A Case of Scabbards With Crossbars Decorated With Three or More S-Figures in Northern Poland Bochnak - Harasim

ARCHAEOLOGIA
BALTICA
PeoPLe
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IN ANCIeNT eUroPe)
II
Klaipda University Press
18
Leidiama pagal projekt Periodini mokslo leidini leidyba,

projekto kodas VP1-3.2-MM-02-V-02-002
II
II
Klaipda, 2012
BALTICA 18
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IN
ARCHAEOLOGIA
KLAIPDA UNIVerSITY
UDK 902/904
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Editorial Board
Editor in Chief
Prof habil. Dr Vladas ulkus (Klaipda University, Lithuania)
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Archaeology, Lithuania)
Editor
Associate Prof Dr Audron Bliujien (Klaipda University, Institute of Baltic Sea region History and
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Prof Dr Claus von Carnap-Bornheim (Zentrum fr Baltische und Skandinavische Archologie,

Stiftung Schleswig-Holsteinische Archologisches Landesmuseen Schlo Gottorf, Schleswig, Germany)
Dr rasa Banyt-rowell (Lithuanian Institute of History, Lithuania)
Dr Anna Bitner-Wrblewska (State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw, Poland)
Dr Agn ivilyt (Lithuanian Institute of History, Lithuania)
Prof Dr Wladyslaw Duczko (Putusk Academy of Humanities, Institute of Anthropology and Archaeology, Poland)
Prof Dr John Hines (Cardiff University, United Kingdom)
Prof Dr rimantas Jankauskas (Vilnius University, Lithuania)
Dr romas Jarockis (Ministry of Culture of the republic of Lithuania)
Prof Dr Andrzej Kola (Torun Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland)
Prof Dr Albinas Kunceviius (Vilnius University, Lithuania)
Prof Dr Marika Mgi (Tallinn University, estonia)
Prof Dr Jrn Staecker (eberhard-Karls Universitt, Institut fr Ur- und Frhgeschichte
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Klaipda University, 2012
Article authors, 2012
Klaipda University Press, 2012
ISSN 1392-5520
Konstantin N. Skvortsov.
In Memory of the Great Scientist Jerzy Okulicz-Kozaryn
I.
7
10
E A R LY M E TA L A G E S O C I E T I E S :
FROM A THEORETICAL ASSESSMENT
T O T H E I R E C O N O M Y, I N T E R R E G I O N A L
C O N TA C T S A N D R I T U A L S
Agn ivilyt. In Search of a Theoretical Assessment

of Bronze Age Society in the Baltic Countries
14
Algirdas Girininkas. The Structure of the Economy

and Society in the Early Bronze Age in Lithuania
28
Immo Heske. Ritual Production, Distribution and

Deposition of Late Bronze Age Hanging Vessels
43
Tomasz Bochnak, Przemysaw Harasim.

Interregional and Multidirectional Contacts of Local Elites:
A Case of Scabbards with Crossbars Decorated
with Three or More S-igures in Northern Poland
59
II.
BALTICA 18
Preface
ARCHAEOLOGIA
CONTENTS
PA R A D E O F S H I E L D S AT T H E C R O S S R O A D S
O F G E R M A N I C C U LT U R E S
Christoph G. Schmidt. Just Recycled?

A New Light on Roman Imports in
Central Germany According to the
Central Litle Farmstead of Frienstedt, Thuringia
86
Katarzyna Czarnecka. A Parade Shield from

the Przeworsk Culture Cemetery in Czersk,
near Warsaw, Poland: An International Sign
of Status in the early roman Period
97
Joan Pinar Gil. A Crossroad of Cultures on

a Mosaic of regions? The early Visigothic
regnum from the perspective of Small Finds
109
Contents
III.
B A LT S O C I E T I E S : A N AT T E M P T
T O P E N E T R AT E T H E M I S T
Maciej Karczewski. On the road to the Other World.

Plants in the Burial Rites of Bogaczewo Culture
(Roman Period, northeast Poland)
126
Olga A. Khomiakova. Sambian-Natangian Culture

Ring Decoration Style as an Example
of Comunication between
Local Elites in the Baltic Region
in the Late Roman Period
147
Konstantin Skvortsov The Formation of

a Sambian-Natangian Culture Patrimonial
Elite in the Roman Period in the Context
of the Amber Trade
167
Rasa Banyt-Rowell, Anna Bitner-Wroblewska, Christine Reich.

Did they Exist? The Question of Elites
in Western Lithuania in the Roman and
Early Migration Periods,
and their Interregional Contacts
192
I V.
M E D I E VA L S O C I E T I E S
Roman A. Shiroukhov. Prussian Graves

in the Sambian Peninsula, with Imports,
Weapons and Horse Harnesses,
from the Tenth to the 13th Century:
The Question of the Warrior Elite
224
Rytis Jonaitis. Civitas Rutenica

in Early Vilnius in the 14th and
15th Centuries. The Socio-Cultural Aspect
256
BOOK REVIEW
Gintautas Zabiela.
Volume II of Aestiorum Hereditas
272
Guidelines for Authors
277
Plates (IVIII)
BALTICA 18
You were my beginning and again I am with you, here,
where I learned the four quarters of the globe.
Below, behind the trees, the Rivers quarter; to the back, behind the buildings,
the quarter of the Forest; to the right, the quarter of the Holy Ford; to the left,
the quarter of the Smithy and the Ferry.
Whenever I wandered, through whatever continents,
my face was always turned to the River.*
ARCHAEOLOGIA
P R E FA C E
Czesaw Miosz
Time never ceases to remind us of its relentless march,

which cannot be stopped and which leaves both pleasant and bitter memories. Sometimes it seems that the
bitter ones prevail ... but it can also be the opposite.
Pleasant memories leave a deeper imprint on man
and society ... or at least that is what we often wish to
believe. The subject of the conference People at the
Crossroads of Space and Time (Footmarks of Societies
in Ancient Europe) led participants to take a look at
society, in search of layers and interlayers, and of signs
of encounters and crossroads. This extremely wide
subject allowed us to see individual people, especially
those whom the march of time has carried to the afterworld, but who in one way or another were connected
with this conference. I am referring to Professor Jerzy
Okulicz-Kozaryn (19312012) and Dr Agnieszka Urbaniak (19752013).
It is well known that interest in a conference is determined by subjects of great relevance, and that this
consequently determines the conferences success. It
is also a well-known fact that interesting thoughts and
useful ideas in research come up in private conversations too. This is what happened when the subject for
the regular conference to be held by archaeologists of
the Institute of Baltic Region History and Archaeology at Klaipda University was being discussed. The
idea to devote the 2011 conference to an analysis of
society came unexpectedly and quite naturally during
a private conversation with Professor Jerzy OkuliczKozaryn and Dr Anna Bitner-Wrblewska. The warm
atmosphere in a Warsaw caf, which was so popular
*
C. Miosz, eteiniuose, Rinktiniai eilraiai. Poezje

wybrane, compiled by Algis Kalda, translated by Tomas
Venclova, Vilnius, 1997, p.361.
among archaeologists, not only encouraged some serious discussions, but, as often happens, it turned the
conversation towards distant and not so distant times.
Anna Bitner-Wrblewska and I were listening to Professor Okulicz-Kozaryn talking about his father and
prewar Vilnius. I cannot recall everything Jerzy Okulicz-Kozaryn said about his links with Lithuania, the
small estate somewhere close to Kernav, his family,
and the Lithuanian words he pronounced so correctly.
However, his Lithuanian miniatures, infused with
pure feeling and a gentle sense of humour by his manner of speaking, can be compared with the writings
of Czesaw Miosz (19112004), that citizen of the
world whose nationality is a Vilnius dweller.1 They
are like the piano pieces played by Jerzy Okulicz-Kozaryn in his childhood, and which might actually have
resounded through the halls of Trakai Castle, or else
they might be merely interwoven memories ... (from
Dr Tomasz Nowakiewiczs letter to the author, with
kind permission to quote in the preface).
As for the subject of the conference, we then agreed
that the communities of different periods of the east
Baltic Sea region had barely been studied. Thanks to
the growing amount of new data obtained during every
season of archaeological excavations, these communities look like a rapidly changing kaleidoscope, combinations of which are in many ways still shrouded
in mystery. Although in our search for a subject and a
deinition of the area we used the east Baltic Sea region
as a starting point, cultural crossroads and interregional contacts always lead researchers into a wider European space. Therefore, I hope that the articles from
1
Miklaevi, I., . Miloas ir Vilnius, eslovas Miloas

ir Lietuva. 2011. Kaunas: Vytauto Didiojo universitetas,
p.47.
AUDRON
BLIUJIEN
Preface
the conference People at the Crossroads of Space and

Time (Footmarks of Societies in Ancient Europe)2
published in volume 18 of Archaeologia Baltica comply with the idea of the godfather of the conference,
Professor Jerzy Okulicz-Kozaryn.
Volume 18 of Archaeologia Baltica presents the second
part of the conference papers, in which the authors discuss communities from the period extending from the
Bronze Age to the towns of the Middle Ages. Most of
the authors look at the development of society through
the material of funerary sites. The articles are grouped
into four chapters according to their subjects. The articles in the irst chapter early Metal Age Societies:
From our Theoretical Assessment to their Economy,
Interregional Contacts and Rituals cover the Bronze
Age to the Early Stone Age.
In her article In Search of a Theoretical Assessment
of Bronze Age Society in the Baltic Countries, Agn
ivilyt writes about the frequent instances of the uncritical application of theoretical models to east Baltic
archaeology without reference to the regions speciic
culture. Thus, the Bronze Age social structure is reconstructed according to a priori formulated precepts. The
article discusses possible negative implications of such
a transference of foreign theories, which leads to the
prejudgement of expected results in regional archaeological studies.
In his article The Structure of the Economy and Society in the Early Bronze Age in Lithuania, Algirdas
Girininkas claims that it is possible to identify two
distinct territorial community groups on the basis of
archaeological, palynological and zooarchaeological
material, and economic and social structures. The irst
one inhabited the micro-region of ventoji in the Baltic
coastal area, whereas the second community inhabited
an inland area around Lake Kretuonas.
In the article Ritual Production, Distribution and Deposition of Late Bronze Age Hanging Vessels, Immo
Heske analyses Nordic Bronze Age hanging vessels
and their cultural function in the Baltic Sea region on
the basis of their distribution and production. In the authors opinion, deposits with hanging vessels indicate
that in some regions the composition of the deposits
and the rites were identical. Consequently, we might
suppose that there used to be extensive contacts, which
are relected in the common rites.
In their article entitled Interregional and Multidirectional Contacts of Local Elites: Scabbards with
Crossbars Decorated with Three or More S-Figures in
Northern Poland, Tomasz Bochnak and Przemysaw
2
The conference was held at Klaipda University from 13

