ALEXANDRU MADGEARU.

A STICK WITH DOVE HEAD FOUND AT HALMYRIS

Abstract: In depozitul Institutului de Cercetdri Eco-Muzeale din Tulcea se pdstreazd o bagheti fragmentari de bronz, descoperitf, in cursul sdpaturilorarheologicede la Halmyris (nr. inv. 39.645). Ea are lungimeatotali de 110 mm gi un profil pAtratcu laturade 3 mm. El esteomamentatcu incizii care imitf, penajul. Se disting ochii 9i ciocul. Obiectesimilare s-au descoperit in mai multe situri din Bulgaria, Serbi4 Ungaria, Romdnia, Spaniapi Germania.Cele intregi au la capitul opus o verigd. Deqi nu gtim nimic despre contextul stratigrafic din care provine acest obiect de la Halmyris, considerim necesardstudierea lui, din cauza raritiltrii acestor baghete. Pdnd in prezent, in Dobrogea s-a mai descoperit,din cdte cunoaftem, doar un singur exemplar in afara celui de la Halmyris, gi anume la Ulmetum. Baghetasemnalatd la Troesmisde cdtreOctavianBozu in studiul la care ne vom referi mai jos, conform informa{iilor datede Florin Topoleanu,estede fapt cea de la Halmyris. Keywords:stick, religious,christianity

In the depository of the Institute for Eco-MusealResearches from Tulcea is preserved a fragmentarybronzestick, found during the archaeological excavations at Halmyris (nr.39.645). The object has a total length of 110 mm and a quadrate sectionof 3 x 3 mm. The profile becomesrhombic toward the upper part (7 mm diameter).The end of this upper part is decoratedwith a dove placed on a base high of 8 mm. The lengthof the stickwithoutthe dove is 87 mm. The dove is 18 mm length and 13 mm high, and it is decorated with incisions that represent the plumage.The eyesand the beak are also figured (Fig. 1 and 2). Similar objectswere found in severalplacesfrom Bulgaria, Serbia,Hungary, Romania,Spain,Franceand Gennany.The entirepieceshave a link at the opposite end. Although we do not know the stratigraphiccontext of this object from Halmyris, we considerthat it deserves a study, because such piecesare quite rare. In Dobrudja was found only one more stick, at Ulmetum. The piece mentionedat Troesmis by Octavian Bozu in the paper quoted below, according to an oral information provided by Florin Topoleanu, is in fact the same with that from Halmyris. The first study dedicated to thesestickswas written by HermannVetters,who discussed the sevenpiecesfound at Sadovecduring Ivan Velkov's excavationsin

