries, but examples are not missing outside this time period. Round churches were built in very different contexts, over time with various functions: baptisteries, court/palace chapels (following the example of Aachen), funerary or cemetery chapels, ossuaries and, most frequently, parish churches (especially in Eastern Europe) – or a combination of the above.
Round churches were built all over Europe, both in territories of eastern and western Christianity, and represent the oldest church-building type in the Carpathian Basin: over 100 buildings being documented as having medieval origins. A lot of examples are known in Saxony, Poland, Bohemia, Moravia, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, too, staying at the beginning of Christianization and religious architecture.
Although much has been written on this subject, there are a number of issues that have not yet been resolved and require a deeper approach. In addition, in the last decades archaeological researches have brought much news on this topic, by discovering new objects and in-depth analysis of the phenomenon, which are not yet inserted in the context.
This session invites a debate on this topic, to explore the complex world of round churches from an archaeological perspective. There are a lot of questions to be answered regarding the circumstances of their life, the chronological and architectural frame, the funerary perspective or the network of building sites. Their sources of inspiration (Western or Eastern origin?), function and role in the process of Christianization may be some of the topics discussed, but any perspective will be welcome, especially a comparative approach at European level.
Main organiser:
Peter Levente Szocs (Romania) 1
Co-organisers:
Daniela Veronica Istrate (Romania) 2
Martin Čechura (Czech Republic) 3
Affiliations:
1. County Museum Satu Mare
2. Vasile Pârvan Institute of Archaeology, Bucharest
3. Museum of West Bohemia
Content:
Round churches represent one of the most important part of the medieval ecclesiastical landscape in Europe. Inspired by the architecture of the Holy Sepulcher and subsequently the imperial chapel in Aachen, this special architectural type has spread especially between the 9th and 13th centuries, but examples are not missing outside this time period. Round churches were built in very different contexts, over time with various functions: baptisteries, court/palace chapels (following the example of Aachen), funerary or cemetery chapels, ossuaries and, most frequently, parish churches (especially in Eastern Europe) – or a combination of the above.
Round churches were built all over Europe, both in territories of eastern and western Christianity, and represent the oldest church-building type in the Carpathian Basin: over 100 buildings being documented as having medieval origins. A lot of examples are known in Saxony, Poland, Bohemia, Moravia, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, too, staying at the beginning of Christianization and religious architecture.
Although much has been written on this subject, there are a number of issues that have not yet been resolved and require a deeper approach. In addition, in the last decades archaeological researches have brought much news on this topic, by discovering new objects and in-depth analysis of the phenomenon, which are not yet inserted in the context.
This session invites a debate on this topic, to explore the complex world of round churches from an archaeological perspective. There are a lot of questions to be answered regarding the circumstances of their life, the chronological and architectural frame, the funerary perspective or the network of building sites. Their sources of inspiration (Western or Eastern origin?), function and role in the process of Christianization may be some of the topics discussed, but any perspective will be welcome, especially a comparative approach at European level.
Main organiser:
Peter Levente Szocs (Romania) 1
Co-organisers:
Daniela Veronica Istrate (Romania) 2
Martin Čechura (Czech Republic) 3
Affiliations:
1. County Museum Satu Mare
2. Vasile Pârvan Institute of Archaeology, Bucharest
3. Museum of West Bohemia
Research Interests:
Parish-churches are representative monuments of medieval urban life, significant not only for the local community, but also on regional level. Some of them keep their medieval structure and form, while others were transformed or... more
Parish-churches are representative monuments of medieval urban life, significant not only for the local community, but also on regional level. Some of them keep their medieval structure and form, while others were transformed or destroyed. Preserved entirely or partially, the parish churches and the surrounding churchyard cemeteries, are witness and exceptional source of social and economic aspects, material culture and first of all spiritual life of medieval urban society. The building of the church, with stages from Romanesque through Gothic and early modern times, its decorative fittings, equipment and furniture are the result of outstanding and long lasting efforts of the urban communities, comprising local and long-distance experiences. Moreover, churchyard cemeteries provide first-hand source on the local community, especially through the anthropological data and the rich series of grave-goods.
The regional and long-distance contacts of urban communities, through trade and other economic and social relations, are well documented in written sources and these contacts create a solid background for establishing direct links between the town’s parish churches, their architectural and artistic features and the connected material culture.
This session aims to create a complex perspective on the archaeologically research of major parish churches of the Carpathian Basin, widening the analysis to the connected buildings and cemeteries. Papers focusing on case studies are welcomed, but authors are encouraged to consider the material culture connected to the church and the surrounding cemetery, the detectable elements of cult, and especially the regional and long-distance connections as a possible element of network formation. Several papers will present the Transylvanian parish churches of Brașov (Brassó/Kronstadt), Sibiu (Szeben/Hermannstadt), ClujNapoca(Kolozsvár/Klausenburg), Baia Mare (Nagybánya/Neustadt) – all of them placed on the main north-south trade route which connected medieval Hungarian Kingdom with Poland and the Levant. Similar cases from Carpathian Basin and beyond are welcome.
The regional and long-distance contacts of urban communities, through trade and other economic and social relations, are well documented in written sources and these contacts create a solid background for establishing direct links between the town’s parish churches, their architectural and artistic features and the connected material culture.