to 15 October 2011.
Harasim discuss connections between Oksywie culture

sepulchral materials, that is, imported items such as
metal scabbards with crossbars decorated with three
or more S-igures. These sheaths were found together
with items imported from La Tne culture and Roman
territories. The authors present a comprehensive analysis of the provenance and distribution of the imported
items, and attempt to deine the origin of the scabbards
and the character of the interaction between Oksywie
culture societies and Celtic cultures.
The second chapter of the conference material in this
volume is entitled Parade Shields at the Crossroads of
Germanic Cultures, and discusses complex Germanic
funeral customs and their relection in various rites.
In the irst article in this chapter, Just recycled? A
New Light on Roman Imports in Central Germany According to the Central Litle Farmstead of Frienstedt,
Thuringia, Christoph G. Schmidt discusses a very interesting monument (in terms of stratigraphy) situated
not far from Frienstedt, Kr. Erfurt, in central Germany,
which consists of a settlement, graves and presumably
a cult site from the Roman Iron Age. Its settlement
started at the end of the irst century AD, and ended
around 400 AD. About 1,500 pieces of bronze show
a distinct connection with the Roman Empire in the
third century, possibly in part due to Germanic soldiers
recruited by the Roman army.
In her article A Parade Shield from the Przeworsk
Culture Cemetery in Czersk, Near Warsaw, Poland: An
International Sign of Status in the Early Roman Period, Katarzyna Czarnecka makes an in-depth analysis
of a unique artefact found in the territory of barbarian
tribes, a fashionable shield boss with rivets and a shield
grip with silver decoration that was found recently
in the Przeworsk culture cemetery in Czersk, in the
Piaseczno district in central Poland. The bronze shield
grip has silvered rivet plates with thimble-headed rivets, decorative iligree studs and openwork decoration.
The techniques that were used to produce the shield
grip are not clear, despite metallographic analysis. The
shield has analogies in Scandinavia and the northern
Elbe area. It was probably a parade shield, an international sign of a warrior elite in the Early Roman Period
in the barbaricum.
The article by Joan Pinar Gil, A Crossroads of Cultures in a Mosaic of regions? The early Visigothic
Regnum from the Perspective of Small Finds, is a
survey of two insuficiently researched aspects of late
ifth-century clothing in southern Gaul and Hispania,
that is, multiculturalism and regionalism. Focusing on
both aspects improves the understanding of a number
of phenomena recorded in funerary contexts.
The article by Maciej Karczewski on the road to the

Other World. Plants in the Burial Rites of Bogaczewo
Culture (Roman Period, Northeast Poland) analyses
macroscopic plant remains and charcoal uncovered in
the ills of grave pits found in Paprotki Kolonia cemetery 1 (Bogaczewo culture) in the Masurian Great
Lakes District. The analysis has shown that plants were
put into the cremation pyre and the graves on purpose,
and that they performed certain functions in funeral
rites. The use of plants in funeral rites was connected
with universal and complex symbolic meanings of
plants. Some plants, especially corn, might have been
put into graves as food. Research into plant remains
allows us to draw conclusions concerning the former
environment of this burial site.
In her article Sambian-Natangian Culture Ring Decoration Style as an Example of Comunication between
Local Elites in the Baltic Region in the Late Roman
Period, Olga A. Khomiakova analyses artefacts ornamented in Ring decoration style that prevail in Sambian-Natangian culture from the early phase of the Late
Roman Period.
In the article by Konstantin Skvortsov The Formation
of a Sambian-Natangian Culture Patrimonial Elite in
the Roman Period in the Context of the Amber Trade,
the author discusses and characterises, in his opinion,
the multilayered social structure of Aestian society
which formed at the turn of the B2/C1C2 periods. In
his opinion, the development of the social structure
of Aestian society and the processes of its stratiication were related to the involvement of the people of
Sambian-Natangian culture in amber trading. Since the
Aestii possessed the largest resources of amber, they
participated extensively in the trade.
In his article Civitas Rutenica in Early Vilnius in the

14th and 15th Centuries. The Socio-Cultural Aspect,
Rytis Jonaitis discusses the Vilnius quarter called
Civitas rutenica that existed in the late 13th and 14th
centuries, and was inhabited by the citys Orthodox
community, and the cemetery discovered in the central
part of Civitas Rutenica. The funeral customs that were
practised at the burial site show the cultural and social
changes in the Orthodox community. Christian burial
rites were practised in the cemetery. Several graves
contained luxury grave goods, mainly jewellery, some
of which was common to the Slavs, while the rest has
local origins.
BALTICA 18
Only two authors work makes up the fourth chapter

Medieval Societies. However, the chapter is very interesting, because it is actually the irst time that burial
practices, questions of the elite, imported items and the
whole diversity of horse burial practices by Prussian
communities from the Late Viking Period to the 13th
century have been discussed in detail (Roman A. Shiroukhov).
ARCHAEOLOGIA
The third chapter in this volume is entitled Balt Societies: An Attempt to Penetrate the Mist, and focuses on
an analysis of the social structure and funeral customs
of communities of the circle of Baltic cultures. The articles in this chapter prove that the social structure of
the circle of Baltic cultures was multifaceted, and had a
number of unique aspects that are still unknown.
As usual, we conclude the publication with a book review. Volume 18 of Archaeologia Baltica presents a
review by Gintautas Zabiela of a recent book on the
subject of archival archaeology, the second volume in
the Aestiorum Hereditas (The Heritage of the Aestii)
series.
Audron Bliujien
Editors Note:
In Volume No 17 of Archaeologia Baltica, the unedited versions of captions to the photographs illustrating the Preface
were published. The editorial staff at Archaeologia Baltica
would like to apologise sincerely to readers for this oversight.
In their article entitled Did they exist? The Question

of Elites in Western Lithuania in the Roman and Early
Migration Periods, and their Interregional Contacts,
rasa Banyt-rowell, Anna Bitner-Wroblewska and
Christine Reich focus their attention on the search for
a Baltic elite. The authors claim that no interregional
status symbols have been recorded in this area, but it is
possible to distinguish local prestige groups of certain
artefacts in the graves of males and females from the
Roman Period.
In memory of the great

scientist Jerzy OkuliczKozaryn
KONSTANTIN N.
SKVORTSOV
I N M e M o rY o F T H e G r e AT S C I e N T I S T J e r Z Y
o K U L I C Z - K o Z A rY N
The patriotic feeling in society is cultivated not only through written and oral literature, but also though historical monuments that stand like silent witnesses of former glory and the suffering of the motherland. These are
not dead ruins: they live on, preserving something of our ancestors that is mysteriously passed down to living
generations. No palaces or houses in the most exquisitely decadent style can tell the stories that these silent ruins
tell the soul.
Nikolay F. okulich-Kazarin ( -)
This quote comes from Nikolay F. Okulich-Kazarin, a man of the same lineage, a famous researcher into the
antique culture of Pskov, who pronounced these words 98 years ago at a meeting of the Pskov Archaeological
Society.
On 15 September 2012, the great European archaeologist Jerzy Okulicz-Kozaryn, a professor of modern
Baltic archaeology at Warsaw, passed away, aged 81.
I had heard of this great researcher long before our irst
meeting. I had known about him since I read a monograph of his that appeared in 1973, entitled Prehistoric
Prussian Lands from the Late Palaeolithic Period to the
Seventh Century AD.1I was impressed by his knowledge, clarity and big ideas. For many years, this work
served as a manual for researchers who were studying
the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, and it remains relevant even today.
To my deepest regret, I only met him quite late. Our
acquaintance started in 2000, beginning with a very interesting conversation. I met him one beautiful autumn
day in a small caf by a lake during a conference in a
place called Rybak of Masur in the Warmian-Masurian voivodeship in Poland. From the very irst minutes
of our conversation, his appearance and his manner of
speaking were fascinating. I saw him more as an older
relative than as a famous expert in archaeology.
It was very exciting to communicate with him, for he
treated irst-year students and great scientists on the
same level. While I watched him talk with students, I
always thought that communication between a teacher
and his pupils should be like that. His circle of interests
was not restricted to one area only, it was very wide.
For example, he was always interested in what was
happening in Kaliningrad. Apart from his other features, he had a great sense of humour and self-irony.
I can remember one of his jokes: he mentioned once
that one of his ancestors had been a Russian astronaut.
1
10
Pradzieje ziem pruskich od pnego paleolitu do VII w.

n. e.. In Monograie dziejw spoecznych i politycznych
Warmii i Mazur, 1. Wrocaw, Warszawa, Krakw, Gdask.
When someone expressed their astonishment, he went

on, saying how Ivan the Terrible had shot one of his
ancestors from a cannon. He was very fond of his family, and often talked about his father, Jaroslav OkuliczKozaryn, a pilot, an army oficer and a First World War
hero, a holder of the order of St George, and a descendant of the Vitebsk nobility.
His distinguished career began with several problems.
Despite his talent for and his great interest in history,
Jerzy could not enter the university because of his
unfavourable social background, which was quite in
keeping with the spirit of the early 1950s. However,
this obstacle did not make him give up. He chose another way, and started working at the Warsaw State
Museum of Archaeology, which was his irst university. He studied archaeology there, and, apart from
learning the basics of archaeological practice, and
thanks to the access to libraries and cooperation with
staff at the museum, he was also able to improve his
skills as a theoretician.
He later managed to enter Warsaw University, and in
1955 he defended his MA dissertation. In the 1950s and
1960s, he was involved in the archaeological research
of the Jotvingian Expedition. From 1962 to 1966, he
began his own archaeological research in Northern
Mazovia, as a candidate for a doctoral degree from the
Polish Academy of Sciences Institute of History and
Material Culture in Warsaw. As a result, in 1966 he
successfully defended his thesis, which is considered
a model, even today. In 1968, Jerzy started working at
Warsaw University as a junior research assistant in the
Department of Ancient and Early Medieval Archaeology. He obtained his doctoral degree in 1971.
Today we can only envy the amazing energy and hard

work of Jerzy Okulicz-Kozaryn, which he demonstrated over his entire life, remaining a great man, a good
friend, and a wise teacher. I met him several times later:
at the University of Warsaw and in his home, in Kaliningrad, and at various conferences and seminars. Every
time I saw him, I felt his energy and optimism, feeling
that if there are such people in the world, all will be
well. It was amazing that age did not affect his spirit
or his mind; his great achievements did not make him
hard. His approach to research was always innovative
and creative, he was an open, sincere and honest man.
Jerzy could listen with interest to criticism, although
his own opinion was always expressed delicately, in
his aristocratic manner, in order not to offend anyone.
Jerzy okulicz-Kozaryn (19312012)
He organised numerous archaeological expeditions

in northeast Poland, often with his wife Lucia, with
whom he created the perfect union. However, he never
abandoned theory. In the Concordia collection that
was published in 1996 to mark his anniversary, there
were over 127 publications, including monographs.
He wrote lots of works. He was the founder and the
head of the Department of Ancient European Archaeology at the University of Warsaw, which dealt with
the study of the Pre-Roman Period and the era of the
Great Migration. He organised and managed scientiic
institutions dealing with ancient European archaeology, and he worked closely with the Polish Academy of
Sciences. His postgraduate students joined the research
departments of the Archaeological Institute in various
parts of the country. He was the head of the Polish Scientiic Society of Archaeologists from 1988 to 1991. In
1985, Jerzy Okulicz-Kozaryn became a professor, and
in 1994 a full professor.
BALTICA 18
ArCHAeoLoGIA
seminars that were held for over ten years at the State
Archaeological Museum in Warsaw. He reviewed scientiic papers, and participated regularly in teaching
activities. He assisted research groups dealing with the
processing and interpretation of material from several
important historic monuments that are now considered
crucial to Polish archaeology. These are the repository
of Wielbark culture in Weklice, the West Balt Barrow
culture burial site in Vyshembork, and the settlement
complex in Shurpiles.
Jerzy Okulicz-Kozaryn was often called the master

