Pages: 621-642
This article is in Russian
The monetary units, through their diffusion in the Istro-Pontic space and in the northwest of the Pontos Euxeinos, had a double functionality, the primordial religious one and the subsequent commercial one. They were divided into two categories: modified Scythian-type military arrowheads (with three and two edges, sometimes with spines) and specially cast coins for exchange. Such monetary units, although not coins per se, reflected the structural changes in the economy and society of the Greek centers on the Black Sea coast and the relatively immediate surroundings. Later, from the second half of the 6th century BC and in the first part of the 5th century BC, they were oriented towards the local communities located at an appreciable distance from the place of casting. 550 monetary units from both categories were analyzed using XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) and micro-PIXE (micro-Proton Induced X-ray Emission) elemental analysis techniques. Analyses have suggested three types of alloys: the “classic” bronze Cu-Sn-Pb is the most common, being present in each site; Cu-Sn-Pb-Mn alloy and Cu-Sn-Pb-Sb, alloy both being present in the two types of monetary units. The alloy used for the realization of specially cast monetary units for was ensured by remelting tips of the Scythian arrows, initially intended for military conflicts or hunting, and later for exchange and trade.
Keywords: Dobrudja, 6th—5th centuries BC, monetary sign, XRF, micro-PIXE
Information about authors:
Gabriel Mircea Talmaţchi (Constanţa, Romania). PhD. Museum of National History and Archaeology Constanţa. Ovidiu Sq., 12, Constanta, 900745, Romania
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-5854-3663
Daniela Cristea-Stan (Bucharest-Măgurele, Romania). PhD. Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering. Reactorului Street, 30, Bucharest-Măgurele, Ilfov, RO 077125, Romania
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-7537-5884