Institutul de Cercetiri Militare Bucuregti,e-mail: amadgearu@yahoo.com

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the 1930's'.He pointedto severalanalogies in Spain,Germanyand Switzerland, reachingthe conclusionthat the sticks with dove were transportedby the Goths from Danube to these regions, and that they represent,.the bird of the soul,,, a funeral symbol. The symbol of the bird was consideredby Vetters an element of S$1ho-Sarmatian origin. Most of the sticks known by Vetters are dated in the 6rh century.2 Some of thern have pairs of doves.The sticls *"r" p.oa*J u, ri"* J ----'o in moulds.In spain,at cacabelos, was founda mould for sticks(Fig. 3).3 " A religious significance was also proposed by Dortle Jankovii, who has ascribed the sticks to the believers of the Bonosiac heresy, recorded in large numberuntil the 6thcentury around Aquis in Dacia Ripensis,'anareawhere many such sticks were found. Jankovi6supposed that these,ti"k, *.r" put on the neck o. insteadof the crosses This heresywas initiatedby the bishopBonosusof Naissus at the end of the 4thcentury (he sustained that Mary did not remain always virgin and it seemsthat he also denied the divine nature of JesusChrist). fne nerJsy found followers not only in Dacia Mediterranea, but also in other Balkan provinces,as well as in Hispania, Gallia and Burgundy. Bishop Niceta of Remesiana fought againstthis heresy5. The idea of Jankovi6 was assumedby Nelu zugravu, first in relation with a piecefound at Craiova,and next in his bool on the heresies spreadin the Danubian p.rov.inces6. I acceptedwithout criticism this interpretations in some previous studres', but now I reject it, because two suchsticks(Fig.4) were discovered in a closedcontext dated Lefore245,at Romula, in a building destroyed by the inroad of the Carpi of 2458 .It is clear that the dove sticks appeaiedmuch time beforethe Bonosiacheresy.Even if they would havea significance relatedto the Christianity, they could not be considered insigniaof the believersof this heresy. Ovidiu Bozu, who discoveredfour sticks in the collectionsof the Timigoara Museum, proposed another significance,following the interpretation of a lot of
t;,*.,'l::, Eine^Gote-nfestung bei Sadowetz Q,,[ordbulgarienl..Germania.,. 19. 1935.p. 154. , H' vetters, Der vogel.ay! der Stange, ein Kilt:eichen. "Jahreshefte.des Ost..reichischen Archiiologischen Institutes in Wien',,37. 194g. p. l3l_150. ' . I bidem, p. 13 4, 13 5,fig.3 21 17. 'D Jankovii, Podunavski deo oblasti Akvisa tt VI i poietkom I:lI veka (La partie danttbienne de la rdgion d'Aquis au vle sidcreet au &lbut du vIIe siicri), Beograd, l9g r. p. n6-nl, zzt. 'A Baudrillart(ed.),Dictionna.ired'histoireet de giographie eccldsiastiques. vol. 9, paris, 1937,col. 1093' 1094, 1096; M. Mirkovii, Die christliche Kirche und das Christenrunt in den zentralilll,rischen Provinzen im 4. und 6. Jahrhundert, in A. B. Biernacki, p. parvlak (ed.), Late Roman and Early Bt:antine Cities on the Lower Danube from the 4th to the 6th century,)D'fln"rrotional Conference Po:nan, l5-17 November t995), poznan, 1997,p.50-51,56; N.'Zugravu, Erezii si schismela Dundrea Mijlocie Si de Jos in mileniul I,Iaqi, 1999,p. g0_gl. ' N. Zngravu, Geneza crestinismulttipopular al romdnilor, BucureSti, 1997, p. zgl, 2gg, 314 { footnote I 40), 3 I 9 (nota 229), 423-424; Idem, Erezii.... o. g1. A' Madgearu, The Spr.eading9f the Christianity in the rural areas post-Roman of Dacia (4th-7th centuries)."Archaevs. Etudes d'histoiredes relijions,', g, 2004, t-+, p.'+a; rdem, The 6th century La\rer Danubian Bridgeheads:Location and Mision, "EphemerisNapocensis',,j3,2003 (2005), ;. r08. 3 (/n Gh. Popilian. quartier artisanal d Romula,..Dacia,,, p.243. NS, 20, 1976.