This session aims to create a complex perspective on the archaeologically research of major parish churches of the Carpathian Basin, widening the analysis to the connected buildings and cemeteries. Papers focusing on case studies are welcomed, but authors are encouraged to consider the material culture connected to the church and the surrounding cemetery, the detectable elements of cult, and especially the regional and long-distance connections as a possible element of network formation. Several papers will present the Transylvanian parish churches of Brașov (Brassó/Kronstadt), Sibiu (Szeben/Hermannstadt), ClujNapoca(Kolozsvár/Klausenburg), Baia Mare (Nagybánya/Neustadt) – all of them placed on the main north-south trade route which connected medieval Hungarian Kingdom with Poland and the Levant. Similar cases from Carpathian Basin and beyond are welcome.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The Archaeology of Urban Churches in Southern Transylvania – a Preliminary Approach The paper is an introduction in the archaeology of the foremost medieval parish churches of Southern Transylvania, namely those in Sibiu, Brașov,... more
The Archaeology of Urban Churches in Southern Transylvania – a Preliminary Approach
The paper is an introduction in the archaeology of the foremost medieval parish churches of Southern Transylvania, namely those in Sibiu, Brașov, Sighișoara and Sebeș. In a side by side approach, the paper briefly illustrates the state of the archaeological research and the contribution brought by archaeology to the understanding of these buildings and to the restitution of the development of the local ecclesiastical architecture. The author aims to draw attention to three aspects: the benefits brought by archaeology in reconstructing the early stages of the religious architecture, the low level of involvement of the archaeologist in urban excavations and the low percent of processed and published investigations.
The analyzed settlements belong to the South-Transylvanian German colonization area and were established in the twelfth-thirteenth centuries. They must have had a parish church ever since the very first few decades of their existence, but, in all cases, we have no accurate knowledge of it. What reached us are the Late Gothic churches, built in the late fourteenth century and in the fifteenth century and finished by the early sixteenth century. Seen in the context of their emergence, these churches are situated at the end of a local architectural development and their sites conceal the beginnings of the religious architecture of Transylvania. However, these early stages cannot be identified without archaeological investigation and our current state of research is needy.
The investigation of the urban churches has been carried out to greatly different extents, during restoration and/or systematization works of the surrounding area (civil works, landscaping projects, etc.). Except for the site in Sibiu, in all the other cases the archaeological excavation consisted solely of trenches, which resulted in fragmented data, difficult or impossible to correlate. Both the indoor and the outdoor areas of the churches in Sebeș and Sighișoara have been investigated, but man has knowledge only of the most general results. The church in Sibiu has the best archaeological knowledge, since the investigation has been carefully documented and almost exhaustively published. The Black Church in Brașov, the least researched of all, ends the list. Here, the first actual archaeological data have been obtained in 2012, during some rather restricted outdoor investigations.
As regards our state of knowledge, this more than lacking level of archaeological data is reflected, first of all, in the fact that we have no concrete data about the antecedents of three of these churches. The parish churches erected during the colonization period in Sibiu and Sebeș have most certainly been important benchmarks in the religious architectural development of Transylvania, as must have been the churches in Sighișoara (part of a noble residence) and Brașov (monastery) too. Secondly, the shaky chronological timetable currently at our disposal is a result of disregarding the undertaking of systematic archaeological studies in urban religious sites. This state of affairs should be an alarm signal for anybody involved in urban management, but, just maybe, primary for archaeologists.
The paper is an introduction in the archaeology of the foremost medieval parish churches of Southern Transylvania, namely those in Sibiu, Brașov, Sighișoara and Sebeș. In a side by side approach, the paper briefly illustrates the state of the archaeological research and the contribution brought by archaeology to the understanding of these buildings and to the restitution of the development of the local ecclesiastical architecture. The author aims to draw attention to three aspects: the benefits brought by archaeology in reconstructing the early stages of the religious architecture, the low level of involvement of the archaeologist in urban excavations and the low percent of processed and published investigations.
The analyzed settlements belong to the South-Transylvanian German colonization area and were established in the twelfth-thirteenth centuries. They must have had a parish church ever since the very first few decades of their existence, but, in all cases, we have no accurate knowledge of it. What reached us are the Late Gothic churches, built in the late fourteenth century and in the fifteenth century and finished by the early sixteenth century. Seen in the context of their emergence, these churches are situated at the end of a local architectural development and their sites conceal the beginnings of the religious architecture of Transylvania. However, these early stages cannot be identified without archaeological investigation and our current state of research is needy.
The investigation of the urban churches has been carried out to greatly different extents, during restoration and/or systematization works of the surrounding area (civil works, landscaping projects, etc.). Except for the site in Sibiu, in all the other cases the archaeological excavation consisted solely of trenches, which resulted in fragmented data, difficult or impossible to correlate. Both the indoor and the outdoor areas of the churches in Sebeș and Sighișoara have been investigated, but man has knowledge only of the most general results. The church in Sibiu has the best archaeological knowledge, since the investigation has been carefully documented and almost exhaustively published. The Black Church in Brașov, the least researched of all, ends the list. Here, the first actual archaeological data have been obtained in 2012, during some rather restricted outdoor investigations.
As regards our state of knowledge, this more than lacking level of archaeological data is reflected, first of all, in the fact that we have no concrete data about the antecedents of three of these churches. The parish churches erected during the colonization period in Sibiu and Sebeș have most certainly been important benchmarks in the religious architectural development of Transylvania, as must have been the churches in Sighișoara (part of a noble residence) and Brașov (monastery) too. Secondly, the shaky chronological timetable currently at our disposal is a result of disregarding the undertaking of systematic archaeological studies in urban religious sites. This state of affairs should be an alarm signal for anybody involved in urban management, but, just maybe, primary for archaeologists.
Research Interests:
The study analyses the burials uncovered around the evangelical church in Saschiz, thus supplementing the previously published data about this monument. Archaeological research, carried out at the time of restoration works, has identified... more
The study analyses the burials uncovered around the evangelical church in Saschiz, thus supplementing the previously published data about
this monument. Archaeological research, carried out at the time of restoration works, has identified several dozen burials, irregularly spread around
the church. The necropolis has a low density of burials, the graves are unevenly distributed and their overlaps suggest family burial places.
