Early La rene Between Pannonia and the BalkansPETAR POPOVIC, Archaeological Institute, Beograd

The appearance and the spread of the La Tene styleinto the areas north ofthe Alps and the subsequent conse-quences of the Celtic movements towards northern Italyand the Carpathian basin, present a complex and long-last-ing process which gradually, by different paces, changedthe cultural pattern of the Early Iron Age. By the begin-ning ofthe IV century the Celtic expansion, after Moraviaand Lower Austria, reached Slovakia, northwesternHungary and then the areas all the way tothe eastern partsof the Carpathian basin. Bythe end of the same century,descending towards south, the Celts reached the CentralBalkans and came to a stop there.' According to thearchaeological record, the consequences of these eventsare considerable cultural changes - mortuary practices,ceramic production, arms and tools, costume and, espe-cially, jewellery, all markedly changed. At the time, thebasic trait of the Carpathian area was the Hallstatt culture,along with a strongly felt presence, or influence, of theScythians from the east and of the Balkan populationsfrom the south. With the appearance of the La Tene style,the forms of the Early Iron Age gradually integrated withthe new ones, until most of the area was dominated bytheLaTene culture. The fact is especially marked along themain directions ofthe Celtic movements - the area alongthe middle Danube and the parts of Transdanubia.Southern Pannonia and especially western Balkansretained the Late Hallstatt character for a long time, that is

I M.Szab6, Les Celtes enPannonie. Paris, 1988, 11-21; idem, LesCeltes de Pest. Errance, Paris, 1992, 9-29; B. Jovanovic, TheFormation of the Scordisci on the Basis of Archaeological andHistorical Sources. InLesMouvements celtiques du Ve auIersteeleavant notre ere. P. -M. Duval - V. Kruta, eds. Paris, 1979, 179-187; id.in PJZ V, 836-838.

the features of the last phases of the Early Iron Age.?Speaking of the problem of the direct or indirect Celticinfluences into the area ofPannonia and the Balkans, aswell as of the way in which these influences were trans-mitted, several interesting questions are always posed anddifferent solutions offered to them. In this paper, all thesuppositions and conclusions are grounded on the mostnumerous and most characteristic kind ofjewellery - fibu-lae, dated into the early LaTene period and registered inthis area. Most ofthe material is already published.

Zoomorphic fibulae from the cemetery atSzentlorinc(Fig. 1.2-6)

There are only two significant sites from the southernparts of Pannonia, besides from a stray find from Sisak(Fig.I.l).3 One is from the Hungarian Baranja, ami theother, that will bediscussed later, is from Slavonia. NearPees, at the place Szentlorinc, a biritual cemetery has beenregistered, with 72 excavated graves dated into the end ofthe Vand the IV centuries B.C. The grave offerings con-sist mainly offibulae - variants ofthe Certosa type. Inthesoutheastern outskirt ofthe cemetery three graves are reg-istered containing fibulae of the early La Tene pattern(Fig.I.2-6).4 These pieces, according to their basic traits,

2 Z. Marie, Keltski elementi u mladem zeleznom dobu Bosne iHercegovine. elM 18, 1963, 63-83; B. Covic, in n: V, passim.

3 N. Majnaric-Pandzic, Keltsko - latenska kultura u Slavoniji iSrijemu, Vinkovci, 1970, 1. 22.1.

4 E. Jerem, The Late Iron Age Cemetery of Szentlorinc, ActaArch. Acad. Scient. Hungaricae, 20,1968,159 sqq. 1. 25 (Gr. 40.), 1.29(Grs. 63,65); B. Terzan, Certoska fibula, Arh. vest. 27/1976,1977,380.

106

correspond to the fibulae preceding to the horizonDuchcov, or to the many variants influenced bythe typeMarzabotto. These are mainly dated into LT B1, i.e. to thefirst decades up to the third quarter ofthe IV century B.C.5

Petar Popovic

ants ofthe Certosa type, and we shall extensively discussthese forms below (Fig.2.1). The majority of the rest ofthe fibulae with a low bow and a horizontally curved footending ina stylized zoomorphic head, isvery close to the

3 4

Fig. 1. 1-Sisak; Szentlorinz: 2 - Gr. 40, 3-4 Gr. 63, 5-6 Gr. 65. Scale 2/3.

Jewellery from the grave at Velika: Early La Tenefibulae (Fig.2) and other finds (Fig.3)

Inthe village Velika, north ofSlavonska Pozega, intheyear 1979, while digging a septic tank, a rich grave of afemale deceased was registered, belonging tothe Early LaTene period. In the discarded earth, along with the poorlypreserved bones, 12 bronze fibulae, three bronze and twosilver bracelets, a silver ring, a ceramic spindle whorl, adamaged plate fibula and a great number of amber andwhite, blue and green glass beads were found. On thesame spot, in 1980 a small-scale excavation was underta-ken, yielding few bone fragments, beads and ceramicsherds. The grave was approximately at the depth of 1,5m, roughly oval in shape and lay on the layerofpebbles.s

The Early LaTene fibula with a zoomorphic head onthe foot and a winged bow isderived from the many vari-

5 V. Kruta, Duchcov-Munsingen: nature etdiffusion d'une phaselatenienne. In Les Mouvements celtiques du Ve auIersteele avantnotre ere. P.-M. Duval - V. Kruta, eds., Paris, 1979, 81 sqq.; P.Holodnak - 1. Waldhauser, Predduchcovsky horizont (faze LT Bla) vCechach. Archeologicke razhledy 36, 1984, 31 sqq.; G. Kaenel,Recherches sur la periode de La rene en Suisse occidentale,Lausanne, 1990,223 sqq. with bibliography.

6 D. Sokac -Stimac, Arheoloiki pregled 21, 1980,200; ead. inArneoloika istraiivanja u istoinoj Slavoniji i Baranji, Zagreb, 1984,

pieces from Szentlorinc. The ornamented bow and the V-shaped details, appearing inseveral cases, have their near-est analogies in the graves from northern Austria(Durrnberg), Czech and Moravia (Fig.2.2-6).7 The high-curved bow fibulae bear some traits ofsomewhat youngerforms, close to certain pieces of the Duchcov phase(Fig.2.l 0-11). The bronze bracelets correspond to theEarly LaTene fortnsf while the ones out oftwisted silverwire belong to the repertoire of thewestern Balkans andsoutheastern Pannonia (FigJ.7-11). Territorially and typo-logically, they are very close to the silver bracelets from agrave inBaranja (Beremend), dated into the end of the Vcentury B.C.9 The necklaces ofglass paste beads are quitea frequent find and among the ones from Velika the whitebeads, more precisely the translucent ones shaped as vasesor amphoras are especially interesting (FigJ.l,4). Theyoccur ingraves of the western Balkans and are particular-ly numerous in the Carpathian basin from Srem toSlovakia. Their Mediterranean origin is frequently citedand they are mainly dated into the end of the Early Iron

129-141.7 E. Penninger, Der Diirrnberg bei Hallain I,Munchen, 1972,1.

28 A; 1.Waldhauser et aI., BRGK 68,1987,1. 17.15; 1. Meduna,Arheologicke rozhledy 17.6, 1965, Obr. 226.4.

8 V. Kruta, op.cit., (n. 5)Fig. 1(Hostomice); H.Sedlackova - J.Waldauser, Pamitky Arheologick678, 1987, Obr. 41 (LT Bla).

9 E. Jerem, Acta Arch. Acad. Scient. Hung. 25, 1973, Abb. 7.2-5.

Early La rene Between Pannonia and the Balkans 107

2

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~ ~~ 7 8~ ~

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Age and the beginning of the La Tene period (LT-B).IODue to the character of the offerings and the large amountof the beads (probably two necklaces), the grave atVelikawas maybe a double one (woman and child).Conclusively, the contents of this find points to the IVcentury, more precisely to the second halfof the century.It isworth noting that from this part ofSlavonia originateonly a few stray finds from Pletemica, also inthe vicinityof Slavonska Pozega, belonging to the somewhat laterhorizon." Adeformed fibula, most probably belonging toLT B2, several bracelets and glass beads, some in theshape ofvases, are mentioned.

