Roman versus barbarian identity the phenomenology of acculturation. The case of Roman Dacia and the adjacent barbarian world Problems

Transcription

1 Roman versus barbarian identity the phenomenology of acculturation. The case of Roman Dacia and the adjacent barbarian world Problems At the moment there is no monographic study on the acculturation and the phenomenology of acculturation on the both sides of the Roman Empire border in Dacia. On the same line, there is not even a complex study on the impact of Roman civilization upon the barbarians from Middle and Lower Danube. For the period of pre-roman Dacia the book by I. Glodariu (1974) on the trade of Dacia with the Roman and Hellenistic world is the only one available. Despite a large quantity of archaeological and material evidence the analyse of remained at a very basic level, limited to scarcely published material with no analyse of what one can see from the dry description of archaeological evidence. These are the cases of work by Al. V. Matei, I. Stanciu, Vestigii din epoca romană (sec. II-IV) în spaţiul nord-vestic al României (2000), and the few studies by V. Bârcă, L. Oţa, V. Sîrbu. Some basic approaches on the political-military connection between the Roman Dacia and the barbarians around the border were tried by V. Lica and C. Opreanu but based on old bibliography and historiography. Therefore the understanding of the acculturation phenomenology on the areas on both sides of the Roman frontiers in Dacia are still absent. Since 1992 a research project Corpus der römischen Funde im europäischen Barbaricum is coordinated by the Römisch-Germanische Kommission (RGK) from Frankfurt am Main. Two members of the present research project (S. Cociş, C. Găzdac) have been trained in that international project in order to record the Roman artefacts on the barbarian territories according to the new trends in this field of research - a very important advantage in order to set up this research project to the very high European standards. In order to figure out general and specific patterns of acculturation and phenomenology process the territory under study is one that nowadays includes parts of Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, and Romania. A territory that in the research period of 2 nd -4 th centuries AD was one occupied by Roman Empire the central and south part of Romania (Dacia) and many various barbarian communities around the border of Dacia. Therefore the approach of this research project is justified as the archaeological evidence from both Roman and barbarian worlds can be seen know in a true light according to the new trends of cognitive archaeology and the study of acculturations on chronological segments and various communities. At the same time, this research project will also have to clear out topics that were, and still are, under the political inference of the communist regimes within the ethnical aspects of origin s of different nations on the territory under study (e.g. the previous historiography proving hard that some archaeological evidence HAD to be associated with certain ethnical groups at certain dates). The ancient literary sources mentioned very often how important were the relations of the Empire in peace time or wartime with the neighbours. Thus, the present research project is also focusing on the center-periphery connections together with the acculturation process. On the same line of the geo-politic aspects this project is going to offer paradigms for the present political framework. The nowadays European economic and cultural models is also based on a good economic and cultural collaboration with the states at the border of European Union, and this is also an excellent argument why such topics are well-received in the western countries fields of research. 1

2 The areas under study in this project are the key paths towards Central and South-East Europe, which is in fact a reality coming from the Ancient period, a contact zone between western civilizations and the incoming populations. Therefore the project is trying to bring a new vision on how we should regard the dynamics of living on/at the frontiers of the Roman Empire and how much of barbarian life was left within the communities at the border with Dacia after decades of staying in contact with the Romans. How much the Romans imported from barbarians, as the trade is guided by what the client want to buy. In this respect, owing to the new technologies, the project will also focus on the material content (non-destructive methods available today) in order to have a better picture on how much genuine products were exported in Barbaricum in comparison to the counterfeited artefacts. The same aspect will be applied to the barbarian products found in roman Dacia. On the same line this project will seek to point out if there was a transfer of technology from superior Roman one towards the barbarians but a vice-versa process is not totally excluded either. The extension of the Roman frontiers, the incorporation into the Empire of new territories led to strong transformations of cultural, economic and political mentalities of the former inhabitants. It has been demonstrated (e.g. territories of Britain and Germany) that also beyond the border the Roman influence upon the acculturation phenomenology of barbarian communities. Furthermore it was established different acculturation areas near the border that depending on various factors the acculturation was more or less intense. The same approach should be applied within this research project especially that here we have a special case the only Roman province across the Danube and a large number of barbarian communities displayed along the Roman border but also on inland depth. One new aspect that this project will focus on is to analyse both literary and archaeological evidence about the military presence on the frontier as one of the important factors in the acculturation process. As it has been suggested for other parts of the Roman Empire, the army was not just an important instrument to defend and conquer territory but also a liaison institution between the Empire and barbarians, acting for both sides to acquire better products in a secure environment. Complementary to the above mentioned aspect the trade between the Roman Empire and barbarians has played its important part. The barbarian economy seemed to have organised for the needs of the Roman army (horses, cattle, pigs, etc.). On the other hand, the Roman products (metal vessels, pottery, jewellery, glass) were so much requested by barbarians that literary ancient sources mentioned what one would call today an embargo policy of the Roman state. Therefore, the present research project will be an exhaustive approach combining archaeological, numismatic, literary and technical data in order to go further than simply mentioning artefacts presenting the meaning of phenomenology of acculturation on both sides of the Roman border in Dacia. At the same time in order to point out general and specific patterns of the phenomena mentioned above a comparative analysis with other already researched areas will be also included in this project. At the same time apart from the scientific approach the project will also come with educational part by familiarising the public with the daily life on the border of Roman Dacia through exhibition, 3D virtual reconstructions. Also a set of solutions for the preservation of the archaeological evidence involved in this project will be suggested. During the three years of this project the human resource will be involved in all the activities in order to receive a good training and practice in the field of research, preservation, material analyses and publication of results. Objectives 2