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sirnilar pieces made of bone found in several early Roman cemeteriesand settlementsfrom other provinces, studied by the Swiss archaeologistGerd G. K<jnik. He argued that the sticks were in fact distaffs. The link was used to insert the finger. The bone sticks were decoratedat the opposite end with a representation of Venuse. In Dobrudja, bone sticks with the figure of Venus were found at Dinogetia and Callatisto.On the other hand, O. Bozu agreedthat the dove sticks they were usedby Christianwomentt. In the had a Christian significance,because monographof the fortifications from Sadovec,Syna Uenze and Joachim Werner were too convincedthat thesesticksare a kind of Christianamuletsr2. The interpretationproposedby O. Bozu for the use of the sticks seemsto be convincing,but we cannotexcludethat they were hair pins. with Venus", its Since in the Roman symbolism, the dove was associated normal. The dove was is presence on an object usedby women beforeChristianity a substitute for the representationof the goddess.After Christianization, the same symbol of the dove was preserved because it was associatedwith another to Christ at His baptismby SaintJohn.The significance, the Holy Spirit descended dove was also a symbol of the divine peace(the dove that brought the olive bough of the sticks to Noah).raWe considerthat this is the explanationof the appearance with dove. They were initially variantsof the bone sticks,were Venus was replaces with her attribute, the dove. Women continued to use these sticks, but the significance of the dove became different after the free spreading of the Christianity.This is only one casewhen Greek,Roman and other heathensymbols and customswere Christianized.The dove sticks were not tokens of an Orthodox or Heretic believe, but they bear a Christian symbol. In some cases they are decoratedwith crosses,or they have small crossesattachedwith chains''. An with pierced crosses which were analogyare the Sucidavatype bucklesdecorated not religious tokens. In both cases,one specific for women and other for men, a Christiansymbol was applied on an object usedfor a specificpurpose,but this did the belongingto Christianity, not transformedthe objects in tokens that expressed that had no otherfunction. like did the pectoralcrosses
n (ed.), G. G. Kcinik, Die Fingerkunkel aus Grab 156, in K. Roth-Rubi, H. Rudolf Sennhauser VerenamrinsterZurzach. Ausgrabungen und Bauuntersuchung,vol. l. Rdmische Strasseund Grciber, p. 129-137. Znrich, 198'7. (1941), 'o Gh. Stefan,Dinogetia, I. Risultatidella prima campagnadi scavi, "Dacia", 7-8, 1937-1940 p. 414, fig. 22 @. al7); C. Preda,Callatis. Necropolaromano-bizantird,Bucureqti,1980,p. 63, 159,

Pt.29n.3.
tt

O. Bozu, Obiecte cre$tine inedite de uz casnic. Furcile de tors pentru deget datate tn secolele IV-VI e.n., " Analele Banatului, SN, Arheologie-Istorie", 2, 1993, p. 208-209. tt S. Uenze, Die spritantiken Befestigungen von Sadovec (Bulgarien). Ergebnisse der deutschbulgarisch-\sterreichischeAusgrabungen(1934-1937),I,Mtinchen,1992,p.199,412. Mtinchen, 1998,p. 1084. Knaurs Lexikon der Symbole, '' H. Biedermann, ra F. Cabrol, H. Leclercq (ed.), Dictionnaire d'archdologie chrdtienne et de liturgie, vol. III/2, Paris, 1914,col.2203. ts V. Liubenova, Seliiteto ot rimskata i rannovizantijsknta epokha, in J. eangova (ed.), Pernik, vol. L Poseliiieniivotn achd lmak r alr r aot Vc hil. pr . n. e. doVlv . na n . e . , S o f i a ,1 9 8 1 , p . 1 9 2 , f i g . 1 3 3 ; S . Uenze,op. cit., Taf. 419.

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in the following list were found in the Middle and The doves sticks presented Lower Danubian regions, sometimes in contexts that are showing that they were produced and used up to the 6'ncentury. -Bulgaria. Fragmentlong of 108 mm'16 Vu.nu Region, I - Asparukhouo, 2 - Bila Voda, Pernik Region, Bulgaria. Five pieces from a lot of metallic objects hidden in the 6thcentury in the ruins of a villa rustica dated on the 3,d-4'hcenturies,used as raw material for a workshop. The date of the with crossand crescent.rT buckle decorated depositis given by a Sucidava 3 - Bozveliysko, varna Region, Bulgaria. A fragment long of 86 mm and a dove from anotherstick.l8 4 - Caridin Grad (JustinianaPrima), JablanicaDistrict, serbia. A fragment long of 72 mm, iound in a building nearthe basilicafrom the lower townre. 5 - Celei (sucidava), corabia, olt county, Romania.An entire stick without known dimensions, found in the garbage pit 2 I 2000 together with a bronzecoin from the 4thor from the 6thcentury.zo 6 - Craiova,Dolj counfy, Romania.An entire stick long of 182 mm, found in the settlement from- point F6ntdna Obedeanu dated in the 5'h and 6th in the filling earthof dwelling2.zl centuries, 7 - Ddbravino,Varna Region,Bulgaria' A fragmentlong of 4l mm"". 8 - Gam'igrad, Zaie1aiDistrict,-Serbia.Thiee pieces from the 4th century palace." 9 - Gole5,Silistra Region, Bulgaria.An entire stick long of 168 mm, found in a fortress dated betweenthe 4tnand.the 6'n century, in a fountain near a centuries. From another stick are tower, with objects from the 4tn-5tn preserved two fragmentswith total lengthof 170 mm.'o