Early La rene fibulae from the graves at DonjaDolina (Fig.4)

Donja Dolina, the site continually inhabited for morethan a thousand years - from the Late Bronze Age to the

10 N. Majnaric-Pandzic, op.cit., (n. 3), T. 23.5-6; I. Bognar-Kuzian in Les dossiers d 'archeologie 77, 1983, 37; N. Venclova,Prehistoric Glass inBohemia, Praha, 1990,59.

Roman conquest - represents one of the most importantsites inthis part ofEurope. Due tothe very favorable posi-tion many routes intersected inthe spot, and therefore thearchaeological material reflects the fusion of the west-Balkanic traditions and the influences from many sides."At Donja Dolina, the early LaTene forms are representedalmost exclusively byfibulae, regularly appearing alongwith the repertoire of the Early Iron Age finds. Five fibu-lae originate from the double grave 9 (SJakari6).13 Theyvary from bow fibulae, characteristic of the older forms,over the hybrid design (bow with hemispherical "wings"as on the numerous fibulae of the Certosa type and springand foot corresponding to the early LaTene construction),to the developed forms of LT B1 (Fig.4.1-5). Formally,they encompass the period of at least a hundred years. Apair offibulae from a later grave (No.8) presents an infor-

II N. Majnaric-Pandzic, op.cit., (n. 3), 62, T. 55.7-10.12 Z. Marie, Donja Dolina. GlM 19, 1964; B. Covic inPll V;

232-286, passim.13 C. Truhelka, WMBH9, 1904, 107, T. 54.7,11-14.

108 Petar Popovic

4{....'c'cB~G:.:....~

~:g~

9

36

7

Fig. 3. 1-14 Velika. Scale 2/3.

mation on the chronological sequence of the jewelleryused at this site (FigA.6-7).14

The grave 6 (M'Petrovic Jr. ridge) comprised ofa richfemale setcharacteristic of the Early Iron Age. lsAmongthe many offerings was a fibula with a bent serpent-shaped foot and a side spring, similar to the Certosa fibu-lae (FigA.8). Judging byall the traits, this piece representsan early form. In the grave 41 there was a pair of plate

fibulae (as the piece from Velika), glass beads and a fibulawith a ribbed bow, similar to one of the five pieces fromthe mentioned grave 9 (FigA.9).16

In the double grave 47 (M.Petrovic Jr. ridge) therewere glass beads and three fibulae: apair with a zoomor-phic ring on foot (in the shape ofa dragon ora griffin) andone piece bearing the traits of the Duchcov variants(FigA.lO-12).17 The fibulae are often in pairs connected

14 ibid106, T. 54.8-9.15 ibid. 91. T. 43. It

16 Ihid. 101, T. 47.27.17 Ihid. 102, T. 51. 18-21; B. (ovic,!nv. arch. 1961, Y29.

Early La Tene Between Pannonia and the Balkans

by a chain, or combined with a variant of the Duchcovtype. Such is the case with the mentioned pieces fromDonja Dolina and a pair of fibulae on a chain from

109

registered fragmented fibula from the vicinity ofViminacium is also decorated by a cross-hatched bandalong the bow (Fig.l2.3).20 This piece bears a certain

3

/~~.~~~

Fig. 4. Donja Dolina, 1-5 Gr. 9;6-7 Gr. 8 (S. Jakaric); 8 - Gr. 6; 9 - Gr. 41; 10-12 Gr. 47 (M. Petrovic, Jr.); 13 - chance find; 14 - Gr. 18 (N.Sokic); 15 - chance find; 16-18 ridge N. Sokic. Scale 2/3.

Szentendre onthe Danube.is The zoomorphic fibulae areregistered on a number ofsites inthe Carpathian basin andare considered to beexecuted inthis area after theexam-ples of the older LaTene forms originating from the west.Incidentally, when affronted, as inDonja Dolina example,they remarkably invoke the affronted dragons from theearly LaTene sword scabbards. Based onthe fact that allthe sofar registered fibulae are ofthe same shape, differ-ing solely in details on the bow, ornamented by incisedzigzags and cross-hatched bands, the assumption is pro-posed that a single workshop is in question.'? Arecently

18 M. Szabo, Folia Archaeologica 25, 1975, Fig. 1.

chronological relevance, since theLa Tene finds in thispart of the Balkans appear as late asthe end ofthe IV cen-tury B.C. The fibulae with the zoomorphic ring onfoot,thanks to the pieces of the Duchcov type, are dated intothe second halfof the IVor the beginning ofthe IIIcentu-ry B.C.21

19 Ihid. 83 sqq.20 During surface surveying in the area around Viminacium,

along with some other finds, several early La Tene fibulae were regis-tered (Fig. 12.3,5; 13.6). For the information, I am grateful tomy col-league M. Stojic, Archaeological Institute, Belgrade.

21 M. Szabo, OfJ. cit., (n. 1),1992,18; 1.Bujna-M.Szabo, in TheCelts (Bompiani), 1991,283.

110 Petar Popovic

13121132

5 6

9

~

7

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4

Fig. 5.1-14 Vrucica, Scale 2/3.

The double grave from the NSokic ridge should bementioned separately. On the occasion ofthe excavationsat Donja Dolina in 1904 this grave is moved and exhibitedin the Museum inSarajevo.v The male skeleton, with aniron spear and a dagger, lay below the feet ofa richly fur-nished female skeleton. Around the neck ofthe deceasedthere was a glass bead necklace (83 pieces), on the shoul-ders there were two plate fibulae, below each three earlyLa Tene fibulae, and an iron blade on the chest. On eitherside there was a fibula with a long band bow and a ser-pent-shaped foot and two fibulae of the Duchcov type.(FigA.16-l8). According to the basic traits these fibulaeare dated into the second half orthe end ofthe IV centuryB.C.

22C. Truhelka, elM 18,1906,343; Z. Marie, elM 19,1964, T.17.4,6-8,11-12; 26.34; Keltoi. Kelti i njihovi suvrenTenici na fluJugoslavije, Ljubljana, 1984, Fig. XI.

The Vrueica find (Fig.S)

About 70 km southeastern from Donja Dolina anotherfamous find dated into the early LaTene period is regis-tered. Above Usora, on an isolated hill by Vrucica, intheyear 1900 two graves were found on the occasion ofrockexploitation.e Two spears, two needles and eleven bronzefibulae are preserved. Due to the vague information it isunclear whether two graves are mentioned solely becauseofthe number ofthe spears, orthere may have been someother indication. Judging by the forms, the pieces fromVrucica correspond tosome finds from Szentlorinc, Velikaand Donja Dolina. However, the fact recorded on some ofthe pieces from Donja Dolina, is well manifested on allthe pieces from Vrucica: the back-bent foot finishes inaserpent's head and is executed inthe same way on almost

23 C. Truhelka, czu 13,1901,14, T.I.

Early La rene Between Pannonia and the Balkans III

all the fibulae. The head is triangular inshape, the eyes areemphasized and the muzzle is raised and bears a bifurca-ted tongue. It seems that these fibulae represent the pro-ducts ofthe same master.

The group burialfrom Vratnica (Fig. 6)

Further down south, near the village of Vratnica byVisoko, inthe year 1966, during some construction worksa chamber tomb was registered with several skeletons.