3 The present research project will follow in parallel two main goals. On one side, the phenomenology of acculturation due to the close vicinity of the Roman Empire upon Barbarian mentalities and their way of living, as well as the feedback returned by the barbarians to communities on the border of the Roman Empire, in our case the territory of the province of Dacia. In fact, we intend to analyse the level of interaction between two different entities and if we can speak about one way of acculturation or a two ways phenomenon. The starting point is a under debating aspect of integrating the scientific research within an interinstitutional and multidisciplinary framework together with the education of the public regarding the care for national heritage through learning that the societies could learned from each other even in the ancient times. The objectives of the project are: Scientific: 1. The stage of civilization of barbarians at the time of contact with the Roman Empire. 2. Mapping of trade routes and commercial centers together with the trade interactional areas between the Roman Empire and its neighbors after the establishment of the province of Dacia. 3. The gathering of archaeological data and literary sources in order to corroborate the political and military events and the finding of artefacts in Dacia and the adjacent areas 4. Based on the archaeological traces to establish the role played by Roman Dacia in the trade with the Quadi, the Marcomanni, the Vandals, the Iazyges, the Free Dacians, the Roxolans, the Alans, and the Goths. 5. To establish whether the trade runs in a higher dynamic towards the Barbaricum, as it is believed at the moment, or it is the other way round or it does not make any difference. 6. Identifying the signs and the level of acculturation within the funerary contexts. The hints offered by the funerary inventory (artefacts and coins) as changes in the mentality on the afterlife of the communities on both sides of the Roman frontier. 7. To understand the phenomenology of acculturation and the level of acculturation we will analyse the artefacts as imports and local production within the context of discovery on both Barbaricum and the territory of Roman Dacia. 9. To point out the presence of artefacts produced in Dacia and which one have become the prototypes used in barbarian workshops, as well as barbarian artefacts retrieved from the territory of Dacia, all marks of the acculturation process. 10. The analyse of literary/epigraphic sources in order to identify as many as possible information on those events that may have led to the spread of acculturation process. 11. Taking non-destructive material analyses following the latest technology in this field in order to establish the source of provenance of material, the technology involved to produce the artefacts, in order to understand the trade of genuine items and the production of copies. 12. To establish general and specific patterns of monetary economy within the province and the barbarian communities at the border with Roman Dacia. 13. To point out the changes of individual and collective mentalities through the association of Roman coinage with other artefacts in funerary context both within the Roman province of Dacia (e.g. Daco- Romans, Illyrians - miners) and outside the province (e.g. Free Dacians, Carps, Sarmatians, Germanics). 14. To understand the level of acculturation through the use of Roman coinage within the barbarian communities: money, amulet, sign of prestigious statute, precious metal, ornamental item, fee for passing into the afterlife. 15. To establish whether there is a connection between the augmentation of acculturation on different chronological segments following the incoming of new barbarous communities from the East and North of Europe at the borders of Dacia. 3