The burial ritual is straightforward – all the deceased have been laid to rest lying on their back, with the forearms set over their body. An
interesting feature is that most graves did not respect the traditional head‐to‐west orientation, being influenced by the church's orientation, on the
NW–SE axis. None of the graves had grave goods, so the chronological framework has been established based on the date of the church, stratigraphic
study and the lack of burials older than the church. According to these features, the burials began at the earliest after the middle of the 15th century
and ceased after almost a century.
The topo‐chronological characteristics show that the short‐lived funerary function of the church was for the benefit of a select number of
parishioners, most likely belonging to the forefront families of the community. The archaeological research in Saschiz has thus documented a rather
rare situation in the colonists’ environment – one in which the parish graveyard was functioning, around the year 1500, in a different location than the
church.
this monument. Archaeological research, carried out at the time of restoration works, has identified several dozen burials, irregularly spread around
the church. The necropolis has a low density of burials, the graves are unevenly distributed and their overlaps suggest family burial places.
The burial ritual is straightforward – all the deceased have been laid to rest lying on their back, with the forearms set over their body. An
interesting feature is that most graves did not respect the traditional head‐to‐west orientation, being influenced by the church's orientation, on the
NW–SE axis. None of the graves had grave goods, so the chronological framework has been established based on the date of the church, stratigraphic
study and the lack of burials older than the church. According to these features, the burials began at the earliest after the middle of the 15th century
and ceased after almost a century.
The topo‐chronological characteristics show that the short‐lived funerary function of the church was for the benefit of a select number of
parishioners, most likely belonging to the forefront families of the community. The archaeological research in Saschiz has thus documented a rather
rare situation in the colonists’ environment – one in which the parish graveyard was functioning, around the year 1500, in a different location than the
church.
Research Interests:
The aim of this paper is threefold: 1) to present results of the archaeological excavations conducted in the area surrounding the Black Church in Braşov (Transylvania, Romania); 2) to show the outcome of the analysis of a small human... more
The aim of this paper is threefold: 1) to present results of the archaeological excavations conducted in the area surrounding the Black Church in Braşov (Transylvania, Romania); 2) to show the outcome of the analysis of a small human skeletal sample; and 3) to stress the importance of biocultural interpretations of burial sites for a better understanding of the process of urbanization in southern Transylvania. During the Middle Ages Braşov, founded in the 12th century by Central European colonists, was a flourishing multi-cultural and multi-ethnic urban community located in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains (Transylvania, Romania), and a busy crossroad for travelers, merchants and diplomats from Romania, other European countries and the Middle East. Between 2012 and 2013 a team of archaeologists conducted rescue excavations in the area surrounding the Black Church, unearthing a stratigraphically challenging complex of structures formed by centuries of uninterrupted human habitat, and over 1,400 graves in the medieval cemetery annexed to the church. The observation and interpretation of burial practices, grave goods and funerary topography, integrated with the demographic and pathological profile of human skeletal remains from 170 burials have shed new light on the life and death of the members of this middle-class population. In fact, bio-social and bio-cultural patterns were identified through the integration of multidisciplinary sources of evidence. The team involved in the post-excavation processing of archaeological materials from the Black Church cemetery is keen to promote further investigations of the archaeological site presented here, which is of inestimable value for the reconstitution of the development of urban life in medieval and modern Eastern Europe, and to present the lesser-known, albeit no less interesting, Romanian cultural heritage to international scholars and to the general public.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Architecture, Medieval History, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Papacy (Medieval Church History), and 18 moreHungarian Studies, Byzantine History, Byzantine Archaeology, Church History, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Burial Practices (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Hungarian Archaeology, Orthodox Christianity, Church architecture, Archaeology of churches, Orthodox Church, Archaeology of death and burial, Burial Customs, Medieval church architecture, History of Transylvania, and Early Medieval Transylvania
Research Interests: Architecture, Medieval History, History of Christianity, Balkan Studies, Early Christianity, and 25 moreEarly Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, Byzantine Studies, Byzantine Archaeology, Medieval Architecture, Church History, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Burial Practices (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Medieval Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, Church architecture, Archaeology of churches, Archaeology of burials, Byzantine churches, Medieval Churches, Early and Medieval Christianity, Medieval church architecture, History of Transylvania, Migration Period Archaeology, Cemetery Studies, and Roman Archaeology
Research Interests: Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, History of Hungary, Byzantine Architecture, and 8 moreByzantine Archaeology, Medieval Architecture, Archaeology of churches, Istoria bisericii, Istoria Arhitecturii Medievale, Arhitectura, istorie, arheologie, Arheologie Medievală, and Gyulafehérvár
Research Interests: Medieval History, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, Medieval Architecture, and 11 moreArchaeology of Architecture, Medieval Pottery, Medieval ceramics (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Archaeology of churches, Funerary Practices, Archaeology of death and burial, Medieval church architecture, Cemetery archaeology, Archeology, and Fortified Residence
Research Interests: Archaeology, Historical Archaeology, Medieval History, Landscape Archaeology, Early Medieval Archaeology, and 17 moreMedieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Papacy (Medieval Church History), Diaspora, Funerary Archaeology, Church History, Cistercians, Church Archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Church architecture, Archaeology of churches, Teutonic Knights, Transylvanian Saxons, Catholic Church History, Medieval church architecture, Fortified churches, and History of Transylvania
