Papers by Tudor Mandache
Sava, V., Gogâltan, F. (eds), Epoca Bronzului de-o parte și de alta a Carpaților. Studii în onoarea lui Tudor Soroceanu / The Bronze Age on both sides of the Carpathians. Studies in Honor of Tudor Soroceanu at 80 Years, 2024
During the archaeological excavations conducted on the site from Vân�?tori in 2019, among other fi... more During the archaeological excavations conducted on the site from Vân�?tori in 2019, among other finds, there was also a small dagger, characterised by a blade with parallel cutting edges and midrib. The item presents good analogies, especially in contexts attributed to the Bilozerka culture, spread in the Budjak steppe and on the Lower Dniepr, where not only finished objects but also moulds are to be found. In general, such daggers, included by Valentin Dergačev in the Kardašinka variant of the Lobojkovka type, have a length between 10 and 14 cm and a maximum width of 1.5-2.5 cm, being made of copper or alloys with a high percentage of copper (over 90%).
These daggers are considered a creation of the Bilozerka culture, being dated loosely to the entire evolution of this culture (12th – 10thcenturies BC). The14C dating from the context excavated at Vân�?tori (RoAMS-2130.46: 2791±33), as well as the association of the mould from the Lower Dniepr with late items, attributed by Vadim Bočkarev especially to the Zavadovka cultural group, could indicate for the Kardašinka type daggers a chronological framework situated during the late phase of the Bilozerka culture.
RAASI, 2023
The Barboși archaeological site represents an interesting Roman settlement in the Lower Danube ar... more The Barboși archaeological site represents an interesting Roman settlement in the Lower Danube area. As such, the preventive archaeological excavations undertaken in 2020 at the point called Metalhard offered the possibility to research and better understand the ancient necropolis of the site. A single dig unit S1 (Surface #1) was excavated, and research led to the unearthing of 22 graves, two funerary enclosures, and a large Roman defensive ditch. Two of the inhumation graves, which were probably robbed in ancient times, contained three unique pieces of jewellery. First, grave Cx. 1223 revealed a pair of gold earrings with cameos that have engraved the head of a feminine figure identified as a Gorgon. Also, grave Cx. 1211 contained, besides two fragmentary leather shoe soles, a gold finger ring with a cameo of a male persona, the image of the god Hermes. Apart from being a series of precious offerings for the dead, they represent the care of the safe and protected passage towards the afterlife.
Characteristic X-ray study over a hoard of bracelets from Vân�?tori
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 2023
The article is dedicated to the characteristic X-ray analysis of a hoard composed of eight bracel... more The article is dedicated to the characteristic X-ray analysis of a hoard composed of eight bracelets discovered in an Early Iron Age context at the Vân�?tori site. In order to obtain a complete view over the bracelets, Particle Induced X-ray Emission and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence tests were performed. The goal was to obtain the main composing elements as well as trace elements in an effort to identify the type of alloy.
Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica, 2021
This paper presents the preliminary study of a cemetery, dated between the second half of the XVI... more This paper presents the preliminary study of a cemetery, dated between the second half of the XVIth century and the beginning of the XVIIth century, uncovered in the northern part of the Vân�?tori-La Jolic�? archaeological site area. The site was first excavated in 1972-1974 by archaeologists M. Florescu and M. Nicu, when, among other discoveries, they managed to identify a previously unknown “feudal” necropolis. Unfortunately, none of these findings have ever been rigorously published, only mentioned. The present article strives to continue the effort of publishing inedited materials and archaeological contexts that are part of the new excavations carried out in the Vân�?tori-La Jolic�? dig site which refer, at this time, to the Late Mediaeval/premodern period.
Danubius, 2020
In 2020, researchers from “Paul P�?lt�?nea” History Museum of Galați and the “Lower Danube Museum” ... more In 2020, researchers from “Paul P�?lt�?nea” History Museum of Galați and the “Lower Danube Museum” of C�?l�?rași carried out an archaeological preventive research in the area of Tirighina tumular necropolis, where a private company was developing a warehouse. The imminence of a potential disruption of the archaeological strata by the construction led to the excavation of a total area of 1960 m2, in a single dig unit called S1 (Surface 1). During the archaeological investigations, we were able to identify a part of the 2nd-3rd century Roman necropolis, a defensive ditch which protected the Roman fort from Barboși and a series of earth works from the First World War.
