Pietas et Virtus – Aurum et Memoria

Zur Interpretation der Fundkomplexe aus Pietroasa und Şimleul Silvaniei in Rumänien

Abstract

Pietas et Virtus – Aurum et Memoria. Concerning the Interpretation of the Find Complexes from Pietroasa and Şimleul Silvaniei in Romania

Rich protohistorical hoards are often interpreted as hidden finds that were buried in politically turbulent times. To this is added a connection with events mentioned in the written sources. These moments of crisis, however, are mostly of local importance, whereby »local« can also mean a larger area, for instance the Balkans. Yet, in the first half of the 5^th century, a more extensive horizon of rich depositions appears between southern Scandinavia and the Ukraine. Consequently, a different approach is followed in this article: The extensive Migration period treasure troves from Şimleul Silvaniei and Pietroasa are set within a large geographical context. Thereby it appears that they often served the design of landscapes of remembrance in the direct vicinity of central places. Especially the large gold hoards show how north of the Danube something new developed and new spatial structures were created.