Research Interests: Medieval History, Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, Death and Burial (Archaeology), and 6 moreEarly Modern History/Central European History/ Transilvania, Burial Practices (Archaeology), Funerary Practices, Archaeology of death and burial, Sibiu/Hermannstadt, and German Hospites In Transylvani
Research Interests: Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, Church History, Death and Burial (Archaeology), and 9 moreBurial Practices (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Archaeology of churches, Archaeology of burials, Funerary Practices, Archaeology of death and burial, Burial Customs, Medieval and Early Modern History of the German Minority in Transylvania/Hungary, and Medieval graves
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Research Interests: Architecture, Medieval History, History of Religion, Early Church, Medieval Church History, and 10 moreMedieval Archaeology, Medieval Architecture, Church History, Church Archaeology, Archaeology of churches, Cemeteries, Catholic Church History, Medieval church architecture, Medieval graves, and Cemetery Studies
Research Interests: Archaeology, Historical Archaeology, Medieval History, History of Religion, Early Church, and 16 moreReformation History, Reformation Studies, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, Church History, Church Archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Church, Church architecture, Archaeology of churches, Funerary Practices, Catholic Church History, Medieval church architecture, History of Transylvania, and Medieval Church Archaeology
Research Interests: Medieval History, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, Church History, and 16 moreDeath and Burial (Archaeology), Burial Practices (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Medieval Hungary, Transylvanian Romanians, Orthodox Christianity, Church architecture, Archaeology of churches, Funerary Practices, Orthodox Church, Burial Customs, Medieval jewellery, Medieval church architecture, History of Transylvania, Medieval graves, and Cemetery Studies
Research Interests: Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Architecture, Church History, Transylvania, and 6 moreChurch Archaeology, Church architecture, Archaeology of churches, Catholic Church History, Medieval and Early Modern History of the German Minority in Transylvania/Hungary, and Medieval church architecture
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Research Interests: Archaeology, Medieval History, Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, and 18 morePapacy (Medieval Church History), Medieval Europe, Medieval Architecture, Church History, Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology), Medieval ceramics (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Church architecture, Archaeology of churches, Teutonic Knights, Post-Medieval Archaeology, Cisterciens, Cemeteries, Catholic Church History, Medieval church architecture, Cemetery Research, Medieval and Early Modern Archaeology, and Church History of Eastern and Central Europe
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Research Interests: Medieval History, Romanian History, History of Religion, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, and 10 morePapacy (Medieval Church History), Church History, Transylvania, Romanian Archaeology, Orthodox Christianity, Funerary Practices, Orthodox Church, Medieval church architecture, History of Transylvania, and Transsylvania
Rezumat: Articolul analizează un set de cahle descoperit în timpul cercetărilor arheologice realizate în anul 2010 la Cetatea Ardud din județul Satu Mare. Deși păstrate extrem de fragmentar, datorită decorului specific s-a putut stabili... more
Rezumat: Articolul analizează un set de cahle descoperit în timpul cercetărilor arheologice realizate în anul 2010 la Cetatea Ardud din județul Satu Mare. Deși păstrate extrem de fragmentar, datorită decorului specific s-a putut stabili că piesele au făcut parte dintr-o sobă gotică cu motive decorative variate, între care cel mai important era cavalerul. Aceasta a fost o replică modestă a unui adevărat monument al epocii medievale, soba cavalerilor din palatul regal de la Buda. La Ardud pot fi documentate fragmente din aproape toate componentele acestei sobe, dintre care, în mod excepțional, trebuie amintite figurinele din lut așezate în nișe. Pe baza contextului și a analogiilor, cahlele sunt datate în secolul al XV-lea. Analiza contextului istoric a condus la ipoteza că soba a fost un cadou făcut de regele Matia Corvin lui Bartolomeu Drágfy, cel mai important proprietar al cetății Ardud. Cuvinte-cheie: cahle gotice, soba cavalerilor, Transilvania medievală, Ardud, familia Drágfy, figurine din lut, motive religioase. INTRODUCERE ȘI CONTEXTUL ARHEOLOGIC În marginea localității Ardud (din actualul județ Satu Mare), se păstrează câteva ruine ce au aparținut somptuosului castel, construit în stil baroc, în primele decenii ale secolului al XVIII-lea, de către familia nobiliară Károlyi. Castelul a fost ridicat peste ruinele cetății medievale a familiei Drágfy, edificată în ultima parte a secolului al XV-lea și distrusă într-un asediu la mijlocul secolului al XVI-lea 1. Restaurarea ruinelor în anii 2010–2011 a fost însoțită de cercetări interdisciplinare, inclusiv arheologice: două secțiuni principale au delimitat situl, mai multe suprafețe au fost cercetate sistematic în zona sudică, alte observații au fost înregistrate în timpul lucrărilor de amenajare a terenului. Săpăturile au adus la suprafață ruinele celor două etape de locuire și numeroase materiale arheologice, între care domină fragmentele ceramice provenite de la veselă și din structura sobelor 2 (fig. 1–3).
The preventive archaeological research conducted in 2010 in the fortress of Ardud revealed an
interesting group of tiles that had belonged to a Gothic stove, an imitation of the most famous medieval
stove in Europe. Stove tiles of different shapes and sizes, with a full or traceried face, glazed or
preserving the appearance of burnt clay, were part of the stove discovered in Ardud, featuring
decorations that encapsulated the essence of an era: religious symbols, saints, knights, fantastic animals,
tendrils, and rosettes, pertaining to the iconic pattern of Gothic architecture. It is not just in terms of the
33 Soba gotică din cetatea medievală a Ardudului 301
imagery that we should appreciate the remarkable value of this stove, but also from a formal point of
view: traceried pieces, niches, figurines and pieces assembled from two components – all these could
only have been executed in a specialized workshop that had reached a high technological level,
including the use of enamel. The stove was a valuable component of the interior furnishings. Beyond
its importance for the history of the minor arts, the pieces from Ardud introduce us to a medieval
residence virtually unknown before the year 2010. Although research has been minimal, covering a
small part of the area of interest, it has outlined a fortification of impressive proportions, revealing, at
the same time, a residence with indoor heating provided by monumental stoves, executed to the highest
standards of the time.