by his numerous students and colleagues. I believe
that this is the most itting description. And despite the
fact that he is no longer with us, he will live on in his
legacy of numerous publications and students, and in
our hearts and minds.
Konstantin N. Skvortsov
His careful research continued even after his retirement in 2001. In fact, it seemed that he was getting
younger and stronger. Jerzy Okulicz-Kozaryn was an
active participant in various symposia and conferences, at home and abroad. He organised several Baltic
11
FROM A THEORETICAL
BALTICA 18
SOCIETIES:
ARCHAEOLOGIA
I . E A R LY M E TA L A G E
ASSESSMENT
T O T H E I R E C O N O M Y,
INTERREGIONAL
C O N TA C T S A N D R I T U A L S
13
I N T E R R E G I O N A L A N D M U LT I D I R E C T I O N A L
C O N TA C T S O F L O C A L E L I T E S :
A CASe oF SCABBArDS WITH CroSSBArS
D e C o r AT e D W I T H T H r e e o r M o r e
S - F I G U R E S I N N O RT H E R N P O L A N D
BALTICA 18
TOMASZ BOCHNAK, PRZEMYSAW HARASIM
ARCHAEOLOGIA
Abstract
At the beginning of the Late Pre-Roman Period, various cultural transformations occurred on Polish territory induced by La
Tne culture, and, to a lesser extent, by Jastorf culture circle stimuli. As a result of these inluences, new cultures appeared:
oksywie culture in the north of Poland, and Przeworsk culture to south of oksywie culture. Among oksywie culture sepulchral materials, many imported items can be identiied, such as metal scabbards with crossbars decorated with three or more
S-igures. These sheaths were found together with items imported from La Tne culture and roman territories. The article
analyses the provenance and distribution of imported items. The authors try to deine the origin of the scabbards, and show
the interaction between oksywie culture societies and Celtic cultures.
Key words: Przeworsk culture, oksywie culture, Pre-roman Period, Celtic imports, roman imports, weapons.
Oksywie culture, in the Pre-Roman Period covering

a large part of the Polish Baltic coast and the Lower
Vistula basin, was one of the cultures that were formed
under La Tne inluences. The latest research shows
that it was a very heterogeneous cultural complex, a
phenomenon which was created through various kinds
of La Tne stimuli, as well as through cultural connections with the Baltic Sea region. La Tne trends passed
directly through neighbouring Przeworsk culture to the
south, and through the broadly deined Jastorf culture
circle (Bokiniec 2001; Dbrowska, Woniak 2005,
p.93ff; Stporek 2007; Maciaowicz 2009, p.204ff).
Although sepulchral materials of Oksywie culture
lack impressive chieftain graves, there is a group
of graves with above-standard equipment, containing
military items as well as Celtic imports. Following the
Celtic burial traditions, funeral equipment was usually burnt and ritually destroyed. Among the weapons
that were found in sepulchres belonging to members
of Oksywie culture, there is one particularly interesting type of sheath that attracted our attention. Not all
sheaths are equally well preserved; moreover, we have
only scraps of archive information about some. It is
enough, however, to identify one homogenous type of
sheath. By this homogenous type, we mean specimens
made of two iron sheets where the bent edges of the
rear, wider sheet overlapped the front sheet (Fig. 1).
The lower part of the scabbard was shod with a chape
with a pointed end, and contained a pair of barbs (Fig.
1.5). The scabbards locket was usually straight, and
was additionally reinforced with a proiled slat (Fig.

1.1). Another characteristic element were the crossbars
(one or two) in the upper part of the sheath, which were
decorated with three or more S-igures. Specimens
with two crossbars had a different number of S-igures
on each of them, usually three for the higher crossbar,
and four for the lower one (Fig. 1.2, 3). This element
had a purely decorative role. This feature distinguishes
the discussed scabbards from older specimens, well
known not only in the Celtic world, but also beyond its
borders. There, a two S-igure ornament was a kind of
clasp that reinforced a sheet; the chape was not pointed, and had two pairs of barbs (Zachar 1974; Brunaux
1990, pp.173, 185; Lejars 1994, p.53ff; Bochnak 2005,
pp.38, 45ff, 280, Table X; uczkiewicz 2006, pp.59ff,
182ff, Fig. 54.4, 5, 7, 8).
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What is more, in the case of the discussed sheaths, an

S-igure sequence is sometimes repeated in the lower
part of the scabbard (Fig. 1.4),1 but because of its poor
state of preservation, it is impossible to tell whether
it was characteristic of that part of the scabbard. The
sheaths also have a short suspension loop with symmetrical plates in circle or drop shapes (Fig. 1.6).2 The
1
According to a drawing from Kostrzewskis publication,

such an ornament was also noticed on a sheath from
Lachmirowice, grave 1. However, the sketches from his
private papers depict some other way of embellishing (see
Fig.6.1d). Perhaps the sketch represents the rear part of a
scabbard.
2 The above-mentioned description corresponds with
the characteristics of scabbards of type 4 (according to
59

a Case of Scabbards with
TOMASZ
Crossbars Decorated with
BOCHNAK,
PRZEMYSAW T h r e e o r M o r e S - f i g u r e s
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
greatest diversiication is to be observed among

the scabbards lockets: most of them were
straight, reinforced with a proiled slat though
a bell-like entrance, characteristic of inds from
Gdask-Nowolipki (Fig. 2C), Pruszcz Gdaski,
site 7, grave 374, and Pruszcz Gdaski, site 10,
grave 137 (Fig. 3) (it is worth noting that in every
instance the shape of the entrance was itted to
the shape of the swords guard that was inside it).
Nowadays, eight or nine sheaths are included
within this type of category. However, because
of the varying state of preservation, as well as
the varying degrees of scholars attention paid
to the above-mentioned scabbards, only some
of the markers have been noticed in the case of
individual specimens (for this see: Catalogue).
Nearly seven scabbards were found in the region of the mouth of the Vistula, which in the
Pre-Roman era belonged to the Oksywie culture
area (Map 1). Three specimens were found in the
burial grounds in Pruszcz Gdaski, of which one
is in neighbouring (circa six kilometres away)
ukczyn (Fig. 2A), and another one in Gdask
Nowolipki (a necropolis situated ten kilometres from Pruszcz Gdaski). The next scabbard
was found in opalenie (Fig. 4.1a-2c) about 70
kilometres south of Pruszcz Gdaski. In Ciepe,
about 55 kilometres from Pruszcz Gdaski (and
several kilometres from opalenie), yet another
scabbard was found. However, the only piece
of evidence that would allow the inclusion of
this ind in the category described is a note by
J. Kostrzewski, a distinguished Polish scholar.
While sketching a sword from the destroyed
necropolis in ukczyn, he noted in the margin:
Verzierung hnlich Abb[au] Warmhof.3
As we can see, the majority of the sheaths discussed come from Oksywie culture graves, with
a high incidence noticed in the region of the
mouth of the Vistula. From Lachmirowice, grave
1, there is one known specimen from Przeworsk
Fig. 1. Characteristic features of scabbards with multiple
S-igures (based on the example of the scabbard from
Lachmirowice, grave 1: 1 proiled slat; 2 three S-igures;
3, 4 four S-igures; 5 pointed chape with a pair of barbs;
6 suspension loop with symmetrical plates (reconstruction
of scabbard drawing by Kostrzewski, 1919).
60
the classiication provided by P. uczkiewicz),

although the list of scabbards given by this author
differs from the group of sheaths distinguished by
T. Bochnak and discussed in this text (uczkiewicz
2006; Bochnak 2008). regardless of the division of
types, P. uczkiewicz distinguished scabbards with
a pointed chape, including within group 7 specimens
from Hoppsttten-Weiersbach, grave 23, Pruszcz
Gdaski, grave 374, Podwiesk, grave 103, opalenie
and Lachmirowice, while a list of specimens
classiied in this group does not correspond to
scabbards of type 4 (uczkiewicz 2006, p.202ff,
Table 19).
Abbau Warmhof/Warmhof Abbau and Warmhof are
former names for the village of Ciepe.
BALTICA 18
ARCHAEOLOGIA
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Fig. 2. Findings from ukczyn, Ciepe and Gdask-Nowolipki (the sites were not numbered). A. ukczyn,
grave 1: 1a-1d sword and scabbard, characteristic features. B. Ciepe, grave without number: 1 cauldron
with an iron rim. There are no pictures of any other grave goods. C. Gdask-Nowolipki, grave without
number: 1 rivet; 2 shield-boss; 3 spearhead; 4 sword; 5 the second sword; 6a-6e different sheath details.
No scale. The igure omitted the presence of local ceramic vessels (after Kostrzewski, 1919, and drawings
from his papers).
61

TOMASZ
BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
Fig. 3. Pruszcz Gdaski site 10, grave 137: 1a-1e pieces of a sword and scabbard; 2a, 2b sword; 3 sword
and fragment of a scabbard; 4 spearshoe; 5 spearhead; 6, 7 razor (?) fragments; 8 belt hook; 9-11 loops,
parts of a sword belt; 12 ibula. 1-12 iron. 1-7 scale 1:4, 8-12 scale 1:2. Figure omitted the presence of local
ceramic vessels (after Pietrzak, 1997).
62
BALTICA 18
ARCHAEOLOGIA
Map 1. The distribution of scabbards with multiple S-igures compared to Przeworsk and
oksywie culture settlements in the Late Pre-roman Period. The numbers on the map correspond
with the numbers of inds in the catalogue.
culture territory (Figs. 1; 7A).4 In all likelihood, a similar type of sheath was found in Siemiechw, grave 25
(Figs. 7B; 8). Judging by the remaining pieces, this
specimen had a short suspension loop with symmetrical plates and a straight locket; however, it had no signs
of a proiled slat. Its lower part was shod with a pointed
chape and a pair of barbs. Among the burial equipment of the grave, there was also a small iron item in
the shape of an S-igure; it might formerly have also
been part of a scabbard.5 A comparison of typological
features is shown in Tables 1 and 2.
The discussed sheaths were paired with double-edged
swords. Unfortunately, our knowledge about the discussed weapon may only be fragmentary, as in most
cases swords remained inside the scabbards. Almost all
of them were of a diamond-shaped cross-section with
a separate ridge; only the specimen from Opalenie belonged to the rare category of swords with selectively
4
There is a mistaken illustration of the scabbard from

Lachmirowice, grave 1, in the publication about the
armaments of people of Przeworsk culture in the Late Preroman Period (Bochnak 2005, pp.40, 48, Fig. XIII.1).
A sheath from Siemiechw was classiied as type II
according to Bochnak (2005, p.212). However, as some
features formerly unknown to the author have been
revealed, this seems to be a mistake.
etched blades, which constituted a further development from swords with a diamond-shaped cross-section (Fig. 4.4c, 4d). Swords from opalenie, Pruszcz
Gdaski 7, grave 374, and ukczyn, grave 1, had
rounded points; whereas the points of other specimens
were either damaged or still inside the scabbards. In
the cases that were documented, the width of the blade
ranged from ive centimetres (Lachmirowice) to six
centimetres (opalenie). Scabbards with swords still remaining inside them were 6.2 to 6.6 centimetres wide,
so we can assume that the blades inside were of a similar size. A comparison of swords inside sheaths with
crossbars decorated with S-motifs shows that this kind
of weapon was designed for cutting. We may also notice some typological similarities between swords and
the scabbards that were paired with them. The greatest
diversiication can be spotted in the shapes of two various scabbard lockets; the diversiication is attributable
to the shape of the guards which were tailored to it the
scabbard. Northern Poland has a high concentration of
the type of sheaths discussed, but similar specimens
were found in Celtic areas. However, they do not always have all the features described above as markers. out of specimens found in Celtic territories, the
most similar (to the sheaths found in northern Poland)
is the one from Hoppstdten-Weiersbach, Kr. Birken-
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63
64

