Sándor Berecki (ed.) Iron Age Communities in the Carpathian Basin. Proceedings of the International Colloquium from Târgu Mures, 9-11 October 2009, Bibliotheca Musei Marisiensis, Seria Archaeologica II, Cluj-Napoca 2010, 428 pages, numerous drawings and black and white or colour pictures in the text

The volume includes articles presented at the international colloquium concerning the Iron Age communities in the Carpathian Basin, organised in the autumn of 2009 by the Mureş County Museum at Târgu Mureş, Romania. These studies brought into discussion a variety of themes regarding different forms of habitation, aspects of funerary ritual, several categories of specific artefacts etc., many being useful for researchers interested in the small finds of the Iron Age.

This is the contents of the volume: M. Guštin, The Eastern Traces on the Slopes of the Eastern Alps. Some Examples of Iron Age Contacts along the Danube and Sava Rivers (p. 9-14); T. I. Tecar, J.-G. Nagy, A Community from the First Iron Age from Gheorghieni- Valea Mare (Cluj County). Preliminary study (p. 15-58); M. Ljuština, The Late Hallstatt Communities in the Serbian Part of the Danube Basin (p. 59-78); R. Scholtz, New Data on the Scythian Age Settlement History of Szabolcs County, Hungary (p. 79-98); H. Pop, I. Bejinariu, Late Hallstatt–Early La Tène Settlement from Porţ-Paliş (com. Marca, Sălaj County, Romania) (p. 99-106); J. Bouzek, The Beginnings of the La Tène Art in Bohemia and the East (p. 107-114); J. V. S. Megaw, M. R. Megaw, A World Turned Upside Down. The Bronze Plaque from Stupava, okr. Malacky (p. 115-126); T. Bader, Ein wiederaufgebautes frühkeltisches Gehoft im Keltenmuseum Hochdorf/Enz (p. 127-148); Z. Czajlik, A. Czövek, P. Csirpán, B. Holl, E. Magyari, S. Szöllősi, L. Rupnik, L. Timár, Archaeological and Palaeoenvironmental Data on Late Iron Age Settlements in South-Eastern Transdanubia (Tolna County) (p. 149-170); M. Hauschild, “Celticised” or “Assimilated”? In Search of Foreign and Indigenous People at the Time of the Celtic Migrations (p. 171-180); J. Németi, The Problem of Hand-Made Pottery from La Tène (Celtic) Contexts in North-Western Romania. A Comparison with Neighbouring Regions – Tisza Valley and Transylvania (p. 181- 216); A. Rustoiu, M. Egri, Danubian Kantharoi – Almost Three Decades Later (p. 217-287); P. C. Ramsl, The La Tène Age Cemetery of Mannersdorf am Leithagebirge, Flur Reinthal Sud, Lower Austria and the Connections to Other Parts of the Middle European Corridor (p. 289-295); M. Dizdar, Kantharoi of Autochthonous – “Pannonian” Origin from the La Tène Culture Cemetery in Zvonimirovo, Croatia (p. 297-308); I. V. Ferencz, L. D. Vaida, Middle La Tène Arrowheads from Transylvania (p. 309-319); K. Tankó, La Tène ceramic Technology and Typology of Settlement Assemblages in Northeast Hungary (3rd-2nd century BC) (p. 321-332); M. Karwowski, Prellenkirchen. Celtic Settlement in the Foreland of the Carpathian Basin (p. 333-348); S. Berecki, D. M. Cioata, An Iron Age Homestead from Sângeorgiu de Mure_, Transylvania (p. 349-282); I. Kelemen, The Archaeozoological Analysis of the Animal Bones from Sângeorgiu de Mure_–Roman-Catholic Cemetery (p. 383-388); G. Florea, Sarmizegetusa Regia. Un Certain Modele Urbain (p. 389-394); C. N. Popa, A New Framework for Approaching Dacian Identity. The Burial Contribution (p. 395-423).

Some of these studies focus on the problems regarding the settlements of the end of the Iron Age, the La Tène period or the Dacian Kingdom, and present different types of archaeological structures and specific inventories, techniques of constructing houses and proposals for their reconstruction, aspects concerning the chronological evolution of some settlements, their cultural and social significance etc., some of these investigations being accompanied by interdisciplinary studies (see for example the articles of Tecar – Nagy, Scholtz, Pop – Bejinariu, Bader, Czailik et al., Karwowski, Berecki – Cioata, Kelemen, Florea).

Other articles explore aspects regarding the funerary domain, especially the practices characterising certain communities from the Carpathian Basin (Ljuština, Popa). Starting from some interdisciplinary investigations (the analysis of strontium isotopes), M. Hauschild proposes a methodology for investigating the problem of identifying the “foreigners” within the indigenous populations during the period of the Celtic migrations. On the other hand, Ferencz and Vaida analyses a less present category of artefacts in funerary contexts from Transylvania: the iron arrow heads.

Some articles bring into discussion different groups of ceramic forms specific to the Carpathian Basin, like several types of hand-made vessels (Németi), local kantharoi (Dizdar) or the Danubian ones, first imitating Hellenistic forms, then displaying a local evolution of the form. The last group of finds also includes kantharoi with anthropomorphic handles, inspired by bronze vessels from the Mediterranean area. In this context are discussed problems concerning the mechanisms of distribution, transfer and adaptation of certain Mediterranean forms, according to the local functional and ideological perspective, within the communities from the Carpathian Basin (Rustoiu, Egri). Within the same framework, K. Tankó discuss several aspects regarding technological problems and the ways in which certain ceramic forms are associated in the La Tène settlements.

M. Guštin presents a series of cultural contacts between the Lower Danube region and populations from the eastern Alpine area, by analysing certain metallic artefacts (harnessing elements, weaponry, clothing accessories). At the same time P. C. Ramsl, analysing a series of finds, like ceramic or bronze vessels, bijoux and clothing accessories etc., from the La Tène cemetery at Mannersdorf (eastern Austria), situated at the intersection of some major routes between western and eastern Europe, and the Adriatic and northern Europe respectively (the well-known Amber Route), demonstrate the role played by this community in the distribution and circulation of certain prestige goods. Within another segment of the colloquium and the volume, J. Bouzek and J.V.S. Megaw – M. R. Megaw bring into discussion aspects concerning the Celtic art in eastern Europe, by discussing a series of representative artefacts from the mentioned region.

Lastly, the excellent editing and typography of this volume, in which the texts are accompanied by numerous drawings and black and white or colour pictures, have to be noted.

Thus the presented volume reflects the main directions of investigation and the state of research concerning major aspects of the Iron Age (mainly of the end of the First Iron Age and of the La Tène period, up to the late Republican period) in the Carpathian Basin. In conclusion the volume is useful for specialists investigating the archaeology of this period and of the mentioned region.

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