The subsequent rescue excavations revealed an uniqueexample of sepulchral architecture. The slab stone con-struction isoval, containing a rectangular inner room (3,5x 2 m) where 16 to20individuals were buried. The skele-tons with the grave goods were not found in situ, and anassumption was motioned that they were brought herefrom some other place of primary burial. In spite of thediverse origin, it is assumed that a single cultural andchronological assemblage is inquestion. Nineteen spears,several curved knives, 29 fibulae, 16 double pins, buttons,

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112

appliques, pendants, six rings, three amber and 64 glassbeads (seven ofthem vase-shaped) were found.>

The grave goods from the tomb cover the period oftheVand IVcenturies B.C. and are characteristic ofthis partofthe Balkans, where the traditions ofthe autochthonousculture are mixed with the influences oreven the presenceof the forms coming from across Sava or from theMediterranean. Various types ofjewellery already well inuse in the Balkans, originate from the south: five fibulaewith square foot (Fig.6.1-2), various double pins, rarelypenetrating further north from Sava, being especiallynumerous during the VIIVcenturies, bronze "seal" ringsand glass beads. This all comes from the Greek lands asimports, or the objects were produced in the westernBalkans after the Greek models. Along with numerousfragments ofcrude hand-thrown pottery, several pieces offine wheel-thrown vessels were registered, aswell as se-veral crude fragments with comb ornament. The local pro-duction is represented quite poorly by ceramic fragments,arms and small pieces of jewellery characteristic of theGlasinac cultural circle." It isobvious that the majority ofthe jewellery originates from the eastern Alps orPannonia. Four Certosa type fibulae show the autonomousdevelopment in the western Balkans, while three boat-shaped bronze fibulae with iron pins indicate the connec-tions with Pannonia, having a close analogy from a graveinSzentlorinc (Fig 6.3-4).26 Two fibulae display the earlyLa Tene pattern, but the back-bent foot with a loop origi-nates from the local fibulae from the lands of Delmatae,Liburnae or Iapodes (Fig.6.5).27 The group often fibulae,though displaying numerous similarities to the examplesfrom Vrucica, points tocertain differences. Along with theones with a low bow, arch fibulae also appear, and the footornamented by a serpent's head differs in some detail,making it obvious that they belong to the different series(Fig.6.6-8). Four arch fibulae bear all the traits ofthe earlyLa Tene pattern and an original solution: the serpent'shead is stylized, with three rows ofgranules and two sepa-rate granules inthe place of the nose orbifurcated tongue

24B.Covic, in Yisoko i okolina kroz historiju I.,Visoko 1984, 37sqq.

25 B.Covic, op.cit., (n. 24); R. Vasic, PZ57.2,1982,220 sqq.;idem, Arh. vest. 38,1987,51 sqq. Pr. 1.

26 B. Terzan, op.cit., (n. 4)Fig. 30, 375 sqq.; E. Jerem, op.cit., (n.4), Fig. 19, Grave 2.

27Cf. PJZV, Fig. 20. 13-14; 26.15-16.

Petar Popovic

(Fig.6.9). The last fibula belongs to the variants of theDuchcov type and is supposed tobe the decisive piece ofevidence in solving the chronological puzzle of thisremarkable find (Fig.6.l 0). B.Covic, having completedthe analysis of the material, stated that the most likelychronological frame ofthe tomb atVratnica would bethelast quarter of the IV century B.C. and it is hard to addmore precision to his words" It is possible, not asmuchbecause ofthe flexibility ofthe chronological limit LT B1-B2, but more due to the circumstances of the disclosureand the setting, to leave a somewhat wider range - the endofthe IV and the very beginning ofthe III century B.C.

The group of thefibulae of theZagrade type (Fig. 7)

Apair of fibulae of the early LaTene pattern, but oflocal manufacture, from a grave at the northwestern fringeofGlasinac, seeks separate analysis (Zagrade, tumulus II2,Fig.7.5-6).29 The first piece is derived from the variants ofthe Certosa type: the foot is short and terminated in asmall head; the knee-shaped bow bears "wings" and curvi-linear incisions. This kind ofshape is frequent inthe areasofthe western Balkans and eastern Alps. Aclose analogymay be sought for in the area around Priboj (Zabrnjica),where a piece is registered representing a rare find fromthe southeastern parts of the Glasinac circle (Fig. 7.2)30and in Slovenia (Idria pri BaCi).31 Similar fibulae, butbearing the traits of the early La Tene pattern, are thehybrid variant from Lower Austria, a small fibula fromDurrnberg orapiece from Velika.v

The second fibula from Zagrade is of a different ori-gin. Namely, in a tumulus from the site Rudine-Rusanovici (Glasinac) five bronze hinge fibulae, doublepins, rings, a silver earring, a pendant, glass beads (4 ves-sel-shaped) and a LaTene fibula with a side spring (Fig7.3) are registered inthe second group ofsix skeletons.f

28B. Covic, op.cit., (n. 24), 48.29 F. Fiala, WMBH 6,1899,51, Fig. 50; PJZV, T. 65.8-9.30 For the information 1am grateful tomy eollegue S. Derikonjic,

the Museum ofPriboj.31 M. Gustin, Posocje indel' jiingeren Eisenzeit, Ljubljana,1991,

T. 22.21.32S.Nebehay, inKeltske studije. ed. M. Gustin, Brezice, 1977.

Fig. 1.13; L. Pauli, Del' Diirrnberg beiHallain 1lI, Miinchen, 1978,102, Abb. 4.9; Velika - Fig. 2.1.

33 A. Benae - B. Covic, Glasinac 2, Sarajevo, 1957,24 sq. T.

Early La rene Between Pannonia and the Balkans 113

.~ 3~ 7 B

10

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~I

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Fig. 7. 1,4 - Gorica; 2 - Zabmjica; 3- Rudine-Rusanovici; 5-6 Zagrade, tumulus II2; 7- Gosinja planina, tumulus 21; 8 - Podilijak; 9 - Varvara;D. Dolina: 10-12 Gr. 43 (M.Petrovic Jr.). Scale 2/3.

Avery similar piece, but bearing three coils oneach side,is registered among the numerous fibulae from Gorica(Fig.7.4).34 Both these pieces are fragmented, lacking thefinitial ofthe foot, which is the crucial element for attribu-tion. It ispossible that these are the fragmented fibulae ofthe early La Tene pattern, but it seems more likely thatthey are influenced bythe same exemplar - a local variantof knee-shaped fibulae with short foot and a small head,and a side spring, also from Gorica (Fig.7.1).35 Goingback to the other fibula from Zagrade, it may benoted thatit consists of a knee-shaped bow with a cross-hatchedband, three coils on each side and a horizontally back-bentfoot bearing a stylized cross-hatched serpent's head with abifurcated finitial (Fig.7.6). The connections are obviousbetween the fibulae with the cross-hatched bow fromRudine and Gorica, and the piece from Zagrade. The repli-cas of the fibula from Zagrade are registered on severalspots - Gosinja planina (tumulus 21), Podilijak and the siteVarvara by the spring of Rama (Fig.7.7-9).36 The designwith the cross-hatched head appears onthefibulae from

49.11; F. Fiala, WMBH 4, 1896,26, Fig. 59.34 C. Truhelka, WMBH8, 1902, 19, Fig. 24.35 Ibid. 18, Fig. 20.36 F. Fiala, WMBH5, 1897,21, Fig. 33; B.Covic, GZM 14,1959,

67, T. 10.5; Z. Marie, op.cit., (n. 2), T. 1.5.

Debelo Brdo and Sanski Most, butthey represent remoteanalogies (Fig. 9.5).37 The last in the sequence of thesefinds is the fibula from a grave at Donja Dolina." It is alocal product of Duchcov variant, bearing the details ofthe Zagrade type - cross-hatched band onbow, serpent'shead onfoot (Fig.7.10). The chronological frame for thisgroup of fibulae is provided by two grave assemblages.The entire contents with the hinge fibulae from Rudine-Rusanovici is dated into the IV century B.C. and repre-sents the Greek influences originating from the southernBalkans.'? The offerings inDonja Dolina are ofthe formscharacteristic of the end of the early Iron Age and twoearly LaTene fibulae (Fig.7.10-12). One is already men-tioned, while the other ofthe type Duchcov appears alongwith the zoomorphic fibulae (Donja Dolina, Szentendre),oron the other sites from the Carpathian basin." Thus therange may be determined from the appearance of thehinge fibulae, the characteristic shapes ofthe type Zagrade

37 F. Fiala, WMBH6, 1899, 132, Fig. 11; 94, Fig. 116.38C. Truhelka, WMBH9, 1904, 101, T. 50.22-24.39R. Vasic, Godiinjak. CBI. 21,1985,145 sqq.40 K. Ludikovsky, Pamatky archeologicke 55, 1964, Obr. 1.2;

Corpus of Celtic Finds in Hungary I, Transdanubia 1 (CCFH); T.Kovacs, E,Petres, M. Szabo, eds., Budapest, 1987, PI. 18.4; N.Majnaric-Pandzic, op.cit., (n. 3), T. 2.3; 4.4; D. Dolina, Fig. 4.12; seen.21.

