facets of the past the challenge of the balkan neo eneolithic 2008

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FACETS OF THE PAST THE CHALLENGE OF THE BALKAN NEO-ENEOLITHIC

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM CELEBRATING

THE 85TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF EUGEN COMA 612 OCTOBER 2008, BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

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Responsible editor: Alexandra Coma

Editors:

Clive Bonsall Lolita Nikolova

FACETS OF THE PAST THE CHALLENGE OF THE BALKAN NEO-ENEOLITHIC

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM CELEBRATING THE 85TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF EUGEN COMA

612 OCTOBER 2008, BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

THE PUBLISHING HOUSE OF THE ROMANIAN ACADEMY

Bucharest, 2013

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Copyright Editura Academiei Romne, 2013. All rights reserved.

EDITURA ACADEMIEI ROMNE THE PUBLISHING HOUSE OF THE ROMANIAN ACADEMY

Calea 13 Septembrie nr. 13, sector 5, 050 711, Bucureti, Romnia Tel. 4021-318 81 46, 4021-318 81 06 Fax 4021-318 24 44 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.ear.ro

Peer reviewers: Acad. ALEXANDRU VULPE Acad. MIRCEA PETRESCU-DMBOVIA Prof. univ. dr. NICOLAE URSULESCU

Peer editors: TINAIG CLODOR TISSOT, RUXANDRA ALAIBA Copy editor: KALINA GALABOVA Editorial assistant: VIRGINIA PETRIC Computer operators: MARIA-MAGDALENA JINDICEANU, LUIZA STAN

Final proof: 4.10.2013; Format: 16/70100; Proof in sheets: 49,25

D.L.C. for large library: 082.2 (Coma, Eugen)

90(Coma, Eugen) (082)902.6 (498) (082)

D.L.C. for small libraries: 9

Printed in Romania

Descrierea CIP a Bibliotecii Naionale a Romniei OMAGIU, COMA. Eugen Facets of the past : the Challenge of the Balkan Neo-Eneolithic: Proceedings of the international symposium celebrating the 85th birth anniversary of Eugen Coma : 6-12 October 2008, Bucharest, Romania ; responsible editor: Alexandra Coma ; editors: Clive Bonsall, Lolita Nikolova ; peer editors: Tinaig Clodor Tissot, Ruxandra Alaiba ; copy editor: Kalina Galabova. Bucureti : Editura Academiei Romne, 2013 ISBN 978-973-27-2201-5 I. Facets of the past. Simpozion internaional (2008 ; Bucureti) II. Coma, Alexandra (ed.) III. Bonsall, Clive (ed.) IV. Nikolova, Lolita (ed.) V. Clodor Tissot, Tinaig (ed.) VI. Alaiba, Ruxandra-Elena (ed.) VII. Galabova, Kalina (ed.) 94(498) Coma, E. 929 Coma, E. 394.94

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OCTOBER 20, 1923 NOVEMBER 7, 2008

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CONTENTS J CUPRINS Tabula gratulatoria .................................................................................................................... 11

Foreword ................................................................................................................................... 13 Cuvnt-nainte ............................................................................................................................ 15 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... 17 Mulumiri.................................................................................................................................... 19

Symposium / Simpozionul......................................................................................................... 21

FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ACTIVITY OF EUGEN COMA Mircea Petrescu-Dmbovia Dr. Eugen Coma at 85 Years ............................................... 27 Mircea Petrescu-Dmbovia Dr. Eugen Coma la 85 de ani..................................................... 29

Eugenia Zaharia Eugen Coma (20 October 1923 7 November 2008) .......................... 32 Eugenia Zaharia Eugen Coma (20 octombrie 1923 7 noiembrie 2008) .............................. 33

Lolita Nikolova Archaeology and the Generation Memory ............................................... 35 Lolita Nikolova Arheologia i memoria generaiei.................................................................. 36

Eugen Coma Biography.......................................................................................................... 38 Biografie Eugen Coma.............................................................................................................. 40

Selective List of Eugen Comas Publications ........................................................................ 43

CONTRIBUTIONS Clive Bonsall, Kathleen McSweeney, Robert Payton, Catriona Pickard, Lszl

