Topoare de silex descoperite în așezările culturii Gumelnița de la Urlați (jud. Prahova), Ciolăneștii din Deal, Țigănești (jud. Teleorman), Surdulești (jud. Argeș) și Uzunu (jud. Giurgiu)

Abstract

Although flint axes are characteristic discoveries in the settlements of the Gumelnița culture, their approach in specialized studies is rather isolated. This type of piece is the proof of the skill of the prehistoric craftsmen and shows the existence of complex woodworking techniques. In this study, we analysed nine unique pieces coming from three distinct areas, respectively the north of Muntenia (Urlați), south (Uzunu) and the southwest of the same region (Ciolăneștii din Deal, Țigănești and Surdulești). From the Urlați settlement we publish an axe discovered during the systematic investigations in 2018. The five axes from Ciolăneștii din Deal were discovered in the Măgura Țui tell, located in the meadows of the Câinelui stream/rivulet, a tributary of the Vedea River. This site was archaeologically surveyed in 1964-1965 and systematically investigated in 1966 by A. Nițu and Al. Marinescu. From the tell Țigănești comes a large axe representing an isolated find, without no connection to the 19th century researches of C. Bolliac and D. Butculescu. The axe from Surdulești comes from the excavations performed by M. Petrescu-Dîmbovița in the tell settlement called Movila de la Eleșteu. It was located on the right bank of the Burdea River, a tributary of the Vedea River and was surveyed in 1946. The large axe from Uzunu (Giurgiu County) is part of the patrimony of the Prahova County Museum of History and Archeology, being purchased along with other 124 other pieces by the respective institution in 1959.