114

tothe pieces of the Duchcov type, from the middle of theIV tothe beginning ofthe III century B.C.

The zoomorphic fibulae of the western Balkans(Fig. B)

The following examples illustrate the frequency oftheearly LaTene fibulae in the central parts of the westernBalkans. They mainly belong tothe forms from the afore-

Petar Popovic

of fibulae from a grave in the cemetery at Sanski Most(Fig.9.1-2).43 The first piece points to the mixture of theCertosa type and the early LaTene forms. The back-bentfoot finishes ina triangular plate and a rivet, most proba-bly wearing an amber, coral or glass bead. The secondpiece has an ornamented bow ofthe boat-shaped fibulae, across-bow spring and a back-bent foot with a button styl-ized in a form of an animal's head. The fibula from thenext grave is typologically similar to the previous one, but

3

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Fig. 8. 1- Rusanovici, tumulus 33/1; 2- Debelo brdo; 3 - Pod-Bugojno; 4-6 Gorica; 7 -Gradac Posusje, Scale 2/3.

mentioned sites, having the common feature that they cor-respond to the local variants executed according to theexemplars of thefibulae of pre-Duchcov horizon. Acer-tain clustering of these fibulae in the vicinity of theAdriatic coast seeks an additional note (Fig.8.4-6): name-ly, the architectural object by the village Gorica is wellknown for the numerous finds of jewellery and armsbelonging toa wide chronological range." It isconsideredthat in this spot a sanctuary was situated, a fact .thataccounts for the different objects from various parts ofthewestern Balkans being deposited here during many cen-turies (from the VII tothe I century B.C.).42

The early La rene fibulae of the northwesternBalkans (Fig.9)

The types of fibulae considered inthis paper are veryfew inthe outskirts of the western Balkans, bearing somedistinct features. Agood example is provided bythe pair

41 C. Truhelka, WMBH8, 1902,3 sqq.

still represents the next step towards the early La Teneforms (Fig.9.3). The whole group of fibulae reflects theadopting of thevarious technological patterns present inthe late Hallstatt, i.e. early LaTene period. The piece fromthe site Jezerine is obviously of the local manufacture(Fig.9.4), while the offerings from a grave at Kompoljeconsist ofa fibula of theCertosa type and one belongingtothe variants ofthe type Marzabotto (Fig.9.6).44 All thesepieces are hard to determine chronologically in moredetail. Roughly, they belong to the IV century B.C. andwere probably manufactured under the influence of theforms from the eastern Alps and northern Italy. This direc-tion is also indicated by the sparse finds of the early LaTene fibulae from Istra and Slovenia.s

42 B.Covic, inPJZ V. 473 sq.43 F. Fiala, WMBH6, 1899, Fig.112-l11, 107.44 V. Radimsky, WMBH 3, 1895, Fig. 481; T. Tezak-Gregl, VI

Arh. muzo Zagreb 14, 1981,44, T. 5.9.45 M. Gustin, Arch. Jug. 24,1987, Fig. 2.2; 4.1.

Early La Tene Between Pannonia and the Balkans 115

3

4 5

Fig. 9.Sanski Most, 1-2 Gr. 107; 3 - Gr. 104; 5 - Gr. 109; Jezerine, 4 - Gr. 414; Kompolje, 6 - Gr. 364. Scale 2/3.

Southeastern Pannonia and the central Balkans:Early La rene forms (Fig.10.1-5; 12.2-3) and the fibulaeof theDuchcov-Miinsingen horizon (Fig.10.6-7; 12.1,4-14)

The appearance of the early La Tene fibulae in thesoutheastern parts of Pannonia, compared to the men-tioned regions, offers a different picture. The oldest exam-