Bartowiewicz, Adina Boronean Death on the Danube: Late Mesolithic Burials at Schela Cladovei, Romania / Moarte pe Dunre: morminte din mezoliticul trziu la Schela Cladovei, Romnia ............................................................................................. 55

Mihael Budja Pots and Potters in the Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition in Europe / Vase i meteri olari n tranziia de la mezolitic la neolitic din Europa................................... 68

Nicolae Ursulescu Problmes concernant le dbut du Nolithique de lspace Carpathique dans les travaux de Eugen Coma / Probleme privind nceputul Neoliticului n spaiul carpatic n lucrrile lui Eugen Coma ......................................... 93

Corneliu Beldiman, Diana-Maria Sztancs The Osseous Artefacts of the Starevo-Cri Culture in Romania. An Overview / Industria materiilor dure animale n cadrul culturii Starevo-Cri din Romnia. Privire general..................................................... 106

Rodica Mihilescu Further Thoughts on Starevo-Cri Figurines from Romania Typology and Significance / Alte gnduri despre figurinele Starevo-Cri din Romnia tipologie i semnificaie ............................................................................... 134

George Trohani Dou recente achiziii ale Muzeului Naional de Istorie a Romniei: o fructier Cri i un vas de tip phial / Deux rcentes aquisitions du Muse National de la Roumanie Une fruitire Cri et un vase de tip phiale.......................................... 155

Jak Yakar Spiritualism in Neolithic Anatolia / Spiritualism n Anatolia neolitic.............. 162

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Arkadiusz Marciniak Social Trajectories and Idiosyncrasies. The North European Plain in the Early Neolithic and Beyond / Traiectorii sociale i idiosincrazii. Cmpia nord-european n neoliticul timpuriu i ulterior............................................... 172

Lszlo Mrk, Antnia Marcsik Mass Spectrometric Analysis of 7000 Year-Old Sex Steroids (Methodological study) / Analiz spetrometric de mas a steroizilor sexuali cu o vechime de 7000 de ani (studiu metodologic) ............................................ 183

Barbara Voytek The Balkan Neolithic: a Study in Sedentary Village Life / Neoliticul balcanic: un studiu al vieii sedentare din aezri........................................................... 192

Lolita Nikolova Households, Enculturation and Everydayness within the Vina Communities / Gospodrii, enculturaie i via cotidian n comunitile Vina......... 202

Marco Merlini Did Southeastern Europe Develop an Archaic System of Writing in the Neo-Eneolithic Times? / A dezvoltat Europa de Sud-Est un sistem arhaic de scriere n perioada neo-eneolitic?............................................................................................. 215

Michel Louis Sfriads Spondyles roumains, Spondyles americains / Scoicile Spondylus din Romnia i din America ......................................................................... 247

John Chapman A Tale of Two Cemeteries Cernica and Vrti / Povestea a dou cimitire Cernica i Vrti........................................................................................... 273

Done erbnescu Research on the Eneolithic Tell of Vldiceasca, Clrai County Romania / Cercetri n tell-ul eneolitic de la Vldiceasca, judeul Clrai Romnia........ 312

Iharka Szcs-Cillit, Zoia Maxim The Astronomical Orientation of the Skeletons from the Neolithic Necropolis of Cernica / Orientarea astronomic a scheletelor din necropola neolitic de la Cernica ................................................................................... 336

Drago Gheorghiu Foundation Trenches: a Brief Approach to the Technology of Building and Deconstruction of the Southeastern Europe Chalcolithic Buildings / anuri de fundaie: o scurt abordare a tehnologiei de construcie i deconstrucie a cldirilor chalcolitice din Europa de Sud-Est ................................................................. 347

Georgeta El Susi Unpublished Data about Fauna Expoited by Precucutenian Communities from Costia (Neam County) / Date inedite despre fauna exploatat de ctre comunitile precucuteniene de la Costia (judeul Neam) .............................. 364

Maria Gurova Towards the Meaning of Flint Grave Goods: A Case Study from Bulgaria / Cu privire la semnificaia inventarului funerar din silex: un studiu de caz din Bulgaria.................................................................................................................... 375

