Osječki zbornik, Vol. Vol. 33 No. xx, 2017.
Professional paper
Currency found at the late Roman necropolis Zmajevac – Mocsolás, Annex to the numismatic topography of Baranja
Slavica Filipović
; Muzej Slavonije, Osijek
Tomislav Šeparović
; Muzej hrvatskih arheoloških spomenika, Split
Abstract
An exceptionally high number of archaeological sites have been recorded in the north-eastern part of Croatian Baranja. It is an area located on an extremely important European communication route, which used to follow the Danube and along which, during the Roman rule, a defensive system - limes was formed, which was made of a series of forts and observation posts. One of those forts was located in the area where the settlement of Zmajevac stands today, the importance of which is evident from the findings from the site Mocsolás, where a protective archaeological research of a late Roman necropolis was conducted in the period 1999 - 2008 and 2012. Among the numerous and various archaeological findings, the group of numismatic findings described in this paper particularly stand out.
The oldest currency is attributed to Emperor Gallienus, from little after the middle of the 3rd century, and the newest is from the second half of the 4th century. Most of the currency findings are from the 4th century, when great attention was given to the defence of the limes and when one of the units from the Legio VI Herculia was stationed there. Considering the representation of currency mints, the analysis of the accurately determined items, from the first half of the 4th century, determined that the currency from the eastern mints is mildly prevalent to the ones from western mints. However, individually, according to the number, the nearest mint in Siscia is largely dominant, which is particularly true in the second half of the 4th century. The greatest intensity of the influx of currency is during Constantine the Great, which is without a doubt the period of greatest prosperity for the settlement Ad Novas. After that period the intensity drops and then increases again between years 348 and 351. After 351 the intensity drops again, as the result of the crisis caused be the situation in the Empire and the incursion of the tribes of Suebi, Quadi, and Sarmati that pillage Pannonia during that period. The intensity of the currency increases again during the rule of Emperors Valentinian I and Valens. During that period, the defence and fortification of the limes became increasingly important, because it was increasingly threatened from barbarian tribes. In 378 Valens died in battle with the Goths at Hadrianopolis, after which the Goths raided and pillaged Pannonia and Dalmatia. The newest currency from the necropolis, pieces with the Emperors Gratian and Valentinian the Second, speak of the complete collapse and failure of the influx of currency in the final decades of the 4th century. During that time the Roman limes on the Danube collapsed, which enabled the barbarian tribes to freely enter Pannonia. At the very end of the fourth and in the early 5th century this area is occupied by the Huns, which is confirmed by the famous Hunnic brace found at the fort in Zmajevac. There were no more currency findings, but it is possible that a grave with 91 beads and a pierced currency from the period of Emperor Valens, which was obviously not used for a longer period, is from that period.
The inspection and analysis of numismatic findings from the Mocsolás necropolis in Zmajevac contributes to the knowledge about numismatic topography and the circulation of currency in Baranja in the late Roman period.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
217720
URI
Publication date:
18.5.2017.
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