sion that the advance movements came along the Danube,over Transdanubia and the eastern parts ofthe Carpathianbasin, superseded by the gradual settling ofthe Celtic po-pulation all the way down tothe central Balkans. In lackof the more conclusive information, the archaeologicalmaterial from the graves consisting of heterogeneouspieces (earlier-local and later-Celtic), may serve as achronological starting point. Among the finds ofthis type,

~~~ 1 ~",_.,.,,,........ 2 ~,,..... 3..~ . . > . -i-'~."' ..-.~_'>~ _ ". . .. ~~4i~ ~5 6~. :.::i:'~::j. .J.;.::......"..... _;~'. "'~."

"::L\. .

~7CL. '.

. ':..

Fig. 10. Osijek-Donji Grad, 1- Gr. 9;2-3 Osijek; 4-6 Dalj; 7 - Kupinovo. Scale 2/3.

ples are rare and mainly without precise information, suchas several pieces from Osijek (Donji grad) and Dalj (Fig.10.1-5).46 All the other material belongs to the typologi-cally later forms, corresponding to the numerous variantsofthe Duchcov horizon. From this point stems the conclu-

the prominent place is reserved for the hoard (or grave?)

46 E. Spajic, Osijeiki zbornik 4, 1954, T. 4.27 (Gr. 9); cf. D.Bozi~, Arh. vest. 32, 1981, Tab. 2;N.Majnaric-Pandzic, op.cit., (n.3), Osijek T. 25.1-2: Dalj T. 3.5; 4.1-2.

116

from Curug in Backa, The best part of the assemblagebelongs to the silver jewellery originating from the southofthe Balkans, while the bronze "loop" fibulae are associ-

A ...B ...

OJ c ,::: Land over 500m

Petar Popovic

Donja Dolina should benoted." Some common featuresare also noted on the silver jewellery from the graveunearthed at the beginning ofthe century inBogdanovci

Fig. 11. The frequency of the pre-Duchcov (LT B I) horizon fibulae: 1 - Szentlerinz, 2 - Velika, 3 - Donja Dolina, 4 - Vrucica, 5 - Vratnica, 6 -Zagrade, 7 - Gosinja planina, Podilijak, Rudine-Rusanovici, Rusanovici, 8 - Zabrnjica, 9 - Debelo brdo, 10 - Varvara, II - Gorica, 12 - Gradac-Posusje, 13 - Pod, 14- Sanski Most, 15 - Jezerine, 16- Kompolje, 17 - Sisak, 18- Osijek, 19 - Dalj, 20- Juzac. (A- cemeteries or graves, B-chance finds, C- fibulae ofthe Zagrade type).

ated to the Pannonian area. The only piece of the Celticorigin is the large bronze fibula of the Duchcov variant(Fig.12.1). Based of this fact, the hoard is usually datedinto the second halfof the IVcentury, butthe rest of thejewellery, as is often the case, belongs to the somewhatearlier period." Some close analogies between Curug andthe cemetery Pilismarot-Basaharc byEstergom, a fibulafrom a grave byGyor (Menfocsanak) or the pieces from

47 R. Vasic, The Chronology of the Early Iron Age in Serbia,BAR Suppl. Ser. 1977,54; idem in Radionoce i kovnice srebra,Narodni mizej Beograd, 1995,83 sqq.; cf. D. Bozic, op.cit., (n. 46),315 sqq.

by Vukovar. Two silver bracelets with serpent's heads, likeinCurug, and three bronze fibulae ofthe variant Duchcowwith a medallion-shaped bow and several chain-pendantswere found there. In the immediate vicinity two pairs ofbronze fibulae with broadened bows were found, orna-mented bya broad zigzag band.'? They are probably a partof the inventory of a devastated grave corresponding tothe same chronological horizon. Silver twisted earrings of

481. Bognar-Kuzian, in The Celts inCentral Europe. Alba Regia14,1975,35 sqq.; ead. (n. 10) 30sqq.; CCFH(n. 40), 36, PI. 18.5; D.Dolina, see n.22.

491. Brunsrnid, Vj. Hrv. arh. dr. 10,1908-1909,232 sqq. Fig. 23.

Early La rene Between Pannonia and the Balkans 117

~:. " . ~. ~.;.;. .'. .. . r-: ~'7. ~. -4~"'"."k., ~;:"t:.....:i;' ~/', ~ "

s 5 6

~'Y' " " : \"" ""\.' \,)... " " "" i, ""' wi,.,. ;.,i~~.7~)

~... n,3f@C~8~

~ ~\ ..'''';." -..., .. \. - .. M ~""" ':"u14~16

2019

15

..~ .. /~t~ ..

18

c:t:(.:..~ ~.... ~.,., z .23Fig. 12, 1-Curug; 2 - Juzac; 3,5 - Viminacijum, vicinity; 4 - Sabac; 6- Kostolac; Pecine: 7 - Gr. G3-1201, 8- Gr. GI-3 - 378,10-12 Gr. G3 982,

9 - Basaid; 13-14 Karaburma, Gr. 60; 15 - Gosinja planina, tumulus 3511; 16 - Jezerine, Gr. 161; 17 - Rusanovici, tumu1us 41/1; 18,21,23 D.Dolina; 19 - Pod; 20 - Majdan; 22 - Jezerine, Gr. 116. Scale 2/3.

118

local origin from Karaburma, Pecine and Kostolac aredetermined into the horizon ofthe oldest Celtic graves inthis part of the Danube valley. The fibulae from theseassemblages are dated into the end of the IV and the verytransition into the III century B.c.50

An unique example of a bronze fibula of the early LaTene pattern, the only find of the LaTene period in thecentral Balkans, was registered onthe occasion ofthe test-trench excavations of the hill-fort settlement on the siteJuzac, over themonastery of Sopocani, by the spring ofthe river Raska (Fig.l2.2). According to the discoveredpottery fragments, the remnants of the drywall fortifica-tion are dated into the final stages of the Early Iron Age(V-IV centuries). The settlement was abandoned and re-inhabited as late asintheLate Roman period. 51 This fibu-lacorresponds typologically tothe early forms with a highbow and back-bent foot, ending in a stylized serpent'shead with a bifurcated tongue. Chronologically, the pieceprobably belongs to the second halfofthe IV century B.c.and it reached the remote area via the Glasinac circle,from the western Balkans.

It has already been mentioned that from the end oftheIV century on, along the Danube and Sava valleys manyfibulae ofvarious variants ofthe Duchcov horizon appear.However, besides fairly detailed information onthe gravesinvestigated at Donji Grad in Osijek.:" most of the sitesyielded numerous finds from destroyed cemeteries. Suchis the case with the pieces from Dalj (Fig.l0.6),53Vukovar.v or, in the Sava valley, from SremskaMitrovica> and Kupinovo (Fig.l 0.7).56 Some chancefinds, thefibulae from Gradina byBosut, Novi Banovci,Zemun, and a piece of the Milnsingen type from Banat(Basaid, Fig.l2.9),57 should be mentioned. Along with

50 B. Jovanovic, in Kulture gvozdenog doba jugoslovenskogPodunavlja, ed. N.Tasic, Beograd 1994, III sqq.

51 M. Popovic, Arheoloiki pregled Tl, 1987, 115, Fig. 3.52 E. Spajic, op. cit., (n.46), 1. 3.19; 6.37,42-44; idem, Osijeeki

zbornik 5, 1956, 1. 10.6; 11.1-2; idem, Osijeiki zbornik 8, 1962,1.14.8; 15.9; N. Majnaric-Pandzic, op.cit., (n. 3),1. 25. 3.

53 N. Majnaric-Pandzic, op.cit., (n. 3),16sqq., 1. 3.1-2,4,10; 4.3-5;5.5.

54 Ibid., 59sq. 1. 51.10.55 Ibid., 44sqq. T. 23.1-2.56 Ibid; 25 sqq. 1. 9.1-2, 9-10.57 The piece found near Gradina atBosut isnow inthe Gallery of

Sava Sumanovic in Sid; Novi Banovci: N.Majnaric-Pandzic, op.cit.,

Petar Popovic

several older forms, the collected material chronologicallybelongs toLT B2, i.e. to the end of the IV century and thefirst halfof the III century. It is worth emphasizing thatmost of these cemeteries remained in use well into the Icentury B.C. The oldest pieces from this part of theDanube valley are the ones from the cemeteriesKaraburma-Rospi Cuprija in Belgrade and Pecine byViminacium. Atthe Belgrade cemetery, a small percentageofthe graves contained an early LaTene fibula, since the:majority of the burials belongs to the later phases, espe-cially to the late La Tene period (Fig.l2.l3-14).58 Thegraves from Pecine byViminacium are ofspecial interest,due to some exceptional finds offering information onthefirst settling of the Celts in the Central Balkans.'? Thecemetery ispartially excavated and the publication ontheworks in 1981 is inpreparation. Therefore, only a numberoffibulae pointing to the connections between the easternparts of the Carpathian basin and the Danube valley inSerbia will be treated here. These are widely representedvariants of the forms Duchcov-Mlinsingen which appar-ently follow the Celtic expansion southwards(Fig.l2.7,8,10-12), such asthe example ofthe small fibu-lae with a segmented bow, which expanded from the westtothe eastern fringe ofthe Carpathinan basin and, over thecemeteries such as Piskolt and Gyoma, finally reachedKaraburma and Pecine (Fig.12.8).60 Acertain clustering ofthe archaeological finds around Pozarevac, Kostolac andthe site ofViminacium becomes clearer inthe light ofthefact that an important communication, leading from thesouth, crossing the Danube and continuing intoTransilvania, run over this area. Thus LaTene finds alsoare frequent in this region (Fig.l2.6).61 Two fibulae are(n. 3), 1. 27.5; 1. Todorovic, Katalog praisiorijskih predmeta,Beograd, 1971, T. 61.11; 60.9 (Zemun); Basaid: M. Giric, RVM,1997, inprint.