Otis Norman Crandell Regarding the Procurement of Lithic Materials at the Neolithic Site at Limba (Alba County, Romania): Sources of Local and Imported Materials / Despre procurarea unor materiale litice din situl neolitic de la Limba (judeul Alba, Romnia): surse locale i de import ........................................................ 394

Tanya Dzhanfezova Prehistoric Pintaderas Study Questions or a Question of Studies / Pintadere preistorice Probleme ale studiului sau studiul problemelor ....................... 416

Gabriel Crciunescu propos de lneolithique sur le territoire du dpartement de Mehedini (Roumanie) / Despre eneoliticul de pe teritoriul judeului Mehedini (Romnia) ...................................................................................................................... 433

Dan Buzea The Archaeological Research Carried out by the National Museum of Eastern Carpathians Regarding the Cucuteni-Ariud-Tripolie Cultural Complex. The Archaeological Site from oimeni, Puleni CiucCiomortan, Harghita County, Romania / Cercetarea arheologic efectuat de ctre Muzeul Naional al Carpailor Rsriteni privind Complexul Cultural Cucuteni-Ariud-Tripolie. Situl arheologic de la oimeni, Puleni Ciuc Ciomortan, judeul Harghita, Romnia ......................................................................................................................... 450

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Facets of the past 9

Eugenia Zaharia The Cucuteni B from Srata Monteoru, Merei Commune, Buzu County, Romania / Ceramica Cucuteni B de la Srata Monteoru, comuna Merei, judeul Buzu, Romnia ................................................................................................. 489

Ruxandra Alaiba Le site archologique Dumeti ntre Praie (dp. Vaslui), Cucuteni A3-4, Roumanie. La cramique peinte les verres / Staiunea arheologic Dumeti ntre praie (jud. Vaslui),.Cucuteni A3-4, Romnia. Ceramica pictat pahare.............. 496

Sergiu Haimovici The Archaeozoological Study of Fauna Remains Identified in the Cucutenian Settlement of Dumeti ntre praie, Vaslui County, Romania / Studiul arheozoologic al unor resturi faunistice descoperite n situl cucutenian de la Dumeti ntre praie, judeul Vaslui, Romnia........................................................... 516

Oleg Leviki, Ruxandra Alaiba La cramique peinte de ltape Cucuteni B2, dcouverte a Trinca La an, dpartement dEdine, Republique de Moldavie / Ceramica pictat a etapei Cucuteni B2, descoperit la Trinca La an, raionul Edine, Republica Moldova ........................................................................................................ 526

Dan Monah Cum a fost descoperit Soborul Zeielor de la Poduri, Romnia / Comment on a dcouvert Soborul Zeielor de Poduri, Roumanie............................... 547

Cornelia-Magda Lazarovici Pini, plachete sau tblie de lut cu semne i simboluri / Clay Breads, Slates or Tablets with Signs and Symbols ................................................ 560

Tudor Arnut, Rodica Ursu-Naniu Cucuteni Remains in the Coglnic Valley (Stolniceni Village, Hnceti County, Republic of Moldova). A Preliminary Report / Vestigii Cucuteni pe Valea Coglnicului (satul Stolniceni, raionul Hnceti, Republica Moldova). Raport preliminar......................................................................... 574

Ilie Slceanu Slcua IV Cultural Elements in Protocernavod III-Protobolerz Horizon from North-Western Romania / Elemente culturale Slcua IV n orizontul Protocernavod III-Protobolerz din nord-vestul Romniei........................................... 589

Dan Buzea, Andreea (Chiricescu) Dak Ethno-Archaeological Discoveries from Olteni, Covasna County, Romania / Descoperirile etno-arheologice de la Olteni, judeul Covasna, Romnia.......................................................................................................... 599

Alexandra Coma General Categories of Factors that Induce Pathology in the Neolithic Times of Romania / Categorii generale de factori care induc patologia n perioada neolitic din Romnia...................................................................................... 626

Geta Minciun Le cadre natural et les processus gomorphologiques actuels de Radovanu / Cadrul natural i procesele geomorfologice actuale de la Radovanu ......... 639

