Institute Of Prehistory Research Articles

Badania Instytutu Prahistorii UAM w Poznaniu na Tell Arbid (północno-wschodnia Syria) w latach 2008-2009

In 2008 a new research project has been launched by the Institute of Prehistory, Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań in the framework of Polish-Syrian Archaeological Mission to Tell Arbid. The objective of the project is to make extensive clearance of the remains identified previously in Sector SR at Tell Arbid as belonging to the post-Akkadian period (ca. 2150-2000 BC), a period of alleged abandonment and cultural collapse in the north-eastern part of Syria. Two seasons of fieldwork resulted in extensive exposure of the post-Akkadian structures, including several buildings, household and industrial installations (pottery kiln) as well as some graves. Among the findings, a considerable number of copper/bronze tools, implements and jewelry pieces are worth mentioning; the presence of numerous artifacts of copper/bronze and of a sandstone casting mould is suggestive of presence of a foundry at the site. Beside the post-Akkadian remains, an overlying level belonging to Habur Ware period (ca 1800-1700 BC) was explored. It featured mainly foundations of houses as well as a considerable number of graves dug into the surface of the tell. Among the graves, three family chamber graves stand out, because of their well-preserved construction, including a vaulted chamber, and an entrance shaft protected by a retention wall. One of these graves yielded a rich set of burial gifts, including weapons and other implements of copper/bronze, more than dozen pottery vessels and over 200 beads, as well as some semi-precious stones. Work at the site will be continued in 2010.

Interpretując przeszłość – próby poznańskiej archeologii eksperymentalnej epoki kamienia w Biskupinie

The paper presents the results of an experimental study carried out in the Biskupin Archaeological Museum by several archaeology students of the Institute of Prehistory at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. The project was managed by Katarzyna Pyzewicz PhD. The study, undertaken between 2008 and 2010, included making frames of huts, covering them with cane, as well as creating and using the replicas of the Stone Age tools. The purpose of all experiments was to attempt to answer the questions: how Mesolithic dwellings could have looked like, whether it seems reasonable to try to create “reconstructions” of them, what techniques and types of tools were used to build them, and how effective they really were. The purpose of the study was also to review established theories concerning the Mesolithic dwellings from the Polish Lowland and to draw attention to the cognitive valour of an experiment in archaeology.

Archeologia klasyczna na Uniwersytecie w Poznaniu i konteksty jej powoływania

The article presents the history of Classical Archaeology as a research and study area in Poznan, from the perspective of the times in which it was created and developed. The author of the text also outlines scientific achievements of Poznan university centre in the field. The subject was established already in 1919 with the creation of the University of Poznan itself, and it grew steadily in the interwar period, mainly through the efforts of the only specialist -Mieczyslawa S. Ruxer, PhD. After World War II, Classical Archaeology had been taught at the University since the resumption of its activities in 1945 until 1969, when it was closed. Archaeologists, however, continued both research and teaching in the area -­­ working in the Institute of History and the Institute of History of Art. Moreover, since 1970 Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan has had its own archaeological mission excavating the ancient legion camp and the city of Novae (present Bulgaria). After the fall of communism and the political transformation in 1989, endeavours were made to reactivate Classical Archaeology in Poznan. As a result, it was re-created in 1999, being a part of the Archaeology subject at the Institute of Prehistory, as a specialisation of Archaeology of the Mediterranean. In 2004 it was renamed and since then there has been the specialisation of Oriental and Ancient Archaeology, developing at the Institute of Prehistory at Adam Mickiewicz University.

Teoria i metodologia archeologii na Uniwersytecie w Poznaniu

The article attempts to present and evaluate the role and achievements of the Department of History and Methodology of Prehistory at the Institute of Prehistory at Adam Mickiewicz University, in terms of a reflection on theory and methodology of archaeology, developed in the framework of the Department, and pioneered by Professor Jan Żak. The first part presents an overview of the theoretical reflection and the range of issues undertaken by Professor Żak, while the second, by the employees of the Department of History and Methodology of Prehistory after Professor’s death. What all of these share is an attempt to find answers to questions about what is a “theory” in archaeology, what is its relationship with the practice of the discipline, the humanities and the intellectual world in general, as well as the role it played in the development of Polish archaeology in the past few decades.