TOMASZ
BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
Ta b l e 1 . C h a r a c t e r i s t i c f e a t u r e s o f s c a b b a r d s
Shape of scabbards
locket
Pointed chape
Three S-igures in the
upper part
At least four S-igures
in the upper part
Two S-igures in the
lower part
Symmetrical plates of
suspension loop
Pruszcz Gd., Pruszcz Gd., st. Pruszcz

st. 10, gr. 137
7, gr. 355
Gd., st. 7,
gr. 374
Campanulate Campanulate
Straight
GdaskNowolipki
Opalenie
Ciepe
ukczyn
Siemiechw,
gr. 25
Lachmirowice,
gr. 1
HoppstdtenWeiersbach, gr. 23
Campanulate
Straight +
proiled slat
?
?
Straight +
proiled slat
?
Straight
Straight + proiled
slat
Straight + proiled
slat
Straight +
proiled slat
Ta b l e 2 . C h a r a c t e r i s t i c f e a t u r e s o f d o u b l e - e d g e d s w o r d s
Breadth
Cross-section
Point
Pruszcz Gd., st.10, Pruszcz Gd., st. Pruszcz Gd.,

gr. 137
7, gr. 355
st. 7, gr. 374
?
?
Circa 5.5 cm
Diamond-shaped
Diamond?
or diamond-shaped
shaped or
with prominent
diamond-shaped
central rib
with prominent
central rib
?
rounded
GdaskNowolipki
Circa 5.8 cm?
Diamond-shaped
with prominent
central rib
Opalenie
Ciepe
ukczyn
Circa 6 cm
Selective etched
(diamond-shaped
with reduced
middle)
?
?
rounded
5.5 cm
Diamondshaped or
diamondshaped with
prominent
central rib
rounded
Siemiechw,
gr. 25
5.2 cm
?
Lachmirowice,
gr. 1
5 cm
Diamondshaped or
diamond-shaped
with prominent
central rib
HoppstdtenWeiersbach, gr. 23
5.8 cm
Diamond-shaped
broken
triangular
BALTICA 18
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Fig. 4. opalenie (the site was not numbered): 1a-1f sword and scabbard, characteristic features; 2a-2c suspension loop; 3 proiled slat reinforcing the locket of a scabbard; 4a-4d sword, characteristic features. No scale
reference. Figure omitted the presence of local ceramic vessels (according to sketches from Kostrzewskis
papers [1a, 1b based on Undset 1882], Kostrzewski 1919).
65

TOMASZ
BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
Fig. 5. Scabbards with two crossbars in the upper part of the sheath which were decorated with
three or more S-igures from outside Polish territory: 1 Hoppstdten-Weiersbach, Kr. Birkenfeld
(Germany), grave 23; 2 Mrigen, canton of Bern (Switzerland) (after de Navarro 1972; Gleser
2005).
66
feld (Germany), grave 23, dated to LT D2a phase (Fig.

5.1) (Gleser 2005, pp.118ff, 577ff, 697; Tables 8.1; 9).
This sheath has a straight mouth-locket reinforced with
a proiled, short slat, a short suspension loop with symmetrical plates, and S-igure ornaments (three S-igures
on the upper crossbar, four on the lower one) on its upper part. The lower part of the scabbard is shod with a
pointed chape with a pair of barbs. ralf Gleser, while
describing the artefact from Hoppstdten-Weiersbach,
noticed its close resemblance to the specimens from
Lachmirowice, ukczyn and opalenie; he emphasised
the difference between those indings and other scabbards with a pointed chape. He stressed the number of
markers connecting the discussed sheaths with Ludwigshafen-style scabbards, and claimed that there are
no reasons to consider them imports from Polish territory (Gleser 1999; 2005, pp.118-124, Table 10). This
argument (concerning the connection of the mentioned
scabbards with scabbards of the Ludwigshafen style)
was questioned by Piotr uczkiewicz, who considered

r. Glesers conclusions not to be convincing enough.
According to him, the similarities between these two
types of scabbard might suggest that the specimen
from Hoppstdten-Weiersbach is the product of a German workshop (uczkiewicz 2006, p.204).
In our opinion, classic Ludwigshafen-style scabbards,
as well as those with crossbars decorated with three
and four S-igures, correspond strictly with Celtic ornamental designs. An ornament of multiplied S-igures
can be found on, for example, the crossbars of a scabbard from Mrigen, canton of Bern (Switzerland) (Fig.
5.2) (de Navarro 1972, pp.10, 16, 146, 156, 290, 340,
Plate XCIV.8). The remains of S-igure ornamentation
(possibly three S-igures) can be found on the crossbar of a sheath found in the Vernon oppidum (France)
(Dechezleprtre et al. 1998, 25, Fig. 30; Viand 2007).
A scabbard with a similar motif of three S-igures (but
In our opinion, we cannot consider sheaths with crossbars decorated with three or more S-igures as a local
product, despite their high incidence in the mouth of
the river Vistula in northern Poland. There is a number
of factors suggesting their foreign origin. The criteria
distinguished by Deborah Olausson proved to be helpful in identifying the artefacts of foreign provenance
(olausson 1988). one of them is local manufacturing traditions. In the case of Poland, we do not have
signs that any type of iron scabbard was produced locally. All of the scabbards found on Polish territory are
analogous to the ones of Celtic origin, and thus we are
unable to indicate any type that would be unique to
6
Information from M. Lionel Pernet of the Muse

archologique Lattara, Lattes.
Not all the criteria distinguished by D. olausson ind

an application in the case of scabbards with crossbars
decorated with three or more S-igures (the identiication of raw material does not always provide us with
the expected results, due to, among other things, our
limited knowledge of areas of iron ore extraction, or
the inability to identify particular types of ores, from
which the given objects were made, on the basis of
a metal analysis of the given artefacts). However, in
our opinion, there is no data that could suggest that the
sheaths were produced locally by members of Oksywie
culture. Additionally, inds of semi-products from Bibracte oppidum are further proof of the Celtic origin of
such ornamented sheaths.
BALTICA 18
A fragment of an iron artefact in the shape of three

S-igures which could have constituted part of sheath
is also known from the oppidum at Stradonice, Beroun district (Czech republic) (an unpublished ind,
in the collection of the Nrodni Muzeum, Prague, no.
561 256). In Stradonice some other bronze items decorated with two S-igures were also found; one of them
(nos. 560 and 540) constituted part of a small chain.
Other sheaths were extracted from the riverbed of the
Sane in the region of Chalon-sur-Sane. They had a
proiled slat at their mouth-lockets, and some of them
were additionally adorned with crossbars decorated
with S-motifs (up to four). What differentiates the scabbards from the Sane from the Polish ones are the boatshaped chapes (Guillaumet, Szab 2002, pp.219ff, 223,
225, Figs. 17-19). A fragment of a bronze S-motif was
also found in a bronze workshop located near Porte de
rebout in the Bibracte/Mont Beuvray oppidum, in the
Sane-et-Loire and Nivre dpartements (France). In
Bibracte, another three fragments that were parts of
S-igure sequences were found (at least one of them
is a semi-product of the crossbar of a sheath) (Hamm
1999, p.44ff, Fig. 91.1-4). In grave 3 from the Trever
necropolis in Lamadelaine (Luxembourg), dated to LT
D2a phase, a scabbard with opus interrasile decoration
was found, a decoration which in fact is a multiplied
motif of three S-igures (Metzler et al. 1999, pp.29, 31,
34-35, 300-303, Figs. 327.1; 328; 329). In the lower
part of the specimen mentioned, there is a motif of two
S-igures (similar to the case of specimens from Lachmirowice and opalenie). A straight mouth of a scabbard (itted to a sword paired with it) was decorated
with a proiled slat. Both elements mentioned are to
be found in the case of Polish specimens; however, in
contrast with the pointed chape scabbards from Oksywie and Przeworsk cultures, the sheath from Lamadelaine had a boat-like chape.
oksywie or Przeworsk culture alone. Moreover, metal

sheaths disappeared from Polish territory at about the
same time as La Tne culture vanished, an observation
which may serve as further proof of the Celtic origin of
these artefacts.7 Another criterion is the stylistics. According to D. olausson, the stylistics of sheaths with
crossbars decorated with S-igures, which bear a strict
resemblance to Celtic forms, may serve as yet more
proof of their foreign provenance. We cannot ind any
stylistic motifs that could be counted as local. Another
identifying feature is the technique. The high level of
craftsmanship of these scabbards allows us to rule out
a coincidental overlap of local and La Tne manufacturing traditions.
ARCHAEOLOGIA
without a pointed chape) is also known from Locheles-Bains (Leuk), Valais district, Switzerland.6
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The varying levels of concentration of the discussed

artefacts are to be attributed to differences in burial traditions occurring in various cultures, rather than to the
artefacts actual popularity among the members of a
given community.
To sum up, it may be assumed that scabbards with
crossbars decorated with three or more S-igures, particularly well known from the region of the mouth of
the Vistula (but also from the northern part of Przeworsk culture territory) are imports from Celtic-inluenced areas. Analogous counterparts are to be found
in Celtic territories, especially in the western part. The
ind from Stradonice proves that a motif of three Sigures was known in the Bohemian basin, although
we cannot be sure that the ind mentioned was not
imported from Western europe; the latest research by
Gilles Pierrevelcin shows an intensive cultural interaction between Gaul and Czech territories (Pierrevelcin,
forthcoming 2012).
We should note that some local products, such as metal

bosses, one-edged swords, spearheads and brooches, can
be found in sets dated to the early/Late Pre-roman Period,
as well as the beginning of the Roman Period, and that
they are more resistant to change than metal scabbards.
67

