Various kinds of temple rings played an important role in female body decoration in the southern Carpathian Basin during the Early Iron Age. Based on finds from graves, especially at the cemetery in Donja Dolina, four basic types of temple rings have been distinguished, according to differences in the design of their terminals, while different variants were recognized based on the method of shaping of the body. Temple rings were most commonly made of a copper alloy, but during the Late Hallstatt period, silver temple rings with twisted bodies also appeared. As the finds show, particularly in older graves at Donja Dolina, combinations of different temple rings were often worn, whereas temple rings of the same shape appear more frequently in younger graves. After analysing temple rings of the Ciumbrud and Donja Dolina types, we examine two other basic types with variants found in women’s graves in the southern Carpathian Basin. These temple rings are rare outside this area, which may indicate cultural connectivity between different Late Hallstatt communities, possibly including matrimonial alliances. Notably, they are common in the Donja Dolina cemetery. Conversely, they appear in smaller numbers in graves of the Syrmian group in the Danube region, mostly as the silver twisted-body type, which is the youngest form. The wearing of different temple rings throughout almost the entire Early Iron Age, and even at the very beginning of the Late Iron Age, testifies to the fact that they were an important part of the visual identity of women and constituted an integral element of Late Hallstatt female body decoration.
During the systematic excavation of the presumed medieval Church of St Panteleimon in the eastern part of Niš (Naissus), a lead object in the form of a hollow cast amphora was discovered in a so-called “ceramic pit”. The object featured floral decorations and a two-line Greek inscription, which can be read as: ΕΙΡΩΝΟCΗ/ΡΙΝ. Miniature lead amphorae constitute a notable category of small finds of the Late Roman Republican and Imperial periods and Late Antiquity. These miniature vessels were not intended for everyday use but served as containers for medicines, ointments, or other liquids. Comparable objects and moulds have primarily been found in the Eastern Mediterranean, although the majority are held in museum collections without secure archaeological provenance. Some lead containers bear a Greek name in the genitive case, most likely indicating the pharmacist (or physician) responsible for preparing the contents. In one confirmed instance, an inscription identified the amphora as containing a remedy for eye diseases; the specimen from Naissus was likely used for the treatment of nasal ailments. On morphological and linguistic grounds, the Naissus find can be dated to the Roman Imperial period (2nd-3rd century), and no later than the late 3rd century CE. In this contribution, we aim to offer a more comprehensive analysis of the Naissus vessel’s inscription, which would help to date this object more precisely. Additionally, we intend to provide a review of related ancient literary sources and archaeological materials to gain better insight into their purpose in the Roman period and Late Antiquity.
Over the past fifteen years, systematic studies of prehistoric settlements and necropolises in north-eastern Serbia have substantially expanded our understanding of regional occupation during the Bronze Age. Collaborative research with the Austrian Archaeological Institute has yielded a large number of absolute dates, refining the Bronze Age chronology. Provenance analyses of copper from metallurgical sites have further clarified patterns of resource exploitation, while anthropological studies of cremated remains from urn cemeteries provide new insights into the local population. This paper examines spatial aspects of prehistoric occupation and settlement organization during the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC, focusing on two hillforts: Banjska Stena and Popovica. These sites illustrate different strategies of settlement placement and continuity, shedding light on the broader dynamics of Bronze Age habitation in north-eastern Serbia.
As part of a comprehensive archaeological survey of the area around the site of Glac in the north-west of Serbia, a detailed examination has been undertaken of the pattern of occupation in the vicinity of Klisina, an area north-east of Sremska Mitrovica (ancient Sirmium). The research question is posed as to whether remote sensing data from the area, archaeological finds collected in the field survey, and ancient written sources indicate the existence of remains of multiple Roman military camps at Klisina. A comparative study of Roman military camps, with their analogous features recognized in the field is undertaken.
In this paper we discuss harvesting scenes on Graeco-Roman gems, notably the Mediterranean staple harvest crops: cereals, the vintage, and olive oil. Our study material includes gems depicting the ard, with the heads of cereal and glumes. Of particular interest is a gem from south-eastern Turkey with an unusual scene depicting the date harvest, reminiscent of an older theme which had a ritual significance. Apart from an example in the British Museum, there are several gems depicting palm trees that reference the Levant, from whence it is likely the date harvest gems originate, just as an olive harvest gem from Britain surely originates from the Mediterranean region. The paper, therefore, includes depictions of palm trees and their symbolism in the iconography of gems in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Near East, Anatolia, Greece, Rome and the Mediterranean, and references the iconography of their representations on cylinder seals as a possible analogy for related representations on Roman gems. The authors emphasize the differing symbolism of various harvesting scenes and the professional and social status of gem owners as well as the choice of the varieties of gemstone from which particular categories were fashioned.