Danubius, 2020
In 2020, members of “Paul P�?lt�?nea” History Museum of Galați carried out a series of preventive a... more In 2020, members of “Paul P�?lt�?nea” History Museum of Galați carried out a series of preventive archaeological explorations in the area outside the Tirighina-B�?rboși Roman camp. The first preventive archaeological research was organized at the request of S.C. SENTOSA IMPEX S.R.L., which intends to build two storage facilities on a plot of land located within the Roman necropolis, on the Tirighina plateau. The research was undertaken by opening five excavation areas: a main section, SM (78m/1.20m) and four digging units, Cas. 1-4, with sizes of 17m/16m. Archaeological excavations have highlighted, for the Roman funerary area, a total of 12 graves, eight of inhumation and four of cremation and two burial sites separated by ditches. In addition, dating from the Roman period, the starting point of a possible defensive ditch of the castrum was identified. Finally, a series of defensive structures from the First World War were discovered. The second preventive archaeological research carried out in 2020 on the Tirighina plateau was organized 200 m northwest of the ruins of the Roman camp. The investigation was commenced at the request of S.C. DEMCAR 2000 S.R.L., which intended to build a production facility. Seven excavation areas: two main sections, SD1 (108m / 6m), SD2 (108 / 4m) and five digging units, SD3, SD4, SD5, SD6 (20 / 20m), SD7 (24m / 20m), were opened in order to undertake the archaeological research. Out of the five archaeological complexes identified in the excavation, three are tombs (one of cremation and two of inhumation), and the other two are ditches: one used for delimiting a funerary enclosure and the other used as a defensive ditch for the B�?rboși Roman camp.
Danubius, 2019
-The preventive archaeological research undertaken at the Negrilești site, Galați county, was car... more -The preventive archaeological research undertaken at the Negrilești site, Galați county, was carried as a result of the imminence of potential disruption of the archaeological strata by the construction of a new kindergarten in the B4-B5 topographic sector (The Schoolyard) of the archaeological site. The archaeological research, which began in 2018, led to the excavation of a total area of 700 square meters, divided into 16 areas, SG1-SG16, of various dimensions. 97 archaeological complexes dating from the Bronze Age (dwellings, sewage pits, pottery kilns), the 4 th century AD (dwellings, pits, fire installations), the 9 th-10 th centuries (five dwellings, four stonemason's hearths), as well as Modern Era structures, have been discovered. The research also uncovered 34 funeral complexes, one from the 4 th century AD, two from the 9 th-10 th century and 31 belonging to the medieval necropolis of the village of Negrilești, dating from the 16 th-17 th centuries.
Danubius, 2019
In 2019, the researchers of "Paul P�?lt�?nea" History Museum of Galați carried an archaeological su... more In 2019, the researchers of "Paul P�?lt�?nea" History Museum of Galați carried an archaeological surveillance work in an area where a private investition was going on, in Munteni village, Galați county. Within the working area, at the point Water Pump, a higher, not flood-prone spot was noticed. It looked similar to a mound. On this spot, archaeological traces dating back to the Eneolithic Period and to the 4th century A.D. were evinced.
The archaeological site Negrileşti-School Yard is an important landmark
for the archeology of Sou... more The archaeological site Negrileşti-School Yard is an important landmark
for the archeology of Southeastern Moldova, as it was possible to highlight a
high intensity of habitation in this area situated in the Basin of Bârlad River,
which extends from the early Neolithic period to the contemporary era.
The archaeological research carried out in the year 2017 aimed to clear
an area of the site, on the south side of the school, of any archaeological
materials, where the City Hall of Negrilești intends to build a warehouse. Also, it
was necessary to check the state of the site and the extent to which the
archaeological complexes were affected by unauthorized interventions.
Four excavation surfaces, units of different sizes, located in the B7
“School Yard” topographic sector (Sp.1-2/ 2017) and C3 “Pine” topographic
Sector (Cas.1-2 / 2017). In the four units researched in the year 2017, we have
unearthed archaeological complexes dated from the early Neolithic and from
the Bronze Age until the modern period. Of the 38 arcaeological complexes, 18
are pits, six are fire installations, four dwellings, a burial tomb and nine
agglomerations of archaeological materials.