581. Todorovic, Praistorijska Karaburma. I, Nekropola m1adeggvozdenog doba, Beograd, 1972, T. 21.6,8-9; 22.4; 23.2; 24.3; id. Inv.arch., fasc. 6,1963, feuilles Y 47-Y56, Y 49.4; cf.D.Bozic, op.cit.,(n. 46), Tab. 3.

59 B. Jovanovic, Etudes Celtiques 21, 1984, Fig. 3.1-2; 6.1-5;idem, in P1Z V 829 sqq. T. 79. 1-4,7; idem, in Scordisci andtheAutochthons, N. Tasic ed., Beograd 1992, 19-32,83-94.

60 I. Nemeti, Thraco-Dacica 10.1-2, 1989, 103(A 6);B.Maraz,Archeologiai Enesito, 1977, 104-1, Fig. 5.8,10-12; 1. Todorovic,op.cit., (n. 58),1.24.3.

61 P. Popovic, Starinar 43-44, 1992-1993, 1994, 17 sq.; D.Jacanovic, Viminacium 2, 1988, T. I,III; D. Spasic, Viminacium 7,1992,1.1.1.

Early La rene Between Pannonia and the Balkans

chronologically interesting, with bows bearing broadbands of incisions. One is from the vicinity ofViminacium, and the other is kept in the museum ofSabac, and was probably found near the river Sava (Fig.12.5-4).62 The pieces of this kind are rare and may beassociated to the mentioned ones from Bogdanovci or afind from Dalj.63

The Duchcov-type fibulae from thewestern Balkans(Fig.12.15-23)

The chance finds of the fibulae of the Duchcov hori-zon in the western Balkans come from Semberija(Rapanic Polje),64 upper Vrbas valley (Pod, Majdan,Fig.12.19-20), as well as several pieces from thedestroyed graves atDonja Dolina.v At Glasinac, severalexcavated graves contained, among other, the fibulaechronologically attributed into the final phase of theGlasinac culture. At that time, by the beginning ofthe IIIcentury B.C, "a complete silence ensues of the archaeo-logical sources, as if the area was totally depopulated".66In a grave (Gosinja planina, tumulus 35/1, Fig.12.15),along with the jewellery of the Mediterranean origin, afibula of the Duchcov type was registered, hardly laterthan the end of the IV century, according to its basictraits.v The contents ofa grave from Rusanovici (tumulus22/1) is partially similar and there was a fibula with anornamented bow, tobe discussed later (Fig. 114).68 Fromthe same site (tumulus 41/1, Fig.12.17) there are six fibu-lae-repliques, having very close analogies in a cemetery inSlovakia (Chotinj.s? The fibulae from the grave by Gospic

62 I am grateful for the information to my colleague M.Vasiljevic, from the Museum of'Sabac.

63 1. Brunsmid, op.cit., (n. 49), Fig. 23.2; cf. N. Majnaric-Pandzic, op.cit., (n. 3), T. 3.2: 1.Todorovic, op.cit., (n. 57), T. 61.12.

64M. Kosoric, CIanci i grada zakulturnu istoriju lstoine Bosne14,1982,125, T. 4.35.

65 Pod near Bugojno: PlZ V, T. 53.26; Majdan: V. Radimsky,WMBH 1, 1893, 182, Fig. 13; D. Dolina: C. Truhelka, WMBH 9,1904,143, Fig. 88-89; T. 81. 9.10-11.

66 B.Covic, inPlZ V, 633.67 A. Benac-B. Covic, op.cit., (n. 33), 23, T. 47.8; P1Z V, T.

65.12; cf. a similar fibula from thetumulus Podilijak see B.Covic,GZM 14,1959, T. 3.5.

68 A. Benac-B.Covic, op.cit., (n. 33),24, T. 48.4.69 Ibid. 25, T. 50.1-6; cf. L.Zahar, Keltske umenie na Slovensku,

1987, Fig. 27.

119

(Vrebac)," from the cemeteries by Una (Jezerine,Fig.12.16; Ribic, Golubic)," bySanski Most," orDonjaDohna (Fig.12.18,21-23)73 correspond to the type LT B2,but often bear individual solutions with local traits, beingexecuted in the middle LaTene period according to theolder patterns.

The group offibulae of the Duchcov horizon fromtheDanube andSava valleys andthe western Balkans(Fig.13.1-11)

The Danube valley and the western Balkans bear sev-eral other common traits, represented bythe fibulae withornamented bow bearing an oval plaque with a frame. AtKaraburma, inthe grave 63, along with silver earrings, afibula of this kind was registered with two pairs of longchains (Fig.111).74 The same trait - the bow in the shapeof a medallion, is apparent on three fibulae with chainsfrom Bogdanovci, as well as on apair offibulae, also withchains, from a grave in Osijek (grave 27, Fig.13.3).75Similar examples were found in Kupinovo and west ofDrina, at the site Rapanic Polje." The fibula fromRusanovici, atGlasinac, from the above mentioned grave,has its closest analogy in the piece from Karaburma(Fig.13.4). To the wider group of these finds belong afragmented fibula from the Negotin Museum, probablyfrom the Danube bank, and a piece from the vicinity ofViminacium (Fig.13 .5-6).77 Furthermore, a fibula from agrave at the cemetery Jezerine (Fig.13-2) morphologicallycorresponds to the older forms, while the pieces fromRibic and Golubic merely follow the example." Inwidersense, to the same family belong the fibulae with an oval

70R. Drechsler-Bizic, Vj. Arh. muzo Zagreb 1,1958, T. 10.79.71 Z. Marie, GZM23, 1968, (WMBH 1971), T. 3. 16,27,29; 8.

25,27; 9.5: Tab. 2-5; B.Raunig, GZM23, 1968, T. 5.58.72F. Fiala, WMBH 6, 1899, 77, Fig. 55.73 C. Truhelka, see n.65.741.Todorovic, op.cit., (n. 58), T. 23.2.751. Brunsmid, op.cit., (n. 49), Sl. 23.1; E.Spajic, op.cit., (n. 52),

T. 14.8; 15.9.76 N.Majnaric-Pandzic, op.cit., (n. 3),T. 9.2; M. Kosoric, seen.

64.77G.Janjic, Nalazista i metalni nalazi mladeg gvozdenog doba u

Kljucu i Negotinskoj Krajni, Beograd 1989 (manuscript of graduatestudy, Faculty ofPhilosophy, Belgrade).

78Z. Marie, op.cit., (n. 71), T. 3.16; see n. 71.

120

5

Petar Popovic

6

9

Fig. 13. 1- Karaburma, Gr. 63; 2 - Jezerine, Gr. 88; 3 - Osijek, Gr. 27; 4 - Rusanovici, tumulus 22/1; 5 - Negotin; 6 - Viminacium, vicinity; D.Dolina: 7 - Gr. 13 (I. Stipancevic), 10 - Gr. 23 (M. Petrovic Jr.); 9, II chance finds; 8 - Kupinovo. Scale 2/3.

plaque on bow, bearing the S-shaped spiral. Such piecescome from Kupinovo, while the similar, though schema-tized and simplified ones were registered atDonja Dolina(Fig.13.7-11).79

The entire series of these finds bears some similarsolutions, appearing as early as inthe early LaTene peri-od, but it seems that they were manufactured somewherebetween Sava and the Danube, after the older examples.These forms were transposed to the western Balkans andwere later manufactured there after the similar examples.

79 N. Majnaric-Pandzic, op.cit., (n. 3),T. 9.9-10; C. Truhelka,WMBH9, 1904, T. 76.3; 45.4; 81.11; Z. Marie, op.cit., (n. 12), T.18.7-9.

Chronologically, these fibulae are placed into the periodfrom the IV century till, at least, the middle ofthe III.

**

Even the superficial glance at the early LaTene fibu-lae shows that they undergo certain changes fromSlavonia to Sava and the western Balkans. The piecesfrom Szentlorinc orVelika correspond to the early formsthat came into these parts most probably from the north-west ornorth, across the Transdanubia and the Balaton. Inlack of other information, one may safely assume thatthese pieces are the direct La Tene influence into thePannonian millieu. As Sava is crossed, the cemetery at

Early La rene Between Pannonia and the Balkans

Donja Dolina presents a different picture, and furthertowards the hinterland the forms become even more elab-orated and, along with the LaTene patterns, many hybrid

A [.J] B Land over SOOm

121

having a long tradition in the Balkans.t? Atany rate, sty-lized, or having all the basic traits (triangular head,emphasized eyes, bifurcated tongue), the representation of