TOMASZ
BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
As we have already mentioned, scabbards with crossbars decorated with three or more S-igures were found
mainly on Polish territory in rich graves (a simpliied
list of the contents of funeral equipment is shown in
Table 3). each sheath was paired with a sword, though
because in most cases the swords were put in graves
still inside the scabbards, their state of preservation
is so bad that sometimes we cannot distinguish even
the basic characteristics of these weapons. The swords
inside the mentioned scabbards belonged to fully
armed warriors who were usually also armed with a
pole weapon and a shield. only in one case (Pruszcz
Gdaski, site 10, grave 137) were no metal shield reinforcements found in a grave. In two cases, pieces of
weaponry were doubled; in Ciepe, parts of a singleegded sword scabbard were found next to a sword
inside a sheath that was probably decorated with a
crossbar with three S-igures. In Gdask Nowolipki,
the inventory of a grave consisted of two swords.8 Two
spearheads were also found in the same grave, though
cases of double funeral equipment are also to be encountered in some other individual graves in Poland. In
the case of graves from Pruszcz Gdaski, sheaths with
crossbars decorated with S-igures were found next to
metal belt-hooks and loops which were formerly parts
of a sword belt (an artefact characteristic of La Tne
culture). An analysis of funeral equipment shows that
sheaths with crossbars decorated with S-igures (found
on Polish territory) can be dated to the relatively short
period between the turn of the A2 and A3 phases and the
beginning of the A3 phase of the Late Pre-Roman Period
for Przeworsk culture, according to Teresa Dbrowska
(1988, pp.14-62), and for oksywie culture, according
ryszard Wogiewicz (1981, p.136; 1997, p.17). It is
possible that some graves are a little older. However,
the observable differences in their chronology might
well relect the disparate typo-chronological changes
that oksywie and Przeworsk cultures were subjected
to. This chronology is a result of brooch inds (for this,
see Catalogue). Finds of imported metal vessels do not
contradict this (see Catalogue). A similar time frame
is to be applied to the inds from Hoppstdten-Weiersbach, grave 23, and from Lamadelaine, grave 3, which
are dated to phase LT D2a, that is, the period between
the end of the second century BC and the irst half of
the irst century BC.9
68
We know few graves in Poland with doubled pieces

of inventory. The phenomenon of what is called
Waffenbrder (brother-in-arms) is known mainly from
Oksywie culture, but individual graves of this kind are also
known from Przeworsk culture (Czarnecka 2007a).
P. uczkiewicz dates his type 4 slightly earlier, that is,
to phase A2 of the Early Pre-Roman Period, and only
individual sets are dated to phase A3.
It is worth noting that along with swords inside sheaths

with crossbars decorated with S-igures, we can often
ind some other artefacts of foreign provenance, including brooches, iron vessels and military equipment.
An analysis of the origin of these imports may provide
us with answers as to whether the members of local
elites (buried in the discussed graves) maintained longdistance contacts with only one cultural region or with
many.
Brooches
In the funeral equipment of grave 355 from Pruszcz
Gdaski, site 7, a type A18 brooch was found. This
type of ibula belongs to a numerous and largely differentiated group of geschweifte Fibeln, of which the oldest varieties present some similarities to brooches with
a crooked bow (rieckhoff 1995, p.56ff; Demetz 1999,
pp.115, 117, 122). The brooch from Pruszcz Gdaski,
site 7, grave 355 represents, according to the classiication introduced by Thomas Vlling, sub-type A18a,
the Wederath version (Vlling 1995, p.183ff, Fig. 18;
2005, p.116, Fig. 29). The main identifying feature of
the Wederath variant is a slender and lat bow, with a
bulge above the spring (Vlling 1995, pp.183-184, Fig.
18; 2005, p.116, Fig. 29). What is more, in this version,
sometimes the head of the brooch is located just above
the spring (Behrens 1923, p.37, Fig. 43.2-2a; Vlling
1995, Fig. 18.a, e, j; Dbrowska 2008, Fig. 9.4). The
specimen from Pruszcz Gdaski, site 7, also has this
feature. Most Wederath type brooches are made of
iron. They are dated to the LT D2 period, and classiied
as probably belonging to the beginning of the Roman
Period (Vlling 1995, p.188; 2005, p.118). They are
found mainly in the Rhine and the Mosel river basin
areas (Vlling 1995, p.184, Fig. 17; 2005, p.116), only
a few specimens have been found on Polish territory.
one such artefact is a ibula made of white metal
found in grave 1-1964 in Kacice, Putusk district, site
2 (Dbrowska 1988, p.26; 2008, pp.31, 140, 190, Fig.
9.4). It is possible that a partially preserved brooch
from Oblin, Garwolin district, grave 95, is also of the
Wederath version (Czarnecka 2007b, p.33; Table
CI.95.1).
Most different versions of the type A18 ibula found
on Oksywie and Przeworsk culture territories are probably signs of cultural contacts with the Tyniec group
(Poleska 2005, p.191, Fig. 8.6-7; 2006, p.149, Fig.
20.12-14), but probably also with Puchov culture and
the northern Czech area (Droberjar 2006, p.26, Fig.
10.2-3; Woniak 2007, p.393). However, the discussed
specimens of A18 Wederath type are to be looked
upon rather as remains of contacts with the Rhineland
area. We must note that these brooches are not the only
Ta b l e 3 . A c o m p a r i s o n o f f u n e r a l e q u i p m e n t f o u n d i n g r a v e s
Oksywie culture
Brooch
imported
Ciepe
Gdask-Nowolipki
locally
made
K.type L
(Fig. 18)
Imported metal
vessels
Armament
imported
Other imports
Parts of a belt
Other
locally made
chape and ittings of single-edged
sword scabbard, spearhead, 6 rivets
of shield-boss
double-edged sword
cauldron with iron

rim e.4
fragments of unknown
brooch
two spearheads, shield-boss

Opalenie
Pruszcz Gdaski st. 7 gr.
355
374
137
ukczyn
Przeworsk culture
Lachmirowice, gr. 1
Siemiechw, gr. 25
K. type. e? (provenance
unknown)
fragments of a brooch
situla e.20
chainmail
spearhead, shield-boss
spearhead, spearshoe, shield-boss
iron belt-hook K.49 and

three iron loops
spearhead, spearshoe, shield-boss
copper alloy loop
A.18
K. type. L
+ K. type.
L (Fig. 18)
bowl-like brooch
iron belt-hook K.48, three fragments of

iron loops
a razor?
copper alloy loop
knife
spearhead, spearshoe
shield-boss
K. type. M
helmet
two spearheads, shield-boss

spearhead, shield-boss
knife
knife, ittings
of a bucket?
pieces of a
buckle?
two knives with

grip ending in a
loop
Table does not include local ceramic vessels. Two swords were found at Gdask-Nowolipki.
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TOMASZ
BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
Fig. 6. opalenie (the site was not numbered): 1a, 1b spearhead head; 2 shield-boss; 3 rivet;
4 small piece of chainmail; 5 fragment of a shield itting; 6a bronze situla; 6b part of a bronze
situla; 7 ibula. No scale reference. Figure omitted the presence of local ceramic vessels
(according to sketches from Kostrzewskis papers).
70
We can ind a sketch of this brooch in Jzef Kostrzewskis archive. The relatively small diameter of the spring
might show some resemblance by this form to the type
D brooch. However, the note below the drawing zieml.
[ich] gr.[oe] Rolle leaves us in no doubt whatsoever,
and we do not have any reason to challenge the authors typological classiication of brooches from the
Late Pre-roman Period.
The results of archaeological research that followed
Kostrzewskis publication revealed new material
where many brooches were classiied as transitional
types, between D and e types; nowadays, the deinition D/e is applied to them. In oksywie and Przeworsk cultures, type D/e brooches are usually dated
to A2 phase (Wogiewicz 1981, p.136; 1997, p.17;
Dbrowska 1988, p.29; 2008, p.28; Bokiniec 2008,
p.34), although there are some premises for suggesting
that they were in use for a period longer than the stated
one as well.10
Type D/e brooches known from Polish territory (Bokiniec 2008, p.34; Dbrowska 2008, p.28) have analogous counterparts in the inds of La Tne culture in
Czech-Moravia and southern Germany (Be 1964,
10
For example, the discussed grave at Opalenie and grave

102 at Pruszcz Gdaski, site 10, or grave 1 at Caowanie
(Pietrzak 1997, p.23, Fig. XXX.102; Dbrowska 2008,
p.28).
BALTICA 18
In graves where sheaths with crossbars decorated with

S-motifs were found, we also come across brooches of
uncertain provenance. one of them is the type e ibula
(according to Kostrzewskis classiication) that was
found in a grave in opalenie (Fig. 6.7). This type of
brooch belongs to a group of iron, wire-like brooches of middle-La Tne construction, with four-spiral
springs and a lower bow-string. The bow of the ibula
type is evenly bulging and has a rounded shape. It differs from similar ibulae of this classiication, namely
from the type D brooch, by the larger diameter of its
spring and the strongly bent bow (Kostrzewski 1919,
p.19; Bokiniec 2008, p.4; Dbrowska 2008, p.28). The
preserved part of the brooch was 8.2 centimetres long,
with a maximum bow height of 2.6 centimetres. The
foot of the ibula was joined with a bow at a third of
the bows length with the help of a delicately proiled
catchplate.
pp.200-210, Fig. II.14, 17, 20, 145, 179; Gebhard

1991, p.20, 86; Fig. 39.579-580, 583-589; rybov,
Drda 1994, p.127, Fig. 40.16). Brooches from these areas are dated to LT D1 period. What is interesting is that
there are no such inds in the Tyniec group, although
this may stem from the different burial traditions in the
Upper Vistula basin.
On the basis of the above-mentioned analogies, Ewa
Bokiniec (2008, p.34) suggests that type e brooches
are imports that might have reached the Lower Vistula
basin area along the Amber Road as a result of a direct, long-distance exchange. However, we must bear
in mind that the popularity of this kind of brooch in
Masovian cemeteries seems to deny the hypothesis of
a direct exchange (Map 2). Moreover, iron wire-like
brooches were items that were relatively easy to produce. This is why we cannot fully exclude the possibility that alongside imported ibulae of D/e type, there
are also items that could have been produced locally. In
which case, the type E brooch from Opalenie could be
either an imported or a locally made product.
ARCHAEOLOGIA
specimens that suggest a western direction of contact.

Type A241 brooches, group 11 (according to Michel
Feugres classiication) brooches, and early Kragenibeln, all found on Polish territory, are some of the
brooches of which the origin, usually associated with
the trade route connecting Caput Adriae and the south
Baltic shore, is unlikely (Czarnecka 1995; Nowakowski 1998; Margos 2002; Andrzejowski 2005).
Similar doubts may be raised in the case of an iron

bowl-like brooch from grave 137 from Pruszcz
Gdaski, site 10 (Fig. 3.12). According to S. Demetz,
this ibula belongs to type I, which also involves specimens with an unornamented bow (1999, p.72). In his
opinion, iron specimens of bowl-like brooches are either imitations of specimens made of non-ferrous metals, or constitute an independent development. Within
the La Tne culture areas, they are dated to the late
LT D1 and early LT D2 periods, where, along with type
A65 brooches, they mark out the last stage of the existence of the Czech-Moravia area oppidum (Rybov,
Drda 1994, p.129; rieckhoff 1995, pp.115-116; Poleska 2006, p.49). In oksywie culture, bowl-like ibulae
are dated to the late A2 period and the beginning stages of the A3 period (Wogiewicz 1981, p.136; 1997,
p.17; Harasim 2011, p.230), as in Przeworsk culture
(Dbrowska 1988, pp.30-31, 59; 2008, p.29). It seems
that further studies of the oksywie culture ibulae of La
Tne origin (Harasim 2011, pp.230-231) conirmed T.
Dbrowskas (2006, p.49; 2008, p.105) doubts about
treating all specimens of bowl-like brooches as imports.
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There are a few reasons why we should class some

bowl-like brooches, inspired by La Tne culture, as
locally produced. Firstly, we are familiar with a relatively large number of them compared to the number
of some other imports of a similar chronology found
on oksywie culture territory. What is more, the model
of the spatial distribution of these artefacts differs from
the model of the spatial distribution of the same chronology imports that were found on Pomeranian terri-
71