t6 L.Lazarov, Dreven broru. Katalog (Ancient bronze.Katalog. Dalgopol. 2001. p. 50, nr. 95 (p. V. Liub.nova, Bronzovi predmeti ot kdsnoantiinata vila pri rudnik "Bela I'oda". Pernik (Objets de "Arheologija''. bronze de lavilla de la basseantiquitd situtleprds de la ntine "Bela I'oda", Pernik), Sofia, 37, 1995,3, p. 13, frg. 12. t' Ibide^,p. 50, nr. 97, 98 (p. l5l-l 52). re V. Kondi6, V. Popovii, Cariiin Grad. Unrdjeno naselje u vi:antijskom lliriku (Cariiin Grad. Site dans l'Illyricum byzantin),Beograd,1977,p.399, nr. 59. Pl. XVI/4. fortifid -20 p. Gherghe, L. Amon, D. Liciu, F. B6ciu, Corabia, jud. Olt [Sucidava], in Cronica cercetdrilor 2001,nr. 52,p.75. arheologice.Campania2000,Suceava, 2tGh. Popilian, M. Nica, ASezarea prefeudald de la Craiova (Fdntdna Obedeanu),"Drobeta", 15, 1 54 -15 5 2 005.p. 1 50 -15 1, Pl. VV5. p. nr. 96 (p. 152). 50, op. cit., L.Lazarov, " 23 D. Srejovii (ed.), Gamzigrad. An Imperial Palace of the Late Classical Times.Ausstellungskatalog, (apudS. rJenze, op. cit.,p,4l2' footnotel7). 1983,p. 138,nr. 186-188 Beograd, to G. Atunusou, Martyrium et Agiasmon dans le castel basbyzantinprds du village de Golech, rdgion prdliminaire), in Von der Scythiazur Dobrudia, hrsg. Ch. Chotioliev, R. de Silistra(communication pillinger ,R.Harre ithe r(M is c ellaneaBulgar ic a, ll) , wien, 19 9 7 , p . 1 2 7 , l 2 8 , f r g . 5 l l l , 1 2 ( p . 1 3 8 ) ; bas-byzantine St. Cyril en Scythie Mineure, in laforteresse de la localisation Idem, De nouyeau sur Prinos lui Petre Diaconu ta 80 de ani. Volum ingrijit de I. Cdndea, V. Sdrbu, M. Neagu, Brdila' 2004' p. 417,ftg. 6.
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County, Romania. A.fragment l0 - Gornea- Cduni{a de Sus, Carag-Severin in mm, found section I in the 4'n century long of 175 without dove, castellum.2s 11 - H6rlec (Augusta),Yratza Region, Bulgaria. Several sticks (at least one with a crosson the dove backside)found in a tower of the being decorated fortrlss, with 6thcentury objects.26 12 - Kjustendil (Pautalia),Kjustendil Region, lulgaria. A fragment long of on one sidewith a rosette.'' 120 mm, decorated 13 - Kladovo-Donje Butorke, Bor District, Serbia.An entire stick long of 193 mm2*. 14 - Mokranjske Stene,Bor District, Serbia.A fragmentlong of 100mm2e. 15 - Murighiol (Halmyris), Tulcea County, Romania.A fragment long of I l0 mm, found in unknown conditionsin the Late Roman fortress. in the County, Romania.Four piecespreserved 16 - Orqova(?), Carag-Severin (Orgova). Two probably found at Dierna most Museum of Timigoara, entire sticks are long of 178 and 190 mm, while from other two are preserved only the doves.30 County, Romania.An entire 17 - Pantelimonulde Sus (Ulmetum), ConstanJa gate. together stick long of 130 mm, found in a tower of the southwestern II and Valens3r. with coins from Constantius 18 - Pernik, Pernik Region, Bulgaria. Five entire piecesand eight fragments. to the link". One of them hasa crossattached 19 - Popina,Silistra Region, Bulgaria. An entire stick long of 170 mm, found in a 4ft century gravetogetherwith a fibula with onion heads.ii 20 - Prahovo,Bor District, Serbia.An entire stick long of 200 mm, two dove that preserved the link.3a fragmentsand threefragments (Romula), Romania. Two fragmentslong of 122 nm Olt County, 21 - Reqca and 53 mm, both decoratedwith a dove, found in a building destroyed . duringthe attackof the Carpi in 2453s