Georgeta Miu, Ruxandra Alaiba The Archaeological and Anthropological Study of the Burial from Banca Gar apte Case (Vaslui County, Romania). The Zhivotilovka Volchansk Bursuceni Group / Studiul arheologic i antropologic al mormntului de la Banca Gar apte Case (judeul Vaslui, Romnia). Grupul Zhivotilovka Volchansk Bursuceni .......................................................................... 659

Cristian Schuster, Done erbnescu, Traian Popa, Alexandru S. Morintz Radovanu (Bezirk Clrai) und Mironeti (Bezirk Giurgiu), zwei Grabungsorte am rechten Arge-Ufer / Radovanu (judeul Clrai) i Mironeti (judeul Giurgiu), dou situri de pe malul drept al Argeului...................................................................... 669

Cantemir Ricuia, Irina Ricuia, Angela Petrescu, Lucia Pltnea, Lia Ivan The Paleoeuropoid Anthropological Type, as a Principal Component of the Actual Romanian Population of the Western Carpathians / Tipul antropologic paleoeuropoid, ca o component principal a populaiei romneti actuale din Carpaii Occidentali ..................................................................................................................... 693

Ionu Semuc Cluul, ntre ritual i spectacol / The Cluul Custom, between Ritual and Show........................................................................................................................ 699

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EXIBITIONS AND INFORMATIVE TRIPS Lolita Nikolova, Alexandra Coma, Marco Merlini (compilers and editors), Early Euro-

Pontic Culture Ambience and Pattern. In Memory of Eugen Coma. Versita, London ....... 715 The First Exhibition (Selective Pictures) / Prima expoziie (imagini selective)...................... 719 The Second Exhibition (Selective Pictures) / A doua expoziie (imagini selective)................ 729 The Third Exhibition (Selective Pictures) / A treia expoziie (imagini selective)................... 733 Mayors Speech at the Festivity of Awarding the Title of Citizen of Honour to Dr. Eugen

Coma / Discursul primarului la festivitatea de acordare a titlului de Cetean de Onoare domnului dr. Eugen Coma ............................................................................... 743

Archaeological sites of the Radovanu Village Excavated by Eugen and Maria Coma / Situri arheologice de pe teritoriul localitii Radovanu unde au efectuat spturi Eugen i Maria Coma ................................................................................... 747

Abbreviations / Abrevieri.......................................................................................................... 785 Versita, London

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TABULA GRATULATORIA Maria Gurova National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria Tanya Dzhamfezova St. Cyril and St. Methodius University, Sofia, Bulgaria Otis Crandell University Babe-Bolyai Cluj-Napoca, Romania and Canada Michel Sfriads Universit de Rnnes 1, Laboratoire dAnthropologie, France Clive Bonsall University of Edinburgh, Great Britain John Chapmann University of Durham, Great Britain Bisserka Gaydarska University of Durham, Great Britain Ernst Pernicka University of Tbingen and Curt Engelhorn Zentrum Archaeometrie,

Germany Joseph Maran Institute fr Ur- und Frhgeschichte Heidelberg, Germany Elmar Christmann Institut fr Ur- und Frhgeschichte Heidelberg, Germany Horvath Ferenc Mor Ferenc Mseum, Szeged, Hungary Valyi Katalin Mor Ferenc Museum, Szeged, Hungary Antonia Marcsik University of Szeged, Hungary Emmanuel Anati Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici, Capo di Ponte, Italy Jak Yakar University of Tel Aviv, Israel Valentin Dergacev Institute of Archaeology Chiinu, the Republic of Moldova Arkadiusz Marciniak Adam Mickievicz University, Poznan, Poland Rodica Mihilescu Gheorghe Lazr National College, Bucharest, Romania Georgeta Cardo Victor Babe Institute of Genetics and Human Pathology, Bucharest,

Romania Eugenia Zaharia Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology, Bucharest, Romania Petre Roman Center of Thracology of Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology,

Bucharest, Romania Cristian Schuster Center of Thracology of Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology,

Bucharest, Romania Alexandra Coma Center of Thracology of Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology,

Bucharest, Romania Alexandru Morintz Center of Thracology of Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology,

Bucharest, Romania Gabriel Crciunescu Museum of the Iron Gates Region, Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Romania Dan Buzea Museum of the Eastern Carpathians, Sfntu Gheorghe, Romania Andreea Chiricescu-Dak Museum of the Eastern Carpathians, Sfntu Gheorghe,