Archeologia zachodniego Śródziemnomorza w Poznaniu – stan i perspektywy badań

Polish Mediterranean archeology has been known almost exclusively for investigations carried out in the eastern Mediterranean. The aim of the article is to present research and teaching initiatives that have been undertaken by the researchers from Poznań within the western Mediterranean for the last ninety years. For the purpose, the basic research method has been to analyze the intellectual output in form of academic thesis, monographs and articles. The library exchange, the student participation in the western Mediterranean excavations, and the classes given in the field of Mediterranean archeology have been also analyzed.As a result, a growing interest in the archaeology of the western part of the Mediterranean in the academic community associated with the Institute of Prehistory, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań has been observed, and thus detailed reasons why research in the area should be developed were listed.

Aktywność Pracowni Archeologii Śródziemnomorskiej Epoki Brązu w badaniach nad strefą egejską ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem zagadnienia bursztynu w kulturze mykeńskiej

The Laboratory of Bronze Age Mediterranean Archaeology was established at the Institute of Prehistory in 2008. As a part of its framework a project of excavation in northern Greece has been conducted (Anthemountas Valley Archaeological Project – AVAP), to which two projects granted by the National Science Centre are related. Another research program of the Laboratory concerns the importance of amber in the Mycenaean culture. This has been the issue discussed in the article, and the main categories of archaeological data concerning the amber in Mycenaean world (typology, chronology, dispersion and routes it took to reach from the north) have been presented.

The headquarters building in the tetrarchic fort at Nag'al-Hagar (Upper Egypt)

The excavations of the tetrarchic fort at Nag’al-Hagar, on the E bank of the Nile c.30 km north of Syene (Aswan) and the First Cataract, began in 2005 as a joint mission directed by M. Mackensen between the Supreme Council of Antiquities Aswan, the Swiss Institute of Architectural and Archaeological Research on Ancient Egypt at Cairo, and the Institute of Prehistory and Archaeology of the Roman Provinces of the University of Munich. The fort has an almost square shape; its defences include projecting U-shaped intermediate towers, square corner towers, three gates, and a v-shaped ditch, enclosing an interior of c.2 ha. One of its most remarkable features is the presence of a palace within the defences in the SW quadrant.

Salvaging ethnology

Richard Nunoo was born 1922, Ghana. Achimota College (1938–45). Assistant curator (1945–48) then curator (1948–50), Anthropology Museum, Achimota College (also librarian and teacher at the college). University of London Institute of Archaeology, post‐graduate course in prehistoric European archaeology, and Museums Association diploma (1950–53). Temporary Assistant, British Museum (1954). Senior officer, National Museum, University College of Ghana (1954–58). Ghana Museum and Monuments Board (1958–61). Director, Ghana Museum and Monuments (1961). Permanent councillor, International Union of Protohistoric and Prehistoric Sciences. Vice‐president, general assembly of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, Rome. Vice‐president, Museums Association of Tropical Africa (AMAT‐MATA). Member, National Committee of the International Council of Museums. Member, Italian Institute of Prehistory and Protohistory. Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute, following excavations on Nsuta Hill, Ghana (1948). Excavations in Israel and Ghana. Publications include Report on Asebu Excavations, Ghana (1955).

Long-Handled ‘Weaving Combs’ in the Netherlands

Long-handled combs, predominantly made of antler — although some are of bone or perhaps whalebone — and traditionally associated with weaving, have been thought to be an almost exclusively British phenomenon (Hodson 1964, 103). They are first found in middle or later Bronze Age contexts, but are more usually associated with the Iron Age and go out of use in the later 1st century AD. Although dating of these tools is imprecise, on some sites such as Glastonbury (Bullied & Gray 1911) and Maiden Castle (Wheeler 1943, 298) one can say that the earlier ones are plain and later ones decorated, often with dot and circle and linear patterns. However evidence from Danebury shows the reverse to be the case (Cunliffe & Poole 1991). The combs measure between 80 to 222 mm with an average length of 150 mm. They are mostly dentated only at one end, although some are double-ended. There are usually between 8 and 13 teeth and at the other end the shape of the butts can be plain or they may have squared or rounded ends with or without perforations.Anna Roes (1963) drew attention to a comb from the Frisian terps in the Netherlands (fig. 1, no. 1), housed in the Fries Museum, Leeuwarden. She considered that it may well have been imported from Britain. The comb is undecorated but polished. Its length is 141 mm and width at teeth 37 mm and at the butt end 18 mm. The comb is very concave at the dentated end. There had originally been 12 teeth of which only one outer tooth remained and this is worn on its inner side. Recently two further combs have been found in the Netherlands on two domestic sites of the pre-Roman Iron Age (sites 15.04 and 16.59). Both were excavated by A. Abbink from the Institute of Prehistory of the University of Leiden in 1989 and 1990 respectively (Abbink 1989; 1991).