The stove with knightly figures, however, was more than just a heating installation and a
decorative body, originally representing the exclusive preserve of the royal court. In the given historical
context, we may wonder whether the stove (or the right to reproduce it) was not part of the presents
bestowed by Matthias Corvinus on Bartholomew, as a token of friendship and as an entirely
unconventional reward for the services rendered to him. Of course, these pieces were not produced in
the royal workshop, but in a provincial workshop which possessed fairly accurate moulds and also the
license to replicate the ‟knightly stove”. While the other components of the stove were disseminated
across a very large area, virtually exceeding the boundaries of the Hungarian Kingdom, the figurines
made of clay had a limited circulation, at least as demonstrated by the current state of knowledge. Were
they an exclusive component of the stove or did they not become popular simply because their
production required advanced knowledge in several areas? Whatever the answer, we can formulate two
conclusions: (1) the owners of Ardud received permission to reproduce in full the royal stove and had
the ability to do so, albeit at incomparably lower technical and artistic levels; (2) within the limits of
the scholarship we have had access to, the stove from Ardud is an outstanding discovery, which
emphasizes, once more, the privileged status of Drag’s family, perhaps mainly of Bartholomew to be
more precise.
Keywords: Gothic stove tiles, the ‟knightly stove”, medieval Transylvania, Ardud, Drag’s
family, clay figurines, religious symbols.
The preventive archaeological research conducted in 2010 in the fortress of Ardud revealed an
interesting group of tiles that had belonged to a Gothic stove, an imitation of the most famous medieval
stove in Europe. Stove tiles of different shapes and sizes, with a full or traceried face, glazed or
preserving the appearance of burnt clay, were part of the stove discovered in Ardud, featuring
decorations that encapsulated the essence of an era: religious symbols, saints, knights, fantastic animals,
tendrils, and rosettes, pertaining to the iconic pattern of Gothic architecture. It is not just in terms of the
33 Soba gotică din cetatea medievală a Ardudului 301
imagery that we should appreciate the remarkable value of this stove, but also from a formal point of
view: traceried pieces, niches, figurines and pieces assembled from two components – all these could
only have been executed in a specialized workshop that had reached a high technological level,
including the use of enamel. The stove was a valuable component of the interior furnishings. Beyond
its importance for the history of the minor arts, the pieces from Ardud introduce us to a medieval
residence virtually unknown before the year 2010. Although research has been minimal, covering a
small part of the area of interest, it has outlined a fortification of impressive proportions, revealing, at
the same time, a residence with indoor heating provided by monumental stoves, executed to the highest
standards of the time.
The stove with knightly figures, however, was more than just a heating installation and a
decorative body, originally representing the exclusive preserve of the royal court. In the given historical
context, we may wonder whether the stove (or the right to reproduce it) was not part of the presents
bestowed by Matthias Corvinus on Bartholomew, as a token of friendship and as an entirely
unconventional reward for the services rendered to him. Of course, these pieces were not produced in
the royal workshop, but in a provincial workshop which possessed fairly accurate moulds and also the
license to replicate the ‟knightly stove”. While the other components of the stove were disseminated
across a very large area, virtually exceeding the boundaries of the Hungarian Kingdom, the figurines
made of clay had a limited circulation, at least as demonstrated by the current state of knowledge. Were
they an exclusive component of the stove or did they not become popular simply because their
production required advanced knowledge in several areas? Whatever the answer, we can formulate two
conclusions: (1) the owners of Ardud received permission to reproduce in full the royal stove and had
the ability to do so, albeit at incomparably lower technical and artistic levels; (2) within the limits of
the scholarship we have had access to, the stove from Ardud is an outstanding discovery, which
emphasizes, once more, the privileged status of Drag’s family, perhaps mainly of Bartholomew to be
more precise.
Keywords: Gothic stove tiles, the ‟knightly stove”, medieval Transylvania, Ardud, Drag’s
family, clay figurines, religious symbols.
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Research Interests: Medieval History, Romanian History, Medieval Church History, Byzantine Studies, History of Hungary, and 24 moreViking Studies, Byzantine History, Byzantine Archaeology, Church History, Ceramics (Art History), Medieval ceramics (Archaeology), Ceramics (Archaeology), History of Archeology, Medieval Hungary, Transylvanian Romanians, Orthodox Christianity, Arheology, Fortifications, Castles, Archeologia medievale, Medieval Europe, Anglo-Norman history, women and family, monasticism, Anglo-Saxon history, Vikings, Late Roman and early Byzantine fortifications, Catholic Church History, Medieval castles, Stove Tiles, History of Transylvania, Swords, Viking Swords, and Radu Popa
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Research Interests: Medieval History, Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Church History, Early Medieval History, Medieval Archaeology, and 12 moreByzantine Studies, Byzantine History, History of Art, Byzantine Architecture, Byzantine Archaeology, Medieval Architecture, Byzantine monasticism, Medieval Art, Byzantium, Gothic architecture, Byzantine art, and Byzantine history and archaeology
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The historical site of Feldioara has a multi-millennial history, with vestiges from the Neolithic, the Bronze Age, the Dacian and Roman periods and especially from the Middle Ages. The medieval settlement of Feldioara was established by a... more
The historical site of Feldioara has a multi-millennial history, with vestiges from the Neolithic, the Bronze Age, the Dacian and Roman periods and especially from the Middle Ages.
The medieval settlement of Feldioara was established by a group of German guests in the late twelfth century: their graveyard has been uncovered in the open area located east of the parochial church. However, Feldioara made its entrance in history as the headquarters of the Teutonic Knights, which controlled Burzenland between 1211 and 1225.
The medieval settlement of Feldioara was established by a group of German guests in the late twelfth century: their graveyard has been uncovered in the open area located east of the parochial church. However, Feldioara made its entrance in history as the headquarters of the Teutonic Knights, which controlled Burzenland between 1211 and 1225.