Fig. 14 The frequency of the fibulae ofthehorizon Duhcov-MUnsingen (LT B2): I - Osijek, 2 - Dalj, 3 - Bogdanovci, Vukovar, 4 - Curug, 5 -Basaid, 6 - Pecine, Viminacium, Kostolac, 7 - Negotin, 8 - Karaburma, Rospi Cuprija, 9 - Zemun, 10 - Novi Banovci, II - Kupinovo, 12-Sremska Mitrovica, 13 - Sabac, 14 - Gradina naBosutu, 15 - Rapanic polje, 16 - Gosinja planina, Podilijak, Rusanovici, 17 - Pod, 18 - Majdan,19 - Donja Dolina, 20- Pletemica, 21 - Sanski Most, 22 - Ribic, Jezerine, Golubic, 23 - Vrebac (A - cemeteries orgraves, B- chance find).

and pseudo-La Tene forms emerge, with the traits of theolder local production.

One of the most conspicuous details pointing to thedifferences between the areas north and south of Sava, isthe way inwhich the foot of the early LaTene fibulae ismodelled. Inthe first group, the foot isstylized, very oftenina zoomorphic finitial, most frequently in a form of anaquatic bird, known from the end ofthe Bronze Age on. Inthe west parts of the Balkans, instead ofthe birds, the ser-pent's heads often appear. Apparently, inthese parts, espe-cially among the Illyrians, serpents bore some specialmeaning - they are associated to the chtonic symbolism,

a serpent holds a prominent position inthe ornamentationon fibulae, along with bracelets and other objects. In thewestern Balkans they probably had an apotropaic functionaswell, or some other meaning, butthey surely were notmere decorative details.

Besides the serpent's heads, some other details point tothe fact that inthese parts the majority of the fibulae wasmanufactured in local workshops after the La Tene proto-types. These are above ali various hybrid or extremely

so A. Stipcevic, Kultni simbol kod Ilira, CBl, Sarajevo, 1981,47sqq.

122

inventive solutions which have noadequate parallels out-side these regions. Forthis kind of activity, basic precon-ditions were raw materials, a certain level of technologyand the artistic inclination to respond to the taste andneeds of the people who wore the jewellery. Some parts ofthe western Balkans were rich inores, and arms, tools andjewellery were intensely produced there from the lateBronze Age, and from the Vlll century on iron is also inuse." We areprimarily concerned with bronze, the metalsuitable for the production ofjewellery due to the techno-logical process. So the source ofraw material was athand,but the major part of the alloy used for the manufacture ofsmall objects was gained by recycling - recasting of thebroken pieces.v The skill of the masters is best testifiedby the numerous finds from the cemeteries around therivers Una and Sana, and theprosperity of the settlementatDonja Dolina depended largely notmerely ontheapti-tude of the masters, but also on the ore sources in the hin-terland.v Masters-craftsmen, besides executing the localforms, often imitated or copied the objects taken overfrom the neighbors and fellow-artisans. The string thusenlarged, making it difficult to discern whether we aredealing with cultural influences, population movements ortechnology transfer. A good example is the case of theCertosa type fibulae, spreading from the V century onfrom the west and penetrating to Pannonia and the westernBalkans. Many pieces from these parts gain local traitsand, indeed, must have been executed onthe spot.84 Thesefibulae thus played anoutstanding role in the appearanceof the new La Tene style, not only in the other parts ofEurope, butalso inthe western Balkans.

There is another, maybe even better example, relatedto the buckles or plate fibulae of the Sanski Most type.85Long ago, M.M.Vasic suggested the possibility that platefibulae with discs might originate from theparagnatidaeof the Montefortino type helmets (Fig. IS .1-2).86 Thesepieces are roughly halfof the size and executed inbronzefoil fastened by iron rivet with cross-bow spring, charac-

81 B. Covic, Godi.fnjak. CBnO, 1984, 129 sqq.82 Ibid. 132; cf. S. Champion in Settlement and Society, 1. C.

Champion-J. V. S.Megaw, eds, 1985, 134 sqq.83 Z. Marie, op.cit.,(n. 12); B. Covic, op.cit., (n. 81),131, sqq.84 Cf. B. Terzan, op.cit., (n. 4),375 sqq.85 B. Covic, inPJZV, 260 sq.86 M. M. Vasic, Starinar4, 1928,253 sqq.; cf. U. Schaaf, Jahrb.

RGZM21. 1,1974, Abb. 31.

Petar Popovic

teristic of certain types of the Certosa fibulae (Fig.lS.3).All the pieces, in spite of theminor differences indetails,are executed in the same way and, for the time being, theydo not have other analogies. They areregistered ina rela-tively restricted area, in the graves of Donja Dolina andSanski Most, and a piece at Ribic and Velika respectively(Fig. lS.4-9;3. 14).87 Regularly they belong to female cos-tume and are placed inpairs onshoulders of the deceased.The other offerings from these graves are dated into thesecond half or the very end of the IV century B.C. andencompass the period of the final phases ofthe Early IronAge and early La Tene. The only exception is the piecefrom a grave at Sanski Most, found together with a middleLaTene fibula, that cannot beolder than the end ofthe IIIcentury B.C.88 Inthis case, a question rises if these buck-les were produced over a long period, or had been wornfor several generations before the moment of burial. Inthese parts there are many examples of a vast typologicaland chronological range ofofferings in graves, especiallyfemale ones. It is highly likely thatina conservative mil-lieu - a trait for which thearea of the western Balkans isrenown - traditional jewellery was worn for several gene-rations successively, purposefully and perfectly intention-ally.

The paragnatidae of the helmets of theMontefortinotype make for anonly, butvery close model inmaking thebuckles of the Sanski Most type. The shape is partiallymodified and reduced in scale, due to the completelychanged function of the new objects. The helmets of thekind were surely very rare in this part of the Balkans and,besides the one from Vrankamen - without paragnatidae -the closest places of find arefurther to northwest - Smar-jeta (Bela Cerkev) and Trbinc." In both these cases thereare three discs on the paragnatidae, and the one fromSmarjeta is of the same type as theVrankamen find. Forthe time being, it is safe to assume that these helmetsreached the Balkans over northern Italy, and somewhere inthe workshops around Sanski Most orDonja Dolina a newtype ofbuckles was made inspired bythe shape and orna-

87 C. Truhelka, WMBH9, 1904,1. 41.2-3; 44.9; 47.29-30; 54.17-19; 81.2; Keltoi, op. cit., (n. 22), Fig. XI; F. Fiala WMBH 6, 1899,104, Fig. 154; Z. Marie, op.cit., (n. 71),1. 8.13.

88 F. Fiala, ibid. Fig. 153; cf. P. Popovic, Zbornik Narodnogmuzeja 15-1, 1994,54.

89C. Truhelka, WMBH 4, 1896,381; S.Gabrovec, Arh. vest. 41,1990, Fig. 2.

Early La rene Between Pannonia and the Balkans 123

5

6

Fig. IS. 1-2 Montefortino; Donja Dolina: 3 - chance find: 4 - Gr. 9 (M'Petrovic Jr.), 5 - Gr. 10 (S. Jakaric), 6 - Gr. 41, 7 Gr. 61 (M. PetrovicJr.); Sanski Most: 8 - Gr. 150; 9 - Ribic, Scale 1/2.

ments on the paragnatidae. Taken into account that all thepieces are uniform, may it be possible that only one mas-ter was producing them? In the manufacture of thesebuckles, or any other jewellery for that matter, only onemodel was sufficient, testifying that the masters were notlacking technical knowledge, but much more the skillsand inspiration to make the objects look new, more variedand prettier.

There are several more clues to the activity of theseworkshops. Almost all the fibulae from Vrucica are exe-cuted after the same fashion and make an impression ofagifted master, who was apt to include the early LaTeneforms into a completely Balkan symbolism (Fig.5). Thecase is similar with the fibulae from Vratnica; there areseveral groups ofvery similar oreven identical executionthere. Aseries offour fibulae is interesting, with a stylizedfoot omated with granules (Fig.6.9). Here also, like in the