4 Educational: 16. the education of public by presenting the results in attractive way (exhibitions, leaflets, web site); 17. to promote the importance and understanding of the daily life of ancient communities in schools and universities in order to familiarize the young generation with the value of national heritage and its protection; Human resource: 18. to attract human resources through the training of PhD candidates at all the levels involved by this research project. Visibility: 19. to present the preliminary and final results within academic events in the country and abroad; 20. to integrate the results within other international projects; 21. the distribution of results through the published volumes in prestigious libraries from the UE and OCDE; 22. to allow access to the new information via: a) web site of the project; b) online database ftp network protocol. Originality and novelty The research project will gather a large quantity of information that will be summarized at micro- and macro-areas. The information will be organized based on typology and functional criteria in order to extract general and specific patterns on acculturation phenomenology of both main sides involved: the Roman Empire and barbarians. During the three year project we will establish collaborations with prestigious scholars in our field of research from abroad universities: Oxford (Prof. Howgego Christopher), Newcastle (Prof. Ian Haynes), Neijmegen (Prof. Olivier Hekster), Vienna (Prof. Franziska Beutler), archaeological Park Carnuntum Austria (Director Franz Humer, Frankfurt am Main (Dr. David Wigg). All of them have already agreed to act as volunteer advisers and collaborators to this project. All the evidence will be stored on an online database set up according with the aims of this project and using a ftp network protocol in order to allow the members of the research team to access the database from any place with net access. I n premiere for such a subject, all the material analyses will be carried out using only the most recent non-destructive methods (e.g. JSM-5600 LV(JEOL). This project is a premiere of the profile of its kind in Romania as it will come with a wide perspective on the historical development of a large area of the central and south-eastern part of Europe, as well as it will provide both scholars and the public with general and specific social, economic and cultural models of two main entities that at the first sight we were used to see them only as enemies. At the same time the novelty of this project is also provided by the fact that the archaeological evidence will be analyzed from anthropological and sociological angles that nowadays is regarded by the scientific international community as a complementary approach of archaeology and ancient history. Impact The research taken during the period when the project will be in progress will come out with a large database of information covering in detail an area running from local to regional from 2 nd century to the 4 th century AD. The gathering and storing of monuments and artefacts information in a compatible online database intends to be a first step towards the integration of our vestiges into the universal heritage database and an useful instrument for the future international project such as The Frontiers of the Roman Empire and Corpus der römischen Funde im europäischen Barbaricum. The success of this project will generate a significant impact at both national and international level as it will reveal various aspects of acculturation phenomenology with their common and specific patterns as in other areas of Europe. The professional experienced achieved by the members of the research team doubled by the results of this research will also help the local and central authorities by bringing new ideas for projects 4

5 to protect national heritage and to increase the documentation on the National Archaeological Record (either new entries or detailed information on old ones). The mapping and the GIS and the online database will be a great support to have a good evidence on the patrimony for the use of scholars, authorities, as well as the public. The high rate of the impact will also be provided by the interdisciplinary approach of Romanobarbarian vestiges on the barbarian territories around Dacia, as well as those on the territory of the Roman province in the frontier area the acculturation areas. The impact factor will be also combined with finality matters of this project such as: a) to attract human resources through the training of PhD candidates at all the levels involved by this research project; b) the presentation of preliminary and final results at academic events in the country and abroad to take into account the feedback provided by such enterprises; c) the publication of results on 3 monographic volumes and 6 studies on international languages on the topics of this research project. The publications will be submitted to accredited publishing houses from country or abroad while the studies in the journals indexed ISI or ERIH; d) the education of public by organizing an inter-active exhibition with the artefacts discovered and a 3D environment of reconstructions; in addition leaflets in printing and electronic versions will be made available for the public together with the web site dedicated to the exhibition; e) to promote the importance and understanding of the daily life of ancient communities in schools and universities, thus, the young generation will be familiarised about the value of national heritage; f) to organise an international conference on acculturation on the border of the Roman Empire in order to present the results and receive a feedback; followed by the publication of the proceedings of this conference; g) to integrate the results within other international projects such as the Corpus der römischen Funde im europäischen Barbaricum ; g) the distribution of results through the published volumes in at least 40 libraries of the UE and OCDE; h) the access to the database and results, including the stages of research via: 1) web site of the project; 2 online database ftp network protocol. Methodology In order to fulfill the aims forwarded by the members of the research team the project will be carried out on several stages according to the objectives/aims and the time schedule using a methodology that will use and integrate the latest methods in this field of research: Stage I (Objectives 1-4, 18, 22; 4 months (September December 2013) 1. The evaluation and electronic collection (DataAcess, CorelX6, Photoshop CS 5, Foxit Phantom) of information from bibliography, cartography, archives for the areas under study archives; 2. Creating an editable database (DataAcess, Excel 2010, FileMaker) to include the relevant information on archaeological sites, complexes, artefacts, maps, drawings and photos. The database will be inter-active to allow association of sites and their artefacts. The interface will be bi-lingual with online access that will allow the members to introduce and edit the information from any place with net access; 3. Insert data collection into a Geographic Information System (GIS) to create an archive that can be later increase by any other researcher; 4. Insert data collection into a Geographic Information System (GIS) in order to create an archive that can be later even more enlarged. Stage II (Objectives: 1-15, 18, 22; 4 months (January-April 2014) 1. The analyse of artefacts and involved in the development of internal and external daily life of the barbarian communities at the border of Roman Dacia; 2. The electronic collection and inserting in a database of all literary, archaeological and numismatic evidence regarding the connections between Roman Dacia and the barbarian communities on the adjacent territories; 3. The comparative statistics (FileMaker X7) of chronological and historical frameworks for the acculturation phenomenology 5