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We welcome contributions exploring (but not limited to) - Processes of identity formation as a result of migration, colonisation and other forms of population mobility - The identification and reconstruction of biocultural diversity... more
We
welcome contributions exploring (but not limited to)
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Processes of identity formation as a result of migration, colonisation and other forms of
population mobility
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The identification and reconstruction of biocultural diversity through a multi and cross
disciplinary approach
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Non linear power dynamics and dependencies between cultural groups
welcome contributions exploring (but not limited to)
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Processes of identity formation as a result of migration, colonisation and other forms of
population mobility
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The identification and reconstruction of biocultural diversity through a multi and cross
disciplinary approach
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Non linear power dynamics and dependencies between cultural groups
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La începutul secolului al XXI‑lea, în cetatea din orașul Aiud se aflau două biserici, una mai mare, reformată, cu un aspect gotic de secol XV, cealaltă mai mică, evanghelică, reclădită în secolul al XIX‑lea peste structura demolată a... more
La începutul secolului al XXI‑lea, în cetatea din orașul Aiud se aflau două biserici, una mai mare, reformată, cu un aspect gotic de secol XV, cealaltă mai mică, evanghelică, reclădită în secolul al XIX‑lea peste structura demolată a uneia mai vechi, ce data probabil din secolul al XIII‑lea. Biserica mare suferise și ea modificări pe parcursul îndelungatei ei istorii, îndeosebi în stil baroc, dar originile și vechimea ei adevărată erau necunoscute. Săpăturile arheologice de la biserica mare a Cetății Aiudului au început în 2008, pentru a fi reluate abia în 2018, în contextul unui program de restaurare. Continuând și în ziua de astăzi, investigațiile au furnizat o multitudine de noi date despre evoluția istorică a sitului, îndeosebi prin descoperirea ruinelor unei biserici mai vechi sub cea de secol XV. În interiorul corului actual, șanțuri de demantelare și rămășite de fundații retrasau conturul unui sanctuar încheiat spre est într‑o absidă poligonală, cu contraforturi pe colțuri. M...
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Turda, one of the foremost settlements of Transylvania and the seat of the homonymous medieval county, appears in documents ever since the 11th century. Except for the Chamber House, the historical secular architecture of the city’s... more
Turda, one of the foremost settlements of Transylvania and the seat of the homonymous medieval county, appears in documents ever since the 11th century. Except for the Chamber House, the historical secular architecture of the city’s central area has disappeared. Nevertheless, part of its ecclesiastical architecture has survived, primarily the Reformed Church of Turda Veche, located between the southern end of the central square and the left bank of the Racilor (Crayfish) Valley, and which, despite the changes that have affected it over time, remains to this day one of the most representative monuments produced by Transylvania’s ecclesiastical medieval architecture. The church starts to show up in documents in the early 14th century, when it belonged to the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine and only much later on, during the 17th century, in the wake of the Reformation, it came into possession of the Reformed community of Turda Veche. The edifice underwent numerous modifications du...
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Erstmals 1240 unter dem Namen „Castrum Sancte Mariae“ erwähnt, ist Marienburg eine der bekanntesten mittelalterlichen Siedlungen in Siebenbürgen, hauptsächlich als Sitz des Deutschen Ordens in den Jahren 1211–1225. Der Ort wurde bereits... more
Erstmals 1240 unter dem Namen „Castrum Sancte Mariae“ erwähnt, ist Marienburg eine der bekanntesten mittelalterlichen Siedlungen in Siebenbürgen, hauptsächlich als Sitz des Deutschen Ordens in den Jahren 1211–1225. Der Ort wurde bereits Mitte des 12. Jahrhunderts von deutschen Ansiedlern gegründet und sollte als Brückenkopf nicht nur für die Organisation des südöstlichen Siebenbürgen (Burzenland) dienen, sondern auch für die Expansion des ungarischen Königreichs und der katholischen Kirche über den Karpatenbogen hinaus. In der Entwicklungsgeschichte des mittelalterlichen Siebenbürgen sticht Marienburg als atypische Siedlung hervor, sowohl wegen der frühen Ansiedlung und der komplexen Struktur, als auch wegen des Zusammenhangs mit Ereignissen, welche die europäische Geschichte beeinflussten. Ungeachtet der wissenschaftlichen Aufmerksamkeit, die dem Ort in den letzten Jahrzehnten geschenkt wurde, birgt der geschichtliche Werdegang der mittelalterlichen Marienburg noch viele Rätsel, die nur durch eine ständige archäologische Begleitung der Modernisierungsbestrebungen des heutigen Orts gelöst werden können.
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The aim of this paper is three-fold: 1) to present results of the archaeological excavations conducted in the area surrounding the Black Church in Braşov (Transylvania, Romania); 2) to show the outcome of the analysis of a small human... more
The aim of this paper is three-fold: 1) to present results of the archaeological excavations conducted in the area surrounding the Black Church in Braşov (Transylvania, Romania); 2) to show the outcome of the analysis of a small human skeletal sample, and 3) to stress the importance of biocultural interpretations of burial sites for a better understanding of the process of urbanization in southern Transylvania.During the Middle Ages Braşov, founded in the 12th century by Central European colonists, was a flourishing multi-cultural and multi-ethnic urban community located in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains (Transylvania, Romania), and a busy crossroad for travellers, merchants and diplomats from Romania, other European countries and the Middle East. Between 2012 and 2013 a team of archaeologists conducted rescue excavations in the area surrounding the Black Church, unearthing a stratigraphically challenging complex of structures formed by centuries of uninterrupted human habita...