The perimeter of the historical monument “St. Nicholas” Church is
located in the old town of Gala... more The perimeter of the historical monument “St. Nicholas” Church is
located in the old town of Galaţi, an area that has undergone many
interventions in modern and contemporary times. St. Nicholas Monastery was
situated on the space occupied in present times by the Deanery of Galaţi and
“St. Nicholas” Church in the Late Middle Ages, as early as the 17th century.
Various public works have revealed traces of the necropolis, around the church,
that functioned as a burial place in Late Medieval and Modern times.
In 2013, a preventive archaeological research was carried out on the
northern side of “St. Nicholas” Church. The research led to the discovery of 15
graves (burials, reburials, disturbed tombs) and a medieval dwelling with a
household oven dug directly into the yellow earth.
In 2017, seven digging units were opened on the northern side of the
Deanery building, which allowed the research of a large part of the “St.
Nicholas” Church necropolis. The archaeological dig revealed 47 tombs, 22
reburials, two dwellings, two pits, five hearths and a potter’s furnace, dating
from the 17th to the 20th century.
The existence of a potter’s furnace, the remains of the two dwellings
and of the hearths, dating from the 17th-18th centuries, prove the existence of
medieval habitation, that precedes the late medieval necropolis and the
building of church from the time of Mihai Racoviț�?.
ArheoVest, Nr. V: In Honorem Doina Benea, Interdisciplinaritate în Arheologie și Istorie, Timişoara, 25 noiembrie 2017, Asociația “ArheoVest” Timișoara, 2017
ArheoVest V, 2, 2017, In honorem Doina Benea, Timisoara, JATEPress, 2017, 2017
Analele �?tiințifice ale Universit�?ții „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași (Serie Nou�?). Istorie, Dec 2013
The development of the bow has held a central position in the evolution of military technology. I... more The development of the bow has held a central position in the evolution of military technology. It is, by far, the most frequently represented weapon in the archaeological record and (unlike other weapons) it tends to occur in datable contexts on excavated sites. This situation is largely accidental because being easy to manufacture and cheap made them easily replaceable if broken or lost. The fortunate result is that a more comprehensive and reliable archaeological study is possible for the bow and arrow than for any other medieval military findings. The general intention of this paper is to develop a basic typology for the study of medieval arrowheads in 14th-15th centuries Moldavia. The classification is obtained with the help of statistical analysis through the comparison of quantitative and functional characteristics.
Keywords: medieval weapons, bow, arrowhead, typology, Moldavia.
Dialogi Europaei, Nr. 5, 2011
Archaeological Reports by Tudor Mandache
Cronica Cercet�?rilor Arheologice. Campania 2023, 2024
The archaeological excavations in 2023 aimed to identify a possible necropolis of the Stoicani ty... more The archaeological excavations in 2023 aimed to identify a possible necropolis of the Stoicani type whose existence was suggested by the discovery in 2019 of a double burial with inventory items specific to the end of the 9th century BC (Cx 4101). Although we did not identify any funerary structures in the investigated area, our documentation was enriched in terms of the knowledge of the inhabited area.
Cronica Cercet�?rilor Arheologice, 2022
hal�? de producție cu dimensiunile de 104 m/26 m pe un teren situat în cadrul Sitului arheologic d... more hal�? de producție cu dimensiunile de 104 m/26 m pe un teren situat în cadrul Sitului arheologic de la B�?rboși-Galați, pe platoul Tirighina-Galați, la 200 m NV de urmele castrului roman de pe promontoriul Tirighina. Hala a fost construit�? dup�? ce a fost efectuat�? o cercetare arheologic�? preventiv�? și s-a obținut desc�?rcarea de sarcin�? arheologic�?. Pentru funcționarea halei investitorul urmeaz�? a o racorda la sistemul energetic. În acest scop se va construi un punct de transformare și vor fi realizate șanțuri pentru viitorele trasee electrice. Obiectivul investițional ce va fi realizat "Racordarea la rețeaua electric�? a locului de consum permanent Hal�? Producție Module Metalice-Containere și Împrejmuire", amplasament str. Br�?ilei, nr. 233, mun. Galați, jud. Galați, Tarlaua 201, Parcela 4 Tirighina, Galați se afl�? în zona sitului arheologic de la B�?rboși-Galați (cod LMI GL-l-s-A-02971). Mențion�?m c�? în anii 2017-2020, Muzeul de Istorie "Paul P�?lt�?nea" din Galați a a efectuat cercet�?ri preventive în zona castrului roman și în punctele "RINTCOS" "DOLADELA" și "DEMCAR", situate la 200-400 m vest de fortificația roman�?, precum și la nord de aceasta în punctele "SENTOSA", "METALHARD". La solicitarea firmei investitoare S.C. DEMCAR 2000 S.R.L. de a obține degrevare de sarcin�? arheologic�? pentru suprafața pe care se va realiza obiectivul investițional, Muzeul de Istorie "Paul P�?lt�?nea" din Galați a efectuat o cercetare arheologic�? preventiv�? în baza autorizației 256/11.05.2021, printr-un colectiv format din arheologii Ilie Costel, Adamescu Adrian Ionuț și Mandache Tudor. Cercetarea a fost realizat�? prin deschiderea a deschiderea a cinci suprafeţe de s�?p�?tur�?, trei casete SD8 (7,50 m/4,50 m), SD9 (2 m/2 m), SD10 (2 m/2 m) și dou�? secțiuni SD11(32 m/1 m), SD12 (23 m/1 m), cu martori de 0,5 m între ele. Solul vegetal și depunerile contemporane au fost excavate cu ajutorul unui utilaj dup�? care s-a trecut la s�?parea manual�? a suprafețelor. Unit�?ți de s�?p�?tur�? Caseta SD8, orientat�? N-S, a fost trasat�? în colțul de VSV a parcelei, la 34 m SV de colțul sud-vestic al halei de producție. Suprafața a fost deschis�? pentru a evalua arheologic zona pe care urmeaz�? a se amplasa un transformator electric. În urma cercet�?rii nu au fost sesizate
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Papers by Tudor Mandache
These daggers are considered a creation of the Bilozerka culture, being dated loosely to the entire evolution of this culture (12th – 10thcenturies BC). The14C dating from the context excavated at Vân�?tori (RoAMS-2130.46: 2791±33), as well as the association of the mould from the Lower Dniepr with late items, attributed by Vadim Bočkarev especially to the Zavadovka cultural group, could indicate for the Kardašinka type daggers a chronological framework situated during the late phase of the Bilozerka culture.
for the archeology of Southeastern Moldova, as it was possible to highlight a
high intensity of habitation in this area situated in the Basin of Bârlad River,
which extends from the early Neolithic period to the contemporary era.
The archaeological research carried out in the year 2017 aimed to clear
an area of the site, on the south side of the school, of any archaeological
materials, where the City Hall of Negrilești intends to build a warehouse. Also, it
was necessary to check the state of the site and the extent to which the
archaeological complexes were affected by unauthorized interventions.
Four excavation surfaces, units of different sizes, located in the B7
“School Yard” topographic sector (Sp.1-2/ 2017) and C3 “Pine” topographic
Sector (Cas.1-2 / 2017). In the four units researched in the year 2017, we have
unearthed archaeological complexes dated from the early Neolithic and from
the Bronze Age until the modern period. Of the 38 arcaeological complexes, 18
are pits, six are fire installations, four dwellings, a burial tomb and nine
agglomerations of archaeological materials.
located in the old town of Galaţi, an area that has undergone many
interventions in modern and contemporary times. St. Nicholas Monastery was
situated on the space occupied in present times by the Deanery of Galaţi and
“St. Nicholas” Church in the Late Middle Ages, as early as the 17th century.
Various public works have revealed traces of the necropolis, around the church,
that functioned as a burial place in Late Medieval and Modern times.
In 2013, a preventive archaeological research was carried out on the
northern side of “St. Nicholas” Church. The research led to the discovery of 15
graves (burials, reburials, disturbed tombs) and a medieval dwelling with a
household oven dug directly into the yellow earth.
In 2017, seven digging units were opened on the northern side of the
Deanery building, which allowed the research of a large part of the “St.
Nicholas” Church necropolis. The archaeological dig revealed 47 tombs, 22
reburials, two dwellings, two pits, five hearths and a potter’s furnace, dating
from the 17th to the 20th century.
The existence of a potter’s furnace, the remains of the two dwellings
and of the hearths, dating from the 17th-18th centuries, prove the existence of
medieval habitation, that precedes the late medieval necropolis and the
building of church from the time of Mihai Racoviț�?.
Keywords: medieval weapons, bow, arrowhead, typology, Moldavia.
Archaeological Reports by Tudor Mandache