Facultatea de Istorie şi Filosofie / Faculty of History and Philosophy

The article represents a synthesis of scientific knowledge on the habitat in the basin of the Cogalnic river and its archaeological component at the moment when we started an interdisciplinary project on research and scientific valorization of the archaeological heritage of the Iron Age in the basin of Cogalnic river from the Republic of Moldova. Related to the way of life of human communities of the Iron Age are presented historical, geographical, geological peculiarities; also: relief, climate, vegetation, animals and soil of the researched micro-region, followed by a repertory of archaeological sites corresponding chronologically and geographically to the researched topic, accompanied by a history of their study with the identification of the main stages and the most involved researchers.

In the summer of 2017, the specialists of the National Agency for Archaeology were notified about the discovery of human bones on a country road on the NW part of the lake, located at 1 km east from the Hîncești-Logănești road and about 1,5 km south-east from the Logănești village. It turned out that the remains were located in the Logănești I archaeological site perimeter, being extracted after the straightening of the mentioned country road. Undertaking a more detailed surface prospecting, there could be marked traces of two burial tombs. One was detected on the road and the another — in its eastern edge, as well as remnants from various other destroyed complexes, including the agglomeration of stones and burned clay. It was also found that the southern part of the site was affected by the digging a ditch. As a result, a clay furnace was observed, partially destroyed by excavation works in the northern profile of the ditch. Grave 1 was almost completely destroyed by the straightening works of the country road. Only a few fragments were kept from the skeleton assigned to a man of 35-50 years. Judging by bones’ position in situ, the weast-east orientation and the dorsal position of the deceased were established, with the left arm placed on the pelvis. To the left and to the right of the skeleton there were observed rotten wood remnants, coming from the coffin. The grave pit contour could not be determined. Two trenches, both of 1,5×2,0 m in size, were excavated to research the grave 2 and the furnace. Grave 2 was discovered on the same line as grave 1, at 1,3 m to east, in the edge of the road. The complex was partly destroyed by the road works. The skeleton, at a depth of 16-29 cm, was preserved relatively well, with the exception of the skull, legs and feet bones that were missing. The pit shape was not identified. The skeleton, belonging to a 55-60 year-old man, was lying on his back, in a stretched position, with his arms on his chest. A grit stone with dimensions of 10.5×7.5×5.0 cm was discovered on the right iliac crest. Under the level of the grave 2 there were found the animal bones, fragments of burned clay and ceramics belonging to the dwelling of early Hallstatt and the late Roman period. Furnace 1 was discovered at 6 m south-east from grave 2 in the northern wall of the ditch. Only a part of the furnace, on a maximum length of 1,26 m and a height of 0.2-0.5 m was preserved. The complex was approximately rectangular, with horizontal fireplace and arched walls. The base thickness was 6-10 cm, and the wall thickness was 4-6 cm. Under the hearth of the furnace a Chernyakhov type vessel bottom fragment made on wheel was discovered. Nearby some bones of animals and hand-made pottery fragments, characteristic for early Hallstattian period were found. The analysis of the ceramic material recovered from the surveys and from the surface suggests the existence in the Logănești I site perimeter of at least three living levels. They could be dated back to early Hallstatt (ChișinăuCorlăteni culture), late Roman period (Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture) and late Middle Ages (16-17th centuries). The identified graves certainly belong to a medieval cemetery.

Facultatea de Istorie şi Filosofie / Faculty of History and Philosophy

Browse

Filters

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results