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Research Interests: Art, Architecture, Medieval History, Medieval Church History, Medieval Archaeology, and 15 moreHungarian Studies, Byzantine History, Byzantine Archaeology, Church History, Church Archaeology, Hungarian Archaeology, Church architecture, Archaeology of churches, Archaeology of death and burial, Burial Customs, Medieval church architecture, History of Transylvania, Early Medieval Transylvania, Death and Burial Archaeology, and Burial Practices Archaeology
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Introduction In 2005 the restoration of the historic center of Sibiu has created the opportunity to carry out archaeological work on the medieval cemetery of the city. The cemetery was used between the mid-twelfth century to mid-sixteenth... more
Introduction In 2005 the restoration of the historic center of Sibiu has created the opportunity to carry out archaeological work on the medieval cemetery of the city. The cemetery was used between the mid-twelfth century to mid-sixteenth century1 around the parish church Sfânta Maria/Saint Mary (an evangelic church nowadays). The research had a partially character, focusing on releasing the areas on which there were presumed some architectural actions. However within the bounds established by the builders, there were excavated important parts of the cemetery, especially on the southern side of the church. Approximately one ifth of the site was excavated, 1833 funerary complexes containing the remains of 1874 individuals were recovered. The elaboration of the archaeological excavation results evidenced three main stages of the cemetery use: the early stage from twelfth-thirteenth centuries, the middle stage from fourteenth to ifteenth centuries and the inal stage belonging to the ir...
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The fortress from Saschiz, Mures County, was built on a rocky slope, very close to the town of Saschiz, to its northwestern side. Typologically, the ensemble is a refuge fortress, a relatively close and easily protected safe shelter for... more
The fortress from Saschiz, Mures County, was built on a rocky slope, very close to the town of Saschiz, to its northwestern side. Typologically, the ensemble is a refuge fortress, a relatively close and easily protected safe shelter for the community, if it was in a direct peril. At the beginning of the 20th century the fortress was still used by the community on different occasions, but, when the Saxons have emigrated, it has rapidly degraded, and, in a very short term, the fortress was a collapsed ruin. In 1999 and 2000 a restoration project, along with a few archaeological surveys were initiated. This article presents the results of the archaeological research, the stratigraphic sequence of the site and the uncovered artifacts. The archaeology evidenced the fact that the site was intensely dwelled in Prehistory, with traces of several Neolithic and Bronze Age complexes. The medieval building site started in the first half of the 15th century, by leveling the sloppy terrain, thus disturbing the prehistorical complexes and moving the artifacts toward the edges of the plateau. A first fortress was therefore built here. The terrain compelled it to have an irregular, multiangular shape. The plateau is 90 m long on its long axis while the short one is 52 m wide. This plateau was surrounded by a curtain wall that initially had three towers : the gate tower, the school’s tower on the south side and the voivode tower that was most likely placed on the north side of the fortress. This first stage of constructions probably lasted several decades, some of the interventions being datable at the end of the 15th or even in the beginning of the 16th centuries. The northeastern and southeastern extremities were later on consolidated by building two more towers. They are known as the priest’s tower and the ammunition tower. The first one was built toward the middle of the 16th century, as demonstrated by the coin findings in several levels inside it. The second tower was built at the beginning of the 17th century. The gate area was reorganized during a stage of constructions that we cannot yet chronologically place in the current research stage. A small zwinger was created. It was limited to the south by a sixth, the watch tower. The fortress was extended eastward by adding a secondary precinct, that was also probably guarded by towers. During the 17th century the main enclosure was severely transformed. The old towers were repaired or rebuilt (the voivode tower for example) and pantries were built along the sides of the curtain wall. A two room structure was built ; this is considered by specialists to have functioned as a chapel. The artifacts unearthed by the excavations consist mainly of pottery shards. Several of these can be dated in the 13th– 15th centuries, but the significant majority of the pottery is placed during the 15th– 17th centuries. We also discovered some metallic artifacts, such as a fragment of a jeweler’s scales and a battle knife, both of them dated in the 15th century. The interpretation of the dig as well as establishing a chronological evolution of the site wouldn’t have been possible without the 20 coins, that were, most of them, discovered in coherent stratigraphic situations.
The study analyses the burials uncovered around the evangelical church in Saschiz, thus supplementing the previously published data about this monument. Archaeological research, carried out at the time of restoration works, has identified... more
The study analyses the burials uncovered around the evangelical church in Saschiz, thus supplementing the previously published data about this monument. Archaeological research, carried out at the time of restoration works, has identified several dozen burials, irregularly spread around the church. The necropolis has a low density of burials, the graves are unevenly distributed and their overlaps suggest family burial places. The burial ritual is straightforward – all the deceased have been laid to rest lying on their back, with the forearms set over their body. An interesting feature is that most graves did not respect the traditional head‐ to‐ west orientation, being influenced by the church''s orientation, on the NW– SE axis. None of the graves had grave goods, so the chronological framework has been established based on the date of the church, stratigraphic study and the lack of burials older than the church. According to these features, the burials began at the earliest after the middle of the 15th century and ceased after almost a century. The topo‐ chronological characteristics show that the short‐ lived funerary function of the church was for the benefit of a select number of parishioners, most likely belonging to the forefront families of the community. The archaeological research in Saschiz has thus documented a rather rare situation in the colonists’ environment – one in which the parish graveyard was functioning, around the year 1500, in a different location than the church.