, p. 84, fig. 50/16; O. " N. Gudea,Gornea. ASezdride epocd romand Si romand trirzie, Regi!4 1911 Bozu, op. cit., p.206, f\9. ll5. 26Apud Gh. Popilian,M. Nica, op. cit., p. 154. tt I. Ivanou, Ktustendilskijat Hisarldk i negovite starini, "Izvestija na Arheologiieskija Institut, Sofia", 7, 1920,p. 105,fig. 76. 28D. Jankovii,op. cit., p.252,Pl.XVILV7. 2e D. Jankovii, op. cit., p. 252, Pl. XVIIV6. 'o O. Bozu, op. cit., p.206, frg. lll-4. jud. Constanla " Gh. Papuc, C. Bdjenaru, Z. Covacef 5.a.,Pantelimonude Sus,com. Pantelimon, [UlmetumJ,inCrontcacercetdrilor arheologicedin Romdnia.Campania2006,Tilcea,2007,p.260. " V. Ljubenova.op. cit.,p. l9l-l92,frg.132-133. 33 VAZarova, 2. Slaviano-bdlgarskoto seliite krai selo Popina Silistrenko, Sofia, 1956, p.27, trg. 18 (:p.27). 3aD. Jankovii,op. cit., p. 252,Pl.XVIIVl, 3. 4, 8, ll, 12. 13. " Gh. Popilian, Un quartier...,p. 243, fig. 13112,

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of 169 mm and 192 Region, Bulgaria'-Two,fragmentslong Varna Roy-ah 12 two faie to face doves''o *-. O"" of them h-as sticks long of 210 mm and PlevenRegion,Bulgaria' Two entire al - Sadovec, of silver' from which only the dove 195 mm, and 11 fiud'"ni'(onle made Gothic the fortifrcations ascribed to the $_aspreserv"d). Di:;;;;;i"t; Kale'37 foederati, SadovskoKale and Golemanovo An entire stick with unknown 24 - Szekszfrd, Tolna County' Hungary' grave nr' 79 from an early Avarian dimensions, found in the women cemetery.38

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Fig .2:@ mHalmY ris.

. Spain),after H. Vetters,op. cit., ftg. 32117 Fig. 3 : Moukd for sticks (Cacabelos,

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Fig. 4: The sticks from Romula, after Gh. Popilian, un quartier....p. 2-13.fig. 13t12. 13.

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fig. 5lll,12),2' Martyrium..., Fig. 5: The sticksfrom 1- Gole3(afterG. Atanasov, (afterO. Bozu, op. cit.,ftg. (afterS. lJenze, op. cit.,Taf.611,2),3-Orgova Sadovec I 13-4\. 229

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