TOMASZ
BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
Map 2. The distribution of type D and type e (according to Kostrzewskis classiication) ibulae on the territories of Przeworsk and oksywie culture (according to Bokiniec 2008 and Dbrowska 2008, with addendum).
1 Buczek, Biaogard district; 2 Kopaniewo, Lbork district (three specimens); 3 rumia, site 2 (three specimens), Wejherowo district; 4 Gdynia-oksywie, Gdynia district; 5 Gdask-Wrzeszcz, Gdask district; 6 Pruszcz Gdaski, site 4 (two
specimens) and site 10 (eight specimens), Gdask district; 7 Skowarcz, Gdask district (eight specimens); 8 Wyczechowo,
site 13 (two specimens), Kartuzy district; 9 opalenie, Tczew district; 10 Malbork-Wielbark, Malbork district (two specimens); 11 Bystrzec, Kwidzy district; 12 rzdz (Grudzidz-rzdz), site 1 (two specimens), Grudzidz district; 13 Podwiesk, site 2 (six specimens), Chemno district; 14 Chemno, site 1 (six specimens), Chemno district; 15 Nowe Dobra, site
20, Chemno district; 16 Papowo Toruskie, Toru district; 17 Stupsk, site 3 (two specimens), Mawa district; 18 Kleszewo, site 1, Putusk district; 19 Kamieczyk, site 1 (ive specimens), Wyszkw district; 20 Krupice, Siemiatycze district; 21
Warszawa-Wilanw, site XV (four specimens), Warszawa district; 22 Caowanie, site XXVI, otwock district; 23 oblin,
site 5, Garwolin district; 24 Biejkw, site 9 (two specimens), Biaobrzeg district; 25 Brzza, Kozienice district; 26 Bonie,
Sandomierz district; 27 Tyczyn, Sieradz district; 28 Charupia Maa, Sieradz district; 29 Wymysowo, Gostynin district;
30 Kotowice, Trzebnica district; 31 Nosocice, Gogw district; 32 Siedlec, Bochnia district.
tory. Finally, the shape of the heads of some locally

produced brooches recalls the shape of the heads of
bowl-like ibulae. Taking the above into consideration,
we may assume that among the bowl brooches from
the area of Pomerania, there are both specimens produced locally as well as imports. However, with the
current state of our knowledge, it is impossible to tell
the former from the latter.
Metal vessels
72
Along with ornamented sheaths, imported metal vessels are also found with grave goods. A situla of 30.5
centimetres in height with a rim diameter of 23.2 centimetres, and belly and bottom diameters of 31 and
17 centimetres respectively, was found in opalenie
(Fig. 6.6a-6b) (Kostrzewski 1919, p.208ff; ga 1958,
p.12). Trapeze-like attachments clinched to the neck,

and the smooth shape of the vessels body, allow us to
class it as type 20, according to the classiication provided by H.J. eggers (1951, p.40, Table 4.20; Wielowiejski 1985, p.157ff). Finds of this kind are quite rare
in Poland (Map 3): except for the above-mentioned
vessel from Opalenie, there is only one more, from
Starzyno in the Pomerania region (Kostrzewski 1919,
p.208; ga 1958, p.12, Fig. 3; Wielowiejski 1985,
p.255). Being used as urns was a function of the metal
vessels discussed, which was particularly popular, especially for graves from the barbarian part of Europe
(Wegewitz 1986; Vo 2005, p.35; Czarnecka 2007a,
p.53ff). The chronology of inds from the oksywie culture area suggests that they were put in graves during
the A2 phase. Situlas of e18-19 type from Przeworsk
and Oksywie culture sites are similarly dated, although
BALTICA 18
ARCHAEOLOGIA
Map 3. The distribution of e18-20 type metal buckets and specimens of undetermined type on Polish territory (according to
Wielowiejski 1985, with addendum).
1 Starzyno, Puck district; 2 Sawno, Sawno district; 3 rokosowo, widwi district; 4 Troszyn, Kamie Pomorski
district; 5 Barnisaw, Police district; 6 Golice, Subice district; 7 opalenie, Tczew district; 8 rzdz (Grudzidz-rzdz),
Grudzidz district; 9 Mae Czyste, Chemno district; 10 Supy, Nako nad Noteci district; 11 Zgliczyn-Pobodzy, uromin
district; 12 Niechmirw-Maa Wie, Sieradz district; 13 Kocielna Wie, Pleszew district; 14 Brzykw, Trzebnica district;
15 Piotrkw Borowski, Strzelin district; 16 Stawiany, Piczw district.
some of them belong already to A3 phase. Their chronology is based on co-inds of brooches, military
equipment and ceramics (Wielowiejski 1985, p.253ff;
1986, p.65ff; Dbrowska 1988, p.210; 2003, p.154;
Boguwolski, Kurzyska 2001, Fig. 51; Machajewski
2006, p.86ff). The period of time in which these vessels were in use was sometimes probably longer than
stated. This is suggested by the inds from sepulchres
in Zgliczyn-Pobodzy, uromin district, and Golice,
Subice district, which are dated to the roman Period
(Wielowiejski 1985, p.255, 1986; Dbrowska 1988,
p.210).
There is a prevailing opinion that situlas of E18-20 type
are of east-Alpine or north-Italian origin (Dbrowska
1988, p.211; Wielowiejski 1985, p.235; 1986, p.61ff;
1991, p.152, there earlier literature; Karasov 1998,
p.12ff; Keiling 2010, p.109). This hypothesis is based
mainly on chrono- and chorological analyses (Wielowiejski 1991, p.155; Keiling 2010, p.111). However, we
should bear in mind that the spread of the metal vessel
inds is mostly attributable to the character of the sites
at which they were found, namely necropolises. People
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gave brass vessels in their burial grounds as funeral

offerings, a practice that was not observed in Roman
society (Wielowiejski 1991, pp.152, 154). It cannot be
ruled out then that the areas where bronze situlas were
found are not the ones where the workshops in which
they were manufactured were located. As there is no
proof that E18-20 situlas were produced in Capuanian
workshops (Wielowiejski 1986, p.62; 1987, p.33; 1991,
p.154), hypotheses that suggest this origin for them are
doubtful (Machajewski 2006, p.88; 2007, p.39). The
high level of craftsmanship of the metal vessels produced in Capua in the second and the irst centuries BC
is conirmed by written records. However, a ind of a
vessel with a Celtic name stamped on it may be proof
that similar workshops existed in northern Italy and the
roman provinces (Dohme 2002, p.87). As long as an
identiication of the precise location of these vessels
production site remains an open question, they surely
came out of Roman workshops, and reached barbaricum probably from the south, possibly with members
73
74

TOMASZ
BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
Map 4. The distribution of Celtic cauldrons and roman e18 situlas in europe (after Bochnak 2011).
Chainmail
Chainmail from the opalenie grave (Fig. 6.4) is the
only ind of this kind in Poland, and one of the few that
have been found outside Celtic and Dacian territories.
Most chainmail inds from non-Celtic regions are concentrated near the Baltic Sea basin (Map 5). The oldest
specimens, dated to the fourth century BC, are known
from Hjortspring on Als island (Denmark). Among the
11
Fragments of vessels E18-19 are known from older layers

from the oppidum in Stradonice and Star Hradisko
(imov 1996, pp.118, 122, Fig. 2.4; Karasov 1998,
pp.9, 11-12).
BALTICA 18
As has already been mentioned, thanks to the notes

found in Jzef Kostrzewskis papers, the grave at
Ciepe should be included in the group of graves containing swords with sheaths with crossbars decorated
with S-igures. There was a small cauldron with an iron
rim in the grave goods found there (Fig. 2B) (Kostrzewski 1919, pp.104, 212, 336, 337, Fig. 98). Vessels of
this kind are thought to be either of Raetia or Noricum
origin, or to come from a broadly deined oppidum
area. The distribution of these vessels shows that the
latter hypothesis is more plausible. Cauldrons can be
found in areas occupied by La Tne culture in France
through Switzerland, southern Germany and up to the
Czech valley (Dchelette 1927, pp.927, 928; Hawkes
1951, p.177ff; Jacobi 1974, p.148; Hachmann 1990,
p.652, Fig. 24; Poux 2004). Classiied as imports, they
are found north of the oppidum area, in the basins of
the Elbe, the Oder and the Vistula, and also in the Baltic Sea basin, on Bornholm, Jutland and the Scandinavian peninsula, as well as on Gotland (Map 4) (eggers
1951, pp.159, 160; Karte, 10; Keiling 1986, pp.22, 24,
25, Fig. 10; 1989, p.207, Fig. 7; Tromnau 1975, p.89ff;
Thieme 1976/77, p.71, Fig. 1; Bjrnvad 1989). Because of the various burial traditions, cauldrons can be
found on Celtic territory mostly in settlements and offering sites, whereas outside the La Tne culture area,
most specimens are found in graves (Wegewitz 1986).
There are many grounds for believing that cauldrons
reached the non-Celtic areas not only from the south,
but also from a western direction (this remark applies
mostly to the inds found in the Lower elbe area and
in the Baltic Sea basin) (Bochnak 2010, p.395ff, Figs.
1; 2; Bochnak 2011). There is a good probability that
some types of cauldron that are known from Oksywie
culture territory reached Pomerania from the west, via
people inhabiting the area around the mouth of the
elbe (Bochnak 2011).
younger ones, we may include inds from Putensen,

Kr. Harburg, Holdorf, Lkr. Nordwestmecklenburg
(Germany), grave 1993/20 (Vo 1998, p.47), and the
above-mentioned specimen from Opalenie; they have
been dated to the period of declining Celtic domination.
The early roman Period is represented by inds from
Hedegrd, Amt randers (Denmark), remlla (Sweden) and Srup, Kr. Schleswig-Flensburg (Germany)
(Hansen 2003, pp.63-65, 68, 69, 78). The geographical distribution of chainmail near the Baltic Sea may
point to Western europe as their place of origin. older
specimens probably came from La Tne culture areas,
younger ones from the Roman provinces, although the
inlow of the latter may be connected with the military
activities of roman armies along the North Sea coast.
ARCHAEOLOGIA
of La Tne culture.11 As for situlas found on Polish territory, the type E 18-20 one appeared most likely via
routes along the oder and Vistula.
Helmet
Two other categories of imports come from Przeworsk
culture alone, from Siemiechw, grave 25. They will
be presented briely, in order to give a full view of the
imported items found alongside swords and sheaths
with crossbars decorated with S-igures. The only helmet found on Polish territory comes from the grave
mentioned in Siemiechw (Fig. 7B.3). There is a vast
literature about the specimen, which was irst classiied
as a roman import (Jadewska 1983; 1986; 1986a),
and later as a helmet of an east Celtic type (Jadewska
1988; 1992; 1994; 1994a; Kaczanowski 1992a, p.172,
1992b, p.53).
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Similar specimens were found in Slovenia, and there

was also one more found in the Black Sea region. Some
new inds of helmets in the La Tne style come from
the recently discovered cemetery at Mutin on the River
Seym in Ukraine (Terpilovskii 2010, p.145). The concentration of theses inds on Slovenian territory cannot
be treated as evidence of local production, but rather as
a manifestation of local traditions, according to which
helmets were a part of funeral equipment, and more
often than in other regions. This tradition was already
observed in the Hallstatt Period, and it endured until
the roman Period. That is why it seems fair to exclude
the western provenance of three-section helmets, for in
western Celtic areas other types of construction were
used for head protection at the time.
Knives
Grave 25 at Siemiechw contained two more imported items, namely knives with the grip ending in
a loop (Fig. 8.8-9). These were quite popular tools in
Celtic culture, although rather rarely found in inventories of latinised cultures graves. The fact that knives
75

TOMASZ
BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
Fig. 7. A: 1a-1d Lachmirowice site 5, sword from grave 1. B. Siemiechw, grave 25: 1 fragment of an Sigure ornament; 2 sword inside a scabbard; 3 helmet. A no scale; B scale 1:4. Figure omitted the presence
of local ceramic vessels (after Jadewska 1988; 1997).
76
BALTICA 18
ARCHAEOLOGIA
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Fig. 8. Siemiechw site 2, grave 25: 1 spearhead; 2 handle of a bucket; 3 a piece of the arch of a
bucket; 4 a long strip itting of a vessel; 5 shield-boss; 6 a piece of a long strip itting; 7 a piece of
a knife; 8, 9 knives with rounded hilts; 10 a piece of a ibula; 11 iron itting. 1-9 scale 1:4, 10, 11
scale 1:2. Figure omitted the presence of local ceramic vessels (after Jadewska 1988; 1997).
77