L’ensemble monastique a ete edifie en siecle pendant le regne du voivode Matei Basarab (1632– 1654). Il s’agit d’une enceinte rectangulaire comprenant une maison sur son cote nord, une tour clocher sur le cote ouest et une eglise de plan... more
L’ensemble monastique a ete edifie en siecle pendant le regne du voivode Matei Basarab (1632– 1654). Il s’agit d’une enceinte rectangulaire comprenant une maison sur son cote nord, une tour clocher sur le cote ouest et une eglise de plan triconque au milieu. Au cours des siecles le monastere a ete plusieurs fois abime, transforme en prison, depot, hopital, jusqu''a nos jours quand l’eglise est devenue eglise paroissiale. A l’occasion d’un projet de restauration, en 1999 on a effectue des fouilles archeologiques. Les 15 tranches ont eu comme but l’enregistrement des donnees concernant la maison (princiere) – l’evolution des phases, la structure et la profondeur des fondations, des murs, l’evolution des niveaux de construction, les relations avec d’autres bâtiments (cellules) ; l’identification de l’ancienne tour clocher et d’autres eventuelles constructions. La maison dite princiere, qui superpose une cave, a ete fouillee uniquement a l’exterieur et on a enregistre la situation suivante : la paroi du nord a ete bâtie en meme temps que l’entree du cave ; dans une autre etape, a l’extremite de l’est de cette paroi, on a ajoute une toilette. La fondation a ete bâtie en briques et mortier. Les bâtiments (cellules) du cote sud ont ete ajoutes plus tard a la maison. Plus tard, peut etre au XIXe siecle, l’aspect original de la maison a ete modifie par la construction d’une nouvelle facade. Les tranches effectuees dans la zone de l’entree ont mis a jour des fondations appartenant a l’ancienne tour clocher. Au nord, ajoute a la fondation de la tour clocher, se trouve un mur qui indique, a ce stade de la recherche, la presence d’un bâtiment entre la tour clocher et la maison dite princiere. Les fondations du mur d’enceinte ont ete bâties en meme temps que l’ancienne tour clocher. Les bâtiments (cellules) du cote nord ont ete refaits dans une autre etape, la paroi du nord superposant l’ancienne fondation et la paroi du sud etant deplacee vers le nord avec 60– 70 cm. La fondation originaire est ajoutee a la fondation de maison. Dans le cas du bâtiment du cote sud on constate aussi une etape de reconstruction. Les bâtiments du cote est sont des constructions modernes avec fondations en beton de la meme maniere que la tour clocher actuel. Au niveau actuel des recherches l’evolution de l’ensemble est la suivante : 1. la maison dite princiere ; 2. l’ancienne tour clocher, le mur d’enceinte et le bâtiment du cote ouest ; 3. les bâtiments du cote nord et sud ; 4. reconstruction des bâtiments des cotes nord et sud ; 5. l’entree actuelle, la nouvelle tour clocher, le bâtiment du cote est. Les premieres trois etapes se sont deroulees dans un intervalle assez court a partir de la deuxieme moitie du XVIIe siecle jusqu’au debut du XVIIIe siecle. La quatrieme etape date du XIXe siecle, et la cinquieme appartient au XXe siecle. La stratigraphie generale est la suivante : 1. argile – sterile archeologique ; 2. couche châtaine – l’âge de fer (La Tene) ; 3. couche rougeâtre jaune – resultee de l’excavation de la cave ; 4. niveau de construction de la maison princiere ; 5 niveau de construction des bâtiments ; 6 niveau de construction de l’ancienne tour clocher ; 7. d’autres interventions constructives, refaites differentes ; 8. couche terre gris. Au cours des fouilles archeologiques on a trouve quelques fragments ceramiques, dont la plus part appartiennent aux XVIIe– XIXe siecles, un seul fragment datant de l’âge du fer.
L’ensemble monastique a ete edifie au milieux du XVIIIe siecle par le boyard Sandu Bucsenescu. Il s’agit d’une enceinte rectangulaire comprenant une maison d’abbe sur le cote du nord, une tour clocher sur le cote ouest, une eglise de plan... more
L’ensemble monastique a ete edifie au milieux du XVIIIe siecle par le boyard Sandu Bucsenescu. Il s’agit d’une enceinte rectangulaire comprenant une maison d’abbe sur le cote du nord, une tour clocher sur le cote ouest, une eglise de plan triconque au milieu, et d’autres bâtiments (cellules) sur le cote sud. A l’occasion d’un projet de restauration, en 1999, on a effectue des fouilles archeologiques. Les 10 tranches (seulement neuf effectivement fouillees) ont eu comme but l’enregistrement des donnees concernant les caracteristiques techniques du bâtiments actuel – l’evolution des phases, la structure et la profondeur des fondations et des murs, l’evolution des niveaux de construction ; l’identification d’autres eventuelles constructions. Les fouilles ont releve plusieurs etapes de construction de l’ensemble monastique. Les fondations sont bâties en pierre et mortier contenant de tres petits fragments de brique. Les murs sont construits en brique et en pierre. Au niveau actuel des recherches l’evolution de l’ensemble est la suivante : 1. l’eglise (1752– 1753) ; 2. la tour clocher et le mur d’enceinte du moins les cotes nord et ouest (deja edifies en 1762) ; 3. corps central de la maison d’abbe ; 4. chambre 1 (le beffroi) ; 5. chambres 2– 4 ; 6. chambre 8 (le cote est de la maison) ; 7. d’autres bâtiments ajoutes au cote ouest du mur d’enceinte au nord et au sud de la tour clocher ; bâtiments ajoutes a l’aille du nord y compris la veranda de la maison d’abbe. La stratigraphie generale, tres simple, est la suivante : 1. argile – sterile archeologique ; 2. couche châtaine – terrassement pour preparer le terrain de la construction de l’eglise ; 3. tres fine couche de cendre – resultee d’un deboisement par incendie avant la construction de l’eglise ; 4. niveau de construction des differentes bâtiments (cellules) de l’ensemble – mortier, pierre et brique ; 5 couche recente – terre châtain ou gris pigmente de traces de mortier et de brique – qui indique d’interventions des XIXe – XXe siecles. Au cours des fouilles archeologiques on a trouve quelques fragments ceramiques, tous appartenant a l’epoque moderne. Il faut souligner qu’ avant la construction de l’eglise (milieu du XVIIIe siecle) n’existe aucune trace d’habitation dans cet endroit.