other cases, the message is quite clear - the serpent pro-tects the owner from misfortune and evil. The group offibulae from Glasinac, associated to the type Zagrade, pre-sents a different example (Fig.?). The cross-hatched bandover the bows appears on the local fibulae ofthe Certosatype, and is susbequently transferred to the four samepieces of the early LaTene pattern with serpent's head;finally, the same details are repeated on a locally manufac-tured fibula of the Duchcov horizon. Disregarding thetypological, as well as chronological changes, the sameornamental motive is retained. The appearance of thesame fibulae on four different sites testifies for a relativelylarge production and it is highly probable that the work-shop was somewhere in the Glasinac plateau. Certaintypes of fibulae of the early Iron Age concentrated pre-cisely in this territory additionally back up the assump-tion.9o

124

The examples of the Duchcov horizon from the val-leys ofSava and the Danube primarily originate from theCeltic workshops in the Carpathian basin, which thenmoved towards south, following the Celtic settlement. Theproduction ismuch larger and the repertoire of the formsmuch wider, making it more difficult to detect and com-pare the pieces belonging to the same or similar series.Maybe the only exceptions are the pairs orgroups offibu-lae which were acquired, worn and finally buried together.

**Finally, a few words about the Celtic presence in the

Balkans. The beginning of the IV century isconventional-ly considered to witness the beginning of their settling inthe Carpathian basin." The ancient authors scarcely knewof these parts and, when mentioning these events, theirdata is contradictory, meager and consist mainly of thereminiscences of the past events." There are grounds tohope that the vast territorial and chronological lacunaewill gradually bebridged by the future archaeological dis-coveries. The Celts, as well asthe La Tene culture, spreadfrom the west towards theeastern parts of the Carpathianbasin, keeping within the wide valley of the Danube. Itthus seems that the southern parts and Slavonia, asopposed to the northern Transdanubia, remain in theperiphery of the main stream ofevents. The sites such asSzentlorinz and Velika, for the time being, merely indicatea strong influence or the Celtic presence in a foreign -Pannonian millieu.

On the occasion ofthe recent excavations ofthe settle-ment at Donja Dolina, a mighty layer of burning, datedinto the first halfof the IVcentury B.C. was registered. Itis considered possible that the destroy of the horizon ofhouses should beassociated with one of the Celtic raids.Furthermore, the settlement was renewed after the samelayout, and the way of life of the autochthonous popula-tion did not change after the great fire." The informationis very indicative but a more detailed report from theexcavations isyet to come.

The Celtic finds from the western Balkans consistalmost exclusively offibulae, mainly corresponding to the

~~ B. Terzan, Arch. lug. 24,1987, Fig.l 1-14.9J M.Szab6, 1988.(n.l), 13sqq.- Cf. L. Pauli, inSettlement and Society, T.C. Champion-J.V.S.

Megaw, eds., 1985,23 sqq.; M. Szabo, 1992 (n. 1), 13 sqq.93 Z. Zeravica, Materijali 20 (1980), Beograd, 1985,29 sqq.

Petar Popovic

early La Tene forms executed in local workshops. Animpression is thus formed that an indirect influence oftheLaTene style was in question, or a technology transfer,coming over Slovakia and Transdanubia into this part ofthe Balkans; a direct Celtic influx bythe means of import-ed objects is less likely and there are no archaeologicalfinds from these parts to testify more clearly to the Celticpresence. The only undoubtedly Celtic find, registered inthe vicinity ofthe Adriatic coast, dated into the IV/III cen-turies, presents a real rarity. It is an early LaTene swordwith a leather scabbard and a bronze reinforce onbottom,taken outof the river Cetina.?' But, in spite of the verymeager information, it is impossible, at least theoretically,to discard the assumption that during the IV century theCelts may have undertaken an impact from Pannoniatowards south, probably by the valleys ofVrbas orBosna,and then reached the Adriatic via the river Neretva. It ishard to expect more abundant finds after such an event.Besides, for the time being even the great Celtic invasiontowards Macedonia and Greece in the year 279 is notarchaeologically traced. The probable finds would indeedbe a nice confirmation of the existence of the AdriaticCelts, who came toAlexander the Great in the year 335,as reported byArianus.?' Nevertheless, all these specula-tions remain theoretical.

The Celts came into the Balkans over the eastern partsof the Carpathian basin and the Danube. From the end ofthe IV century B.C. on, they inhabited the region aroundSava and the Danube, expanding onto a narrow belt oftheCentral Balkans. Along with their presence from the endof the IVcentury and the beginning ofthe III, the La Teneinfluences spread westwards, via the valley of Sava,towards the western Balkans. After the aborted campaignin the south and the formation of the Scordisci, after theyear 279, the Celts retained the lands they had inhabited inthe first coming. The same way as the Celtic influencesspread over Transdanubia from the middle ofthe IV cen-tury on, now the Scordisci brought, peacefully orforceful-ly, in these parts a graduallatenization, but the history ofthis process is a whole new chapter, devoted to theScordisci and the middle La Tene period.

94 A. Milosevic, Arheo 15, 1992,87, Fig. 2.95 Cf. M. Garasanin, in Adriatica Praehistorica et Antiqua,

Zagreb, 1970,393 sqq.; M. Szabo, Acta Antiqua Acad. Scien. Hung.32,1989,55 sqq.

Early La rene Between Pannonia and theBalkans

Abbreviations:GZM - Glasnik Zemaljskog muzeja u Bosni i Hercegovini,

SarajevoPJZ - Praistorija jugoslovenskih zemalja V, A. Benac ed.,

Sarajevo, 1987WMBH - Wissenschaftliche Mittheilungen aus Bosnien und der

Herzegovina, Wien

Sources of ilustrations Fig. 1: 1 - Majnaric-Pandzic (n. 3), 2-6 -Jerern (n.4); Fig. 2-3 - Sokac Stimac (n. 6); Fig.4: 1-9 Truhelka (n.13-16),10-12 Covic (n. 17),13-15 - Truhelka (ibid. T. 81.15,64.7,Fig. 87),16-18 - Marie (n.21,22); Fig. 5: 1-14 Truhelka (n.23); Fig.6: 1-17 Covic SI. 8-9 (n. 24); Fig.7: 1- Truhelka (n. 35),2 - (n. 30), 3- Fiala (n. 33), 4 - Truhelka (n. 34),5-6 - PJZ (n.29), 7 - Fiala (n. 36),8 - Covic (n. 36), 9 - Marie (n. 2, 36),10-12 - Truhelka (n.38); Fig. 8:1- Benac-Covic T. 48.1 (n.33), 2 - Fiala (WMBH 4, 1896,36),3,5-

125

PJZ (T. 53.29, 50.28), 4, 6 Truhelka (n.41), 7 - Fiala-Patsch (WMBH3,1895,264); Fig. 9: 1-3 - Fiala (n. 43), 4 - Radimsky (n. 44), 5 -Fiala (n. 37), 6 - Tezak Gregl (n.44); Fig. 10: 1 - Spajic (n.46), 2-7Majnaric-Pandtic T. 25.2, 25.1,4.1,3.5,25.7,9.1 (n. 3);Fig. 12: 1-PJZ(T. 57.1), 2 - Popovic (n. 51), 3, 5 (n. 20),4 (n.62), 6 - Jacanovic(n. 61), 7, 8,10-12 - PJZ (n. 59), 9 (n.57),13-14 Todorovic (n. 58),15 - PJZ (n. 67),16 - Marie T. 3.27 (n. 12), 17 - Fiala (WMBH 4,1896,16. cf.n.69),18 - Truhelka (WMBH 9,1904,145),19 - PJZ (T.53.26),20 - Radimsky (n. 65),21,23Truhelka (WMBH 9,1904,145,T. 81.9),22 - Radimsky (WMBH 3,1895,90);Fig. 13: 1- Todorovic(n. 74),2- Marie (n. 78),3 - Spajic (n. 75), 4 - Benac-Covic (n. 68), 5- (n.77), 6 - (n. 20), 7 - Covic (Inv. arch., 1961, Y30), 8 - Majnaric-Pandzic (n. 79), 9-10 Truhelka (WMBH 9, 1904, T. 81.11, 45.4),Marie T. 1.20 (n. 2); Fig. 15: 1-2 after Montelius, 3,5 - PJZ (T. 29.14,16),4,6-7Truhelka (WMBH 9, 1904, T. 44.9, 47.29,41.2), 8 - Fiala(n. 87),9 - Marie (n. 87)

Translated byStoia BABIC

UDK 903.25(497)"6387":739.03 l.l8(497)