6 process and their corroboration with other similar areas in Europe; 4. Serial registration of chronology and typology (Word/Excel 2010) of Roman artefacts within the barbarian environment; 6. Nondestructive material analyses and the typology of artefacts coming from Roman Dacia and traded within barbarian communities (JSM-5600 LV(JEOL). Stage III: Objectives 1-15, 18, 22; 8 months (May-December 2014) 1. The descriptive, comparative, statistic and electronic collection via Data Access collection of numismatic evidence coming from civilian and military sites from the Roman province of Dacia; 2. The descriptive, statistic and electronic of numismatic evidence from contexts belonging to the barbarian communities surrounding the province of Dacia; 3. The creation of statistic data and the matrices of inter-relation coinage other artefacts. (FileMaker); 4. Comparative analysis (Clusters) to find out the role played by the Roman coin within the trade process between Romans and barbarians; between Dacia and Barbaricum; 5. Comparative analysis (Clusters) to find out the meaning/functionality of Roman products in Barbaricum and the barbarian products arriving in Dacia. Stage IV: Objectives 6-12, 18, 22; 7 months (January-July 2015) 1. The analyses of artefacts from typological point of view following the new trends on the international level in this field of research (CorelX6, Photoshop CS5, X-Clusters, AG-Diagrams. 2. Archaeometric measurements (JSM-5600 LV(JEOL), (ultrasonic devices), in order to combine the results and, thus, to establish the impact on acculturation process on both side of the Roman frontier at certain chronological segments, ethno- and geographic areas. Stage V: Objectives: 12-15; 16-17; 18; 19-22; 4 months (August-November 2015) 1. Inter-active mapping (GIS, ArcGIS) of all data to establish the specific patterns of habitat among the barbarian communities depending on the distance from the Roman border of Dacia; 2. The collection and summarizing all the data in order to map the acculturation areas and even the intensity of it (Data Access, FileMaker); 3. The preliminary phase of presenting results at academic events in order to have an efficient feedback for the final results (PowerPoints, ArcGIS); 4. The synthesis of scientific data and the publication of results; 5. The public presentation and the promotion of the results: exhibition, advertising (leaflets, 3D presentations) in museum and schools and via the web page of the project. In accordance with the aims/objectives of this project and following the above-mentioned methodology the scheduled work plan is as follows: 1. The barbarian world and its people before and after the Roman conquest of Dacia: 1a. The state of development of barbarian society (clans, tribes, the model of social prestige, the economy of barbarians); 1b. The archaeology of barbarian world around Dacia (settlements, necropolises, artefacts, workshops, clothing and military equipment). 4 months 2. The dynamics and the chronology of the barbarian areas near the province of Dacia: 2a. The part played by Roman Dacia in the development of geo-political, economic and social matters of the populations and ethnic groups at the borders of Roman Dacia; 2b. The development of the acculturation level on the both sides of the Roman frontier of Dacia and the comparison with other similar areas from Roman Europe. 4 months 3. The evolution of inhabitation of the barbarian communities before and after the contact with Roman Dacia; 3a. The incoming, settling down or passing of new barbarians at the Roman frontiers of Dacia and the impact of military events upon the acculturation level and direction on the areas outside the Roman frontier as well as within the province of Dacia. 3 months 4. The economic connections of the Roman Empire with the barbarians at the borders of Dacia; 4a. The paths of spreading each other civilization and culture on both sides of the border of Dacia; 4b. The economic and commercial interaction zones; 4c. The Roman imports from barbarian world; 4d. To identify the Roman products that led to the opening of barbarian workshops for faking; 4e. The presence 6

7 of Roman craftsmen on the barbarian territories and the transfer of technology; 4f. The barbarian products from Dacia and the identification of their provenance area; 4g. The impact of the Roman economy upon the barbarian habitation and the dynamics of daily life in the areas around Dacia. 5 months 5. The meaning of Roman coinage within the barbarian environment (settlements, graves); 5a. The presence (if so, the level of it) or absence of a monetary economy within barbarian society; 5b. To establish the general and specific patterns of coin circulation on the meaning of coin and the distribution of it on the barbarian areas; 5c. How did the barbarians regard the Roman coins: money, amulet, symbol of social statute, precious metal, decoration, fee for the passing in the afterlife; 5d. To identify changes at the level of individual or group mentality through the association of coins and artefacts in funerary context in barbarian and Roman graves. 5 months 6. The evolution of political, military and economic relations between the Roman Empire and the barbarian world and the phenomenology of integration/transformation (socio-economic transformations; population movement; acculturation). 6 months 7. To point out impact factors of acculturation either in one direction or both. - 3 months C4.(3) The way this research project was thought and designed took in consideration all potential risk factors (from scientific aspects to the accessibility options to material). Thus, the whole research is being already insured to that those factors have been avoided while the large previous experience gained by most of the team members will be a very useful instrument to carry out the present research to full achievements of the objectives mentioned above. 7