TOMASZ
BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
Map 5. The distribution of inds of chainmail in europe from the ifth century BC to the irst century AD (after Hansen
2003, with addendum).
of this kind were not too popular on non-Celtic territories makes us think that they were imported. Producing such items does not require much skill. Still,
they were not often found in inventories of Przeworsk
culture graves; only one such item has been found on
Pomeranian territory. Knives usually appear in graves
together with other pieces of the inventory, an observation that makes us think that they did not have any
special status. We can assume that there was no great
demand for them. A few specimens known from Polish
territory were not the products of local workshops, but
came from Celtic territories together with their owners. They were probably treated not as merchandise
goods, but as part of the personal equipment of Celtic
newcomers, and through personal relations they came
into the possession of local people (Bochnak 2007). In
our opinion, the extent of the penetration of people of
La Tne culture on Polish territory is relected in the
distribution of knives with handles ending in a loop.
Conclusions
78
The range of imports that were found along with swords

in sheaths with crossbars decorated with S-igures is
very diversiied. A comparison of the distribution of
each category of artefacts provides us with knowledge
not only about the routes by which they reached Polish
territory, but also about their status. A type A18 version Wederath brooch (according to Vllings clas-
siication) found in Pruszcz Gdaski, site 7, grave 355,

has its closest analogous counterparts in the rhineland.
If we treat bowl-type and type E brooches as imports,
then they probably came to Polish territory from the
south. Without doubt, a roman situla found in opalenie is also a southern import. The distribution of iron
rim cauldrons tells us that at least some of these vessels came to Pomerania from the west with inhabitants
of the Lower elbe basin area. early chainmail might
also have come from the west. A Celtic helmet from
Siemiechw has analogous counterparts in Slovenian
inds, and probably comes from the south of europe.
Knives with a grip ending in a loop also came from
the south. The character of these tools and the circumstances in which they were found make us believe that
they were not goods brought from the oppidum area to
sell. They may be seen as the personal belongings of
Celts, which were later passed on to local inhabitants
who came to the Vistula basin.
What about the origin of swords in scabbards with
crossbars ornamented with three or more S-igures?
We cannot say clearly what their provenance was.
Analogies found in the western part of the Celtic area
(Hoppstdten-Weiersbach, grave 23, a semi-inished
product from Bibracte) suggest that they came from
this very region, but inds from the oppidum in Stradonice show that we cannot entirely exclude the southern provenance of the scabbards mentioned. We should
pay attention to the large disproportion of the number
What was the nature of these contacts? An inlow of

imports is usually explained by military (looting) or
political activities (the exchange of gifts), trade or social relations (marriage). It is dificult to imagine that
establishing political relations with the tribes that inhabited territories beyond their direct area of interest
would have been the purpose of the Celts or the Romans. When it comes to marriage, patrilocality12 was
probably a social practice between members of the
above-mentioned tribes. This rules out the possible
explanation of the inlow of highly masculine items
(such as military items), particularly from the distant
territories inluenced by La Tne culture, as a result of
intercultural marriages. The kinds of relations through
which imports reached Polish territory could have been
of a political nature, but these, in the light of the lack
of interest mentioned on the part of the Celts and the
romans, seem to have been highly improbable. We
have come to the conclusion that the inlow of foreign
objects was probably the result of established trade
contacts, whereby the inhabitants of the Lower Vistula region must have had at their disposal some kind
of equivalent in exchange for precious foreign goods.
Did swords in scabbards with crossbars decorated with
S-igures and other imports appear in the territories
mentioned in exchange for amber? This hypothesis is
the most probable one, although we must bear in mind
that, with the methodological tools that are currently
12
There is little information about it, and it applies mainly to

Germanic tribes (Tacitus, Germania XVIII).
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Magorzata Tuszyska (Muzeum
Archeologiczne, Gdask), Gilles Hamm (UMr 5594,
Glux-en-Glenne), Lionel Pernet (Muse archologique
Lattara, Lattes), and to Gilles Pierrevelcin (UMr
7044, Universit de Strasbourg research associate) for
allowing us to access the text of his dissertation; Magdalena Mczyska (University of Lodz) and Mirosaw
Pietrzak (Muzeum Archeologiczne, Gdask) for their
help and information about unpublished materials;
and Pavel Sankot (Nrodni Muzeum, Prague) for his
help and information about inds from Stradonice. We
would like to kindly thank Magorzata Antecka and
Marta Kapelak for their helpful hints about the translation, and Katarzyna Bujarska for her valuable support.
BALTICA 18
at our disposal, we are not able to determine, for example, the status of given goods, or the role they could
have played in exchange. This remark is true in the case
of the inest of salted hog-meat, which was brought
down from the Sequania territories and shipped to
Rome (Strabo, Geography, IV. 3, 2). A comparison
of some other details in Geography that deal with the
exchange of goods with Britannia (Geography, IV. 5,
2-3) or Noricum (Geography, IV. 6, 9) with data acquired during excavations undisputedly shows laws in
current archaeological methods. It is worth mentioning
that, according to ethnologists, about 90% of the goods
traded in the Amazon region in South America do not
leave any material trace (olausson 1988, p.22). regardless of the kind of exchange goods which were at
the disposal of the elites inhabiting the region around
the mouth of the Vistula, the goods were highly valued
by contractors from the south and the west, from both
the Celtic circle as well as from rome.
ARCHAEOLOGIA
of scabbards mentioned that were found on Przeworsk

and oksywie culture territories. The disproportion
may suggest that the inhabitants of southern Poland
did not play a very important role in the distribution
of the artefacts discussed. The visible concentration of
these inds in northern Poland somehow resembles the
spread of Jezerine-type brooches (they came from the
south) which are usually considered to have come as
a consequence of long-range, direct trade connections
(Nowakowski 1996, p.220ff, Fig. 1; rawska 2001;
Dbrowska 2003, p.155). In graves that contained
swords in scabbards, we ind Celtic as well as roman
imports (the latter in a minority, which points to the
dynamics of contacts through which imports came to
Polish territory in the irst century BC). It is worth mentioning that imports of southern origin (knives with a
loop, a helmet) have been found on Przeworsk culture
territory, while the northern part of Poland is dominated by objects with analogous counterparts found in the
western part of Celtic territories. The diversiied origin
of the imports shows that people from Oksywie culture
maintained long-distance contact with various cultural
areas, and that higher social classes had access to luxurious goods, regardless of their provenance.
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Abbreviation
WA Wiadomoci Archeologiczne (Warsaw, since
1873)
Catalogue
Oksywie culture
1. Ciepe (Warmhof Abbau), Tczew district, Pomerania
voivodeship.
Grave: urn grave (Fig. 2B.1).
a. Scabbard with a crossbar in the upper part decorated
with three S-igures (?). The sheath also has a straight
mouth-locket reinforced with a proiled slat.
b. Double-edged sword with a straight guard.
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BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
c. Cauldron with iron rim type e4: height 15 centimetres; rim diameter 29 centimetres; diameter of the
handle 7.3 centimetres.
other equipment: ibula type L (according to Kostrzewskis classiication), chape and ittings of singleedged sword, spearhead, six rivets of a shield-boss.
Chronology: Late A2 to Early A3 phase.
Comment: the site was not numbered by researchers.
Literature: Kostrzewski 1919, pp.262, 366; eggers
1951, p.104, Map 10; ga 1958, pp.13, 68, Fig. 4,
Map II; Wielowiejski 1985, p.167; Dbrowska 1988,
p.140; Czarnecka 2007a, p.53; Bochnak 2009, pp.11,
13.
2. Gdask-Nowolipki (Dreilinden), Gdask district,
Pomerania voivodeship.
Grave: urn grave (Fig. 2C.1-6e).
with three S-igures. The sheath also has a campanulate
mouth-locket, and a short suspension loop with symmetrical plates.
b. Double-edged sword with campanulate guard.
other equipment: fragments of unknown ibula, double-edged sword, two spearheads, shield-boss, six rivets of a shield-boss, ceramic vessel.
Literature: Kostrzewski 1919, p.332; Bochnak 2009,
p.9, Fig. 6.5a-5c.
3. opalenie (Mnsterwalde), Tczew district, Pomerania voivodeship.
Grave: urn grave (Fig. 4.1a-4d; 6.1a-7).
a. Scabbard with one crossbar in the upper part decorated with three S-igures. In the lower part of the sheath
there is a decoration of two S-igures (a crossbar?). The
sheath also has a straight mouth-locket reinforced with
a proiled slat, a short suspension loop with symmetrical plates, and a pointed chape with a pair of barbs.
c. Fragments of chainmail: cross-section of the loops
0.7 centimetres.
d. Bronze situla type e20: height 30.5 centimetres; rim
diameter 23.2 centimetres; bottom diameter 17 centimetres.
e. Fibula type e (after Kostrzewskis classiication).
other equipment: spearhead, shield-boss.
80
Chronology: Late A2.

Literature: Kostrzewski 1919, pp.208-211, 258, 280;
eggers 1951, p.61, Map 15; ga 1958, pp.2, 67, Map
II; Dbrowska 1988, pp.208, 209, Map 25; Bokiniec
2008, p.34.
4. Pruszcz Gdaski (Praust), Gdask district, Pomerania voivodeship, site 7.
Grave 355: urn grave.
with at least four S-igures. The sheath also has a campanulate mouth-locket, a short suspension loop with
symmetrical plates, and a pointed chape with a pair of
barbs.
b. Double-edged sword with campanulate guard.
c. Fragment of iron ibula A18a version Wederath
(according to Vllings classiication).
other equipment: fragments of an unknown iron ibula, iron belt-hook type 49 (according to Kostrzewskis
classiication), three iron loops, spearhead, spearshoe,
shield-boss, two iron rivets.
Chronology: A3 phase.
Literature: unpublished material belonging to the Archaeological Museum in Gdask.
Grave 374: urn grave.
a. Scabbard with a crossbar in the upper part decorated with three S-igures. The sheath also has a straight
mouth-locket, a short suspension loop with symmetrical plates, and a pointed chape with a pair of barbs.
other equipment: iron ibula type L (according to
Kostrzewskis classiication), spearhead, spearshoe,
shield-boss, bronze loop, molten bronze loop.
Literature: unpublished material belonging to the Archaeological Museum in Gdask.
Grave 137: urn grave (Fig. 3.1a-11).
with at least four S-igures. The sheath also has a campanulate mouth-locket, a short suspension loop with
c. Iron bowl-like ibula: length 6.7 centimetres.

other equipment: iron belt-hook type 48 (according to
Kostrzewskis classiication), three iron loops, spearhead, spearshoe, fragments of a razor (?), two ceramic
vessels.
Literature: Pietrzak 1997, p.27, Fig. XLIX.137;
uczkiewicz 2006, pp.60, 61, 345, Fig. 16: 2.

c. Iron Celtic helmet: height 13.5 centimetres; diameter
30.7 by 23.5 centimetres.
other equipment: fragment of ibula type M (according
to Kostrzewskis classiication), iron buckle (?), spearhead, shield-boss, two knives with a grip ending with a
loop, a fragment of a knife, ittings of a wooden bucket
(?), ceramics.
BALTICA 18
b. Double-edged sword with a campanulate guard.
a. Scabbard with a crossbar with multiple S-igures (?).