Romania Done erbnescu, Museum of the Gumelnitza Civilization, Oltenia, Romania Zoia Maxim Museum of National History of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Dan Monah Institute of Archaeology Iai, Romania Ruxandra Alaiba Center of Thracology of Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology

Bucharest Iai Branch Romania Georgeta Miu Section of Anthropology of the Romanian Academy, Iai, Romania Nicolae Ursulescu Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Iai, Romania Magda Lazarovici Institute of Archaeology Iai, Romania M. Petrescu Dmbovia Institute of Archaeology Iai, Romania Drago Gheorghiu National University of Art Bucharest, Romania Gheorghe Lazarovici Eftimie Murgu University Reia and Lucian Blaga University

Sibiu, Romania Georgeta El Susi Center of Thracology of Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology

Bucharest Timioara Branch Romania Mihael Budja University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

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12 Tabula gratulatoria

Barbara Voytek University of Berkeley California, United States of America Lolita Nikolova University of Utah, the United States of America, International Institute

of Anthropology Salt Lake City Utah, the United States of America, Institute for Development and Innovation in Education and Science, Sofia, Bulgaria

and Institute for Development and Innovation in Education and Science, Sofia, Bulgaria Marco Merlini Euroinovanet Roma, Italy, Lucian Blaga University Sibiu, Romania,

Institute of Archaeomythology Sebastopol, the United States of America

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FOREWORD

This volume encloses the results of the symposium dedicated to the 85th birth anniversary of my father, Dr. Eugen Coma, one of the most prominent figures of the Romanian archaeology, who, unfortunately, was celebrated for the first time and last time in his scientific career, even if he had hardly worked, for about 60 years, at the National Museum of Antiquities, which later became the Institute of Archaeology. Despite his total dedication to his work and sacrifices he had made for undertaking hundreds of surveys, rescue and systematic excavations, he was never appreciated at his true value. Moreover, he was constrained to retire in a scientific position which he had occupied for about 30 years, which, according to the Romanian organizational chart, is called principal scientific researcher III, more appropriate for a young and a less experienced scientist. This is why, despite his huge experience and special archaeological senses, he could not even dream about being a Ph.D. coordinator, or about higher academic positions, because, legally, only those who are principal scientific researchers I could be qualified for such. He published about 400 articles and 11 volumes and he took excavations, both in Romania and, as a visiting archaeologist, in the neighboring countries (the Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, Ukraine etc.). The concrete list with the outcome of his work was gathered in five volumes, each of more than 100 type-written pages.

The above-mentioned facts were the reasons that urged me to organize this symposium, to give him at least a glimpse of respect and consideration of some people around him, or far away from him. I had a nice surprise to see that, even if I got personal bank loans and had no financial support of any Romanian institution, people accepted to come, some of them on their own expenses, just for being together, in such festive moments.

I have the satisfaction that I did the things the way I considered appropriate for my father and the participants were pleased with the results. I am also glad that the contributions brought here were important or, at least, made with an open heart and people tried to do their best in emphasizing the significant contribution of my father to the Romanian archaeology. Unfortunately, he is highly appreciated abroad and less in his own country.

Moreover, there are people who not only disregard his work, but also pretend that they had discovered methods which were invented by my father, given that the copyright law provides just a slight protection for the scientific world in Romania. We could mention here the case of a young Romanian archaeologist, who, during his documentation for his doctorate thesis, might have came across the publications where Dr. Eugen Coma had detailed his methods conceived after a long experience and fieldwork in many necropolises, like the one of Radovanu. In that site, archaeologist Dr. Eugen Coma applied his own criteria of establishing the position of the Gumelnita necropolis, according with the one of the settlement. He used this method in other cemeteries from Romania and, as far as I know, in the Republic of Moldova, Southern Ukraine and in north-eastern Bulgaria, being

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14 Foreword

always successful. The young fellow claimed that the mentioned method was designed by himself and started to ask for money in order to apply it. Yet, to his own dismay, he was unsuccessful in his enterprise and he could also not find any Cucuteni necropolis. He did not know a small thing: like any other inventor, my father did not publish all details of his methods as, for instance, he had used elements from the field that he did not specify in his texts.

