7 Arhiepiscopiei Street, Ovidiu Square, Constanța
The early medieval fortified settlement of Oltina – “The Hilltop”
Important discoveries, attributed to several historical periods, have made the territory of Oltina commune (Constanța county) integrated into the Dobrudja archaeological repertoire for more than half a century.
Since 2001, with a few small setbacks, the settlement at the "Capul dealului" point has been systematically researched, under the coordination of researchers Costel Chiriac and Gabriel Custurea (between 2001-2012), and Cristina Talmațchi (starting with 2013).
Archaeological research, financially supported in some campaigns by the Ministry of Culture, has demonstrated the existence of a multi-layered site, which presents several early medieval levels, with complexes (dwellings, craft spaces, etc.) embedded in Roman or Getic layers. The early medieval levels begin somewhere at the end of the 8th century and have an uninterrupted evolution until the end of the 11th century, presenting two distinct phases: under the influence of the first Bulgarian Kingdom (8th-10th centuries); respectively under the administration of the Byzantine Empire (end of the 10th century and in the 11th century).
The results obtained so far highlight the fortified settlement in the Istro-Pontic archaeological landscape, through unique and specific features, compared to other contemporary settlements. For example, a special specificity is given to it by the existence of the defensive system, earthen rampart and ditch, which closes it on the west, in the most exposed area. That is why, from the beginning of the research, the preserved part of the defensive system was targeted.
It was found that the wave presents successive layers of relatively clean, well-compacted, yellowish or medium-grayish brown soil in its upper part. These layers contain small ceramic fragments, burnt wood pigment, and pieces of baked soil.
On the crest of the earthen mound, the existence of some arrangements was recorded, which had the role of strengthening its structure and, possibly, raising it. Their remains consist of stake impressions, placed longitudinally and obliquely on the mound, and stake holes, placed vertically and obliquely. The defensive system of the settlement, the analysis of which represents the first research of this kind at an early medieval settlement in Dobrogea, reveals similar characteristics to the protection system of a settlement near the first capital of the first Bulgarian Kingdom, located near the current locality Pliska.
Fig. 1-2. Traces of the wooden structure on the crest of the earthen mound of the settlement at Oltina – "Capul dealului": imprints of stakes, placed longitudinally and obliquely on the earthen mound, and stake holes, placed vertically and obliquely.
In the early medieval settlement of Oltina-"Capul dealului" systematic archaeological research is currently being carried out in three sectors (A, B and C), which target the western, eastern and northern parts of the site. So far, over 35 early medieval dwellings, two complexes with mechanical grinding facilities, two workshops for metalworking (iron and bronze), numerous pits with various uses and three tombs, respectively two Getic complexes, have been recorded on an area of about 700 sq m.
In sector A, archaeological research focused mainly on the defensive system, but also on the density of habitation and the degree of development.
Based on the records from sector B, it can be said that several transformations took place over time in the perimeter of the settlement. Thus, areas on its edge, initially allocated to economic constructions, were given over to housing (a complex with a grain grinding facility is superimposed by three successive housing units), respectively a reversal of the situation (in which two metalworking workshops superimpose older housing units), without having the certainty of the establishment of a craft “district”. The gradual decline of the settlement, the beginning of which can be correlated from a monetary point of view with the reign of the Byzantine emperor Michael IV (1034-1041) and from a political point of view with the repeated Pecheneg invasions of the fourth decade of the 11th century, to which we tend to attribute several burned housing units recorded in all the sectors investigated, we assume that it determined the reduction of its surface area and the establishment, to the east, of an area with graves.
In sector C, the defensive system was targeted, finding a poor state of preservation.
Fig. 3. Aerial photograph of the Oltina-"Capul dealului" site, on which the sectors and sections are marked.
In the settlement of Oltina-“Capul dealului”, the following types of living space are archaeologically documented: dwellings partially buried in the ground and dwellings built on the ground surface. Inside these, fire installations of the following types are found: ovens dug into the wall of the dwelling, built-in ovens and hearths.
Fig. 4. Dwellings (1-6) and ovens (7-9) discovered in the settlement of Oltina-"Capul dealului" (1-4 sunken dwellings; 5-6 surface dwellings; 7 oven hearth dug into the wall of the dwelling arranged on a layer of bricks and ceramics; 8 oven hearth with the imprints of the wood from the wooden formwork; 9 stone oven with the surface covered with clay).
The inventory of the dwellings consisted of vessels and various ceramic objects (spindles, fishing net weights, brick sharpeners and slingshot balls), bronze objects (simple crosses and reliquaries, belt decorations, rings, earrings, a pyriform bell with a cross cut and fishing rod hooks), bone and horn (handle for a fighting whip, ornamental plates, astragals, stingers, comb for decorating ceramics, skates), glass (bracelets and beads), rock (grinders and sharpening stones), iron (sickles, awls, arrowheads, knives, nails) and coins.
Fig. 5. Ceramics discovered in the settlement of Oltina-"Capul dealului".
The settlement did not function autonomously, it was part of a wider system, which allowed it access to the knowledge and goods of specialized centers, located at a greater or lesser distance, such as the important economic and military center Silistra (in whose area of influence it was continuously located), Păcuiul lui Soare (after 971 AD), but also the northern Dobruja centers, those near the capital Preslav and the Byzantine Empire. Some of the artifacts found in the settlement could have come from their market, as well as others. The presence of objects of wear and adornment, amphorae, ceramics with enamel, with micaceous engobe or decorated with a cogwheel, are just some of the artifacts that reveal an intense economic life within the community, both in the first phase, but especially in the 11th century. These goods arrived here by land or river, a role in this regard being played by the location of the settlement on the banks of the Danube, which gave it the possibility of coming into contact with products made in Danubian centers or traded by sea.
