A comprehensive approach to certain structural problems and a wide array of scientific issues of both natural sciences and humanities should include methods of digital modelling of complex systems. Past human societies and their settlement structures represent in a certain point of view complex systems. Agent-based modelling (ABM) and simulation represents a methodological framework to construct digital models of studied contexts in order to test the viability of existing theoretical models in both qualitative and quantitative aspects. An explicitly formulated “artificial society” (e.g., Danielisová, Štekerová 2015) can be built on the basis of all available archaeological sources, proxy data, estimates and existing theoretical models in research of the Germanic society of the Middle Danube region (Moravia, W Slovakia – Záhorie region and Lower Austria to the north of the Danube). The main concern lies in the establishment of a digital model which would reflect the available archaeological knowledge and estimates about the Germanic settlement structure and possible demographic development from the 1st century AD up to the period of the Marcomannic wars. Similar attempts at archaeological demography certainly contain wide ranges of methodical issues, mostly due to the limited input data and known aspects of population dynamics from archaeological records, nevertheless, this attempt represents a pilot effort of the initial framework implementation phase designed to explore the basic demographic properties of the studied context.
Na k. ú. obce Hrádečná (okr. Chomutov, Ústecký kraj) byl při amatérském detektorovém průzkumu v roce 2003 objeven hromadný nález výzbroje a výstroje z doby římské čítající celkem 21 železných předmětů a vážící 2,3 kg. Součást výzbroje tvoří meč a 11 hrotů kopí/oštěpů; výstroj je zastoupena elementy několika štítů (4 puklice, 5 držadel). Na základě typologicko-chronologické analýzy lze předměty datovat rámcovým rozpětím stupňů B1–C1. Charakteristickým rysem souboru je jeho intencionální zničení. Nález umístěný mimo sídelní a funerální areály představuje ojedinělý doklad lidské aktivity v době římské v centrální části Krušných hor. Přes nejisté nálezové okolnosti lze klást soubor do souvislostí s rituálním chováním a interpretovat jej jako ireverzibilní depot uložený někdy na přelomu starší a mladší doby římské z votivních důvodů. and An amateur metal detector survey conducted in 2003 in the cadastre of the town of Hrádečná (Chomutov district, Ústí nad Labem Region) uncovered a mass find of arms and gear from the Roman Period with a total of 21 iron artefacts weighing 2.3 kg. The weapons include a sword and 11 lances/spears; gear is made up of parts of several shield (4 bosses, 5 grips). Based on a typological-chronological analysis, the artefacts can be dated in general to the interval between phases B1–C1. A characteristic trait of the assemblage is its intentional destruction. Made outside settlement and burial areas, the find is an extraordinary document of human activity in the Roman Period in central Erzgebirge Mts. Despite the uncertain find circumstances, the assemblage can be connected with ritual behaviour and interpreted as an irreversible hoard buried for votive reasons roughly between the Early and Late Roman Period.
The paper examines the identification, distribution, chronology and interpretation of Roman-Provincial rimmed storage vessels, which were among the Roman imports to the area north of the Danube in the 2nd century and the first half of the 3rd century. The spread of Roman coarse ware storage vessels occurred in the second half of the 2nd century. These are mainly found in Elbe-Germanic settlements (usually in sunken huts) in southern Moravia and south-western Slovakia. Some were quite voluminous (e.g. the storage vessels from Jevíčko and Křepice were up to 50 litres) and probably contained a variety of plant or animal foodstuff (e.g. seafood, exotic fruits, and various fermented or chilled foodstuffs).
Among facilities which were built by the Roman army in the wider space of the Burgstall hill in Mušov there is a well situated to the edge of the high terrace next to the former gravel pit on the Mušov-Neurissen site. The discovery of deer antler fragments near the bottom of the shaft was considered a random intrusion, it should have been an object accidentally dragged to the gravel. Discoveries of deer bones and antlers in other places of the barbarian territories and also in the Roman provinces allow us to change the primary conclusions. Some selected examples can be proof that parts of deer carcasses were often used in nonprophane manipulations within ritual acts in the Roman era. The Mušov example enables closer observation of the circumstances around antler handling. They took place after the Romans suddenly interrupted works on deepening the well and decided to leave the site.
The settlement at Milanówek/Falęcin is a part of large centre of iron production of the Przeworsk Culture, dating from the Late Pre-Roman and Roman Periods, and located in the western Masovia (central Poland). The site was discovered in the 1960s during surface surveys, and its area is estimated to 9–12 hectares. Over time, various non destructive archaeological methods have been employed at the site (e.g. aerial photography, geomagnetic surveys, advanced surface prospection), and excavations were carried out over an area of ca 1500 m2 . There have been found remains of nearly 1000 slag pit furnaces, 4 lime kilns, 1 ‘horseshoe-shaped’ kiln, 2 buildings and several pits. The excavation yielded also a large set of artefacts, of which some were subjected to expert analysis (e.g. chemical composition of slags, mineralogical composition of clay of relic of shafts). On the basis of geomagnetic surveys and excavations it is presumed that the settlement at Milanówek Falęcin may contain remains of about fifteen thousand slag-pit furnaces. and Osídlení v Milanówek-Falęcinu bylo součástí rozsáhlého centra výroby železa převorské kultury, nacházející se v západním Mazovsku (střední Polsko) a pocházející z pozdního předřímského a římského období. Lokalita byla objevena v šedesátých letech 20. století pomocí povrchových průzkumů a její plocha se odhaduje na 9–12 hektarů. V průběhu času byla lokalita zkoumána různými nedestruktivními archeologickými metodami (např. letecké snímkování, geomagnetické průzkumy, povrchová prospekce), výkopové práce byly provedeny na ploše ca 1500 m2 . Odkryty byly relikty téměř tisícovky pecí se zahloubenou nístějí, čtyři vápenické pece, pec ve tvaru podkovy, stopy dvou nadzemních staveb a několik jam. Výkopy přinesly také velký soubor artefaktů, z nichž některé byly podrobeny odborné analýze (např. stanovení chemického složení strusek a mineralogického složení hlíny reliktů šachet pecí). Na základě geomagnetických průzkumů a výkopů se předpokládá, že osídlení v lokalitě Milanówek-Falęcin může obsahovat pozůstatky zhruba patnácti tisíc pecí se zahloubenou nístějí.
A new analysis of one of the graves (No. 177) at the burial ground of the Przeworsk culture in Drochlin, Częstochowa District, dated to the C1a phase of the Younger Roman Period, allows us to participate in a discussion about the position of horseman warriors in the milieu of the Przeworsk culture. The preserved grave goods from Drochlin suggest that the buried horseman can be considered a representative of the local elite. The iron spurs decorated with brass, bow arrowheads, and one glass vessel underline his social rank. The spurs have a stylistic association with spurs known from the sphere of Wielbark culture and also to those found on the territory of the Northern European Barbaricum. Similar associations were identified regarding the belt buckle. This paper also examines whether the bow was part of the equipment of the Przeworsk culture warriors or was a hunting weapon.