The sheath also has a straight mouth-locket, a short
suspension loop with symmetrical plates, and a pointed
chape with a pair of barbs.
ARCHAEOLOGIA
symmetrical plates, and a pointed chape with a pair of

barbs.
Chronology: A3 phase.
7. ukczyn (Suckschin), Gdask district, Pomerania
voivodeship.
Literature: Jadewska 1994, pp.108, 109; Figs. 7; 8.
Grave 1: (Fig. 1A.1a-1d).
received: 28 January 2012; revised: 9 March 2012;

Accepted: 17 october 2012.
a. Scabbard with a crossbar in the upper part decorated with three S-igures. The sheath also has a straight
mouth-locket reinforced with a proiled slat.
other equipment: shield boss, knife, bronze loop.
Literature: Kostrzewski 1919, pp.336, 366; Bochnak
2009, p.11, Fig. 9a.
Przeworsk culture
8. Lachmirowice, Inowrocaw district, Kujawy-Pomerania voivodeship, site 5.
Grave 1 (Fig. 7A.1a-1d).
a. Scabbard with two crossbars in the upper part of
sheath: the irst one was decorated with three S-igures;
the second was decorated with four S-igures. The
sheath also has a straight mouth-locket reinforced with
a proiled slat, a short suspension loop with symmetrical plates, and a pointed chape with a pair of barbs.
Tomasz Bochnak
Instytut Archeologii
Uniwersytet Rzeszowski
Rzeszw
35-016 Poland
e-mail: tbochnak@univ.rzeszow.pl
Przemysaw Harasim
Instytut Archeologii
Uniwersytet Rzeszowski
Rzeszw
35-016 Poland
e-mail: przemek.harasim@gmail.com
I
E A R LY M E TA L
AGE SOCIETIES:
FROM A
THEORETICAL
ASSESSMENT
TO THEIR
E C O N O M Y,
INTERREGIONAL
C O N TA C T S
AND RITUALS
TA R P R E G I O N I A I I R
VA I r I A K rY P I A I V I e T I N I o
E L I T O K O N TA K TA I :
MAKI APKALAI,
DEKORUOTI TRIMIS AR
D A U G I A U H O R I Z O N TA L I A I
IDSTYT FIGr,
IAUrS LeNKIJoJe
TOMASZ BOCHNAK,
PRZEMYSAW HARASIM
other equipment: two spearheads, shield-boss, knife.

Chronology: A2/A3 to A3 phase.
Literature: Kostrzewski 1919, pp.92, 97, 98, 128, 342,
368, Fig. 80; Zielonka 1970, p.213; Bochnak 2005,
pp.40, 48; 2009, p.14ff.
9. Siemiechw, ask district, Lodz voivodeship, site 2.
Grave 25: urn grave (Fig. 7B.1-3; 8.1-11).
Santrauka
Importuoti dirbiniai, randami kartu su kalavijais, kuri
maki apkalai dekoruoti S simboliu, paskiruose regionuose paplit labai nevienodai (18 pav.; 15 em.).
Tai leidia ne tik atsekti kelius, kuriais jie pateko dabartins Lenkijos teritorij, bet ir nuspti j reikm.
A.18a tipo Wederath varianto seg (pagal Vllingo
81

TOMASZ
BOCHNAK,
in Northern Poland
HARASIM
klasiikacij), rasta Pruszcz Gdaski 7, kape 355, yra

analogika segms, rastoms reino emje. Jei dubens
tipo (bowl-type) segs ir e tipo segs gali bti traktuojamos kaip importas, tai jos ia buvo atgabentos i piet. romnika situla i opalenie neabejotinai taip pat
yra pietinis importas. Katil iraikingais geleiniais
pakraiais paplitimas rodo, kad dal j Pamar su savimi atsigabeno atvykliai i emutins elbs regiono.
Ankstyvieji arviniai markiniai taip pat importuoti i
vakar. Keltikas almas i Siemiechw turi analogij
Slovnijoje ir iuos kratus tikriausiai pateko i pietins europos dalies. Taip pat i piet importuoti peiliai
su rankenomis iediniu galu. i dirbini pobdis ir j
radimo aplinkybs leidia manyti, kad tai ne i oppid
paplitimo arealo atgabenti prekybos objektai, o kelt
asmeniniai daiktai, kurie atsidr pas naujus savininkus, kurie nukeliavo iki Vyslos. K galima pasakyti
apie kalavijus, kuri maktys dekoruotos horizontaliai
idstytais trimis ar daugiau S simboliais? J kilm
dar nra visikai aiki. Analogij rasta vakariniame
kelt areale (Hoppstdten-Weiersbach, kapas 23), neubaigta gaminti maktis i Bibracte leidia manyti,
kad tokios maktys galjo bti gaminamos btent ia,
taiau neatmestina ir j kilm i piet, k rodo Stradonice oppidos radiniai.
Aptariamj kalavij maki retumas Przeworsko
ir oksywo kultr areale leidia manyti, kad pietins
Lenkijos gyventojai menkai teprisidjo prie j platinimo. Tuo tarpu aiki j koncentracija Lenkijos iaurje
sutampa su Jezerine tipo segmis (tarp kitko, jos importuotos i piet), kurios Lenkijos teritorij pateko
tolimosios prekybos ryiais. Kapuose, kuriuose randama kalavij su aptariamomis maktimis, taip pat aptinkama tiek keltik, tiek romnik importuot dirbini
(pastarj nra gausu), kurie atskleidia kontakt dinamik I amiuje. domu tai, kad pietins kilms radini (peiliai su rankenomis iediniu galu, almas) rasta
Przeworsko kultros areale, tuo tarpu iaurinje Lenkijoje rast importuot dirbini analogij inoma vakarinse kelt emse. Importuoti dirbiniai, atgabenti
i skirting region, patvirtina oksywo kultros moni ryius su tolimaisiais kratais ir auktesn socialin
padt uimani asmen galimybes sigyti prabangi
daikt i vairi krat.
Kokia i ryi prigimtis? Importo pasirodymas paprastai siejamas su kariniais (grobis) arba politiniais
veiksmais (apsikeitimas dovanomis), prekyba ar socialiniais ryiais (vedybos). Maai tiktina, kad sivyrav
politiniai ryiai su toliau gyvenaniais ir interes sfer
nepatenkaniais geni vadais buvo inicijuoti kelt ar
romn. Veikiausiai egzistavo patrimoniniai vedybiniai ryiai. Tai paneigia teorij, kad vyriki importuoti
dirbiniai (karybos atributai), vairiuose regionuose pa-
82
plit La Teno kultros moni dka, yra vedybini santyki rezultatas. Importuoti dirbiniai Lenkij tikriausiai
pasiek dl politini interes, nors atsivelgiant tai,
kad iuo kratu pernelyg nesidomjo nei keltai, nei romnai, i mintis vargu ar skambs tikinamai. Manome, kad labiau tiktina yra nusistovjusi prekybini
ryi versija, nes emutins Vyslos regiono gyventojai
savo erdvje buvo suformav tam tikr prekybos prabangiais importiniais daiktais ekvivalent. Ar kalavijai
su maktimis, puotomis S simboliais, ir kiti importuoti daiktai galjo bti sigyti mainais u gintar? i
hipotez yra labai tiktina, taiau reikia turti omenyje
fakt, kad metodologiniu poiriu nemanoma nustatyti prekybos objekt verts ar j svarbos main sistemoje, nes j gal paprasiausiai neiliko, pvz., Strabono
Geograijoje apraoma laivais rom gabenama sdyta msa. remiantis etnologiniais duomenimis, apie
90 % prekybos objekt Amazonje nepaliko joki materiali pdsak. Vis dlto galima manyti, kad Vyslos
emupyje gyven elito atstovai prekiavo grybmis,
kurios turjo paklaus ir buvo vertinamos tiek kelt,
tiek romn pasauliuose.
Vert Agn ivilyt

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A Case of Scabbards With Crossbars Decorated With Three or More S-Figures in Northern Poland Bochnak - Harasim

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ARCHAEOLOGIA

Klaipda University Press

Leidiama pagal projekt Periodini mokslo leidini leidyba,

Prof Dr Claus von Carnap-Bornheim (Zentrum fr Baltische und Skandinavische Archologie,

Cover illustration: A brooch from Laiviai (Kretinga district)

Agn ivilyt. In Search of a Theoretical Assessment

Algirdas Girininkas. The Structure of the Economy

Immo Heske. Ritual Production, Distribution and

Tomasz Bochnak, Przemysaw Harasim.

Christoph G. Schmidt. Just Recycled?

Katarzyna Czarnecka. A Parade Shield from

Joan Pinar Gil. A Crossroad of Cultures on

Maciej Karczewski. On the road to the Other World.

Olga A. Khomiakova. Sambian-Natangian Culture

Konstantin Skvortsov The Formation of

Rasa Banyt-Rowell, Anna Bitner-Wroblewska, Christine Reich.

Roman A. Shiroukhov. Prussian Graves

Rytis Jonaitis. Civitas Rutenica

Guidelines for Authors

Time never ceases to remind us of its relentless march,

C. Miosz, eteiniuose, Rinktiniai eilraiai. Poezje

Miklaevi, I., . Miloas ir Vilnius, eslovas Miloas

the conference People at the Crossroads of Space and

The conference was held at Klaipda University from 13

Harasim discuss connections between Oksywie culture

The article by Maciej Karczewski on the road to the

In his article Civitas Rutenica in Early Vilnius in the

Only two authors work makes up the fourth chapter

In their article entitled Did they exist? The Question

In memory of the great

Pradzieje ziem pruskich od pnego paleolitu do VII w.

When someone expressed their astonishment, he went

Today we can only envy the amazing energy and hard

Jerzy okulicz-Kozaryn (19312012)

He organised numerous archaeological expeditions

Jerzy Okulicz-Kozaryn was often called the master

TOMASZ BOCHNAK, PRZEMYSAW HARASIM

Oksywie culture, in the Pre-Roman Period covering

was additionally reinforced with a proiled slat (Fig.

What is more, in the case of the discussed sheaths, an

According to a drawing from Kostrzewskis publication,

Interregional and Multidirectional Contacts of Local Elites:

greatest diversiication is to be observed among

the classiication provided by P. uczkiewicz),

Interregional and Multidirectional Contacts of Local Elites:

There is a mistaken illustration of the scabbard from

Interregional and Multidirectional Contacts of Local Elites:

Pruszcz Gd., Pruszcz Gd., st. Pruszcz

Pruszcz Gd., st.10, Pruszcz Gd., st. Pruszcz Gd.,

Interregional and Multidirectional Contacts of Local Elites:

feld (Germany), grave 23, dated to LT D2a phase (Fig.

was questioned by Piotr uczkiewicz, who considered

Information from M. Lionel Pernet of the Muse

Not all the criteria distinguished by D. olausson ind

A fragment of an iron artefact in the shape of three

oksywie or Przeworsk culture alone. Moreover, metal

The varying levels of concentration of the discussed

We should note that some local products, such as metal

Interregional and Multidirectional Contacts of Local Elites:

We know few graves in Poland with doubled pieces

It is worth noting that along with swords inside sheaths

cauldron with iron

two spearheads, shield-boss