Another aspect to be mentioned is the fact that, despite the invitation addressed to mass media, no newspaper, no radio and no television was available at that time, not even after the opening session. Yet, the representatives of the Embassy of France (Michel Farine Attach pour Cooperation Scientifique, Antoine Chouinard Charge de Coopration Scientifique et Universitaire, Service de Cooperation et Action Culturelle) were interested in finding about the results of a Romanian archaeologist and they were present at our meeting and moreover provided us with financial help. Dr. Eugen Coma was also honored by a Certificate for outstanding contribution to Balkan Prehistory by the International Institute of Anthropology, Salt Lake City1, United States of America and by the Diploma of excellence awarded by the Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology.

* No matter how hard it was for me to bring everything to the end, I was

rewarded by the smile on my fathers face, anytime I told him about the proceedings of the symposium, as, at that time, he was ill at home. I am sure that, even now, after departing from me, he still watches over me, like my mother and my sister and, even if I am unable to see it, he will have a whimsical smile of delight when this book is coming out.

* The present volume includes the contributions to the symposium, organized

in chronological order, starting with the Early Neolithic cultures or prior to them and reaching up to the later ones. The papers belong to specialists in archaeology, architecture, archaeozoology, anthropology, geology, genetics, geography and other fields, each of them coming with their own perspective about the studied phenomena, or objects. This offers a more complete image about the way of life and spirituality of the mentioned communities. We hope that this would be a challenging volume, providing new interpretations and exchange of ideas that would finally result in new topics of study, or, at least, in approaching older by a new angle.

Alexandra Coma

1 http://www.iianthropology.org/comsasymposium2008poster.html

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CUVNT-NAINTE

Acest volum nglobeaz rezultatele simpozionului dedicat celei de-a 85-a aniversri a tatlui meu, Dr. Eugen Coma, una dintre cele mai proeminente figuri ale arheologiei romneti care, din nefericire, a fost srbtorit pentru prima i ultima oar n cariera sa tiinific, chiar dac a muncit din greu, timp de mai bine de 60 de ani, la Muzeul Naional de Antichiti, care a devenit mai trziu Institutul de Arheologie. n ciuda devotamentului pentru munca sa i a sacrificiilor pe care le-a fcut pentru sute de periegheze, spturi de salvare i sistematice, el nu a fost niciodat apreciat la adevrata sa valoare. Mai mult dect att, a fost constrns s se retrag ntr-o poziie tiinific pe care a ocupat-o timp de aproape 30 de ani care, conform schemei romneti de personal, este cea de cercettor tiinific principal III, mult mai potrivit pentru un cercettor tnr i neexperimentat. Acesta este motivul pentru care, n ciuda uriaei sale experiene i a simului arheologic special, nu a putut visa vreodat s fie coordonator de doctorate, sau s aib vreo poziie academic mai nalt deoarece, legal, doar cei care sunt cercettori triinifici principali I ar fi calificai pentru aa ceva. El a publicat mai mult de 400 de articole i 11 volume i a efectuat spturi, att n Romnia ct i, ca arheolog invitat, n rile nvecinate (Republica Moldova, Bulgaria, Ucraina etc.). Lista final a rezultatelor muncii sale a fost adunat n cinci volume, fiecare a peste 100 de pagini.

Lucrurile menionate mai sus au fost motivele care m-au impulsionat s organizez acest simpozion, pentru a-i oferi mcar o frntur de respect i consideraie din partea unor oameni din preajma lui sau de departe. Am avut o plcut surpriz s constat c, dei am luat credite personale de la banc i nu am avut sprijinul financiar al niciunei instituii romneti, oamenii au acceptat s vin, unii cheltuind banii lor proprii, numai pentru a fi mpreun, n astfel de momente festive.

Am satisfacia c am fcut lucrurile aa cum am considerat mai potrivit pentru tatl meu i participanii au fost mulumii de rezultat. Sunt, de asemenea bucuroas deoarece prezentrile aduse aici au fost importante sau, cel puin, fcute cu sufletul deschis, iar ei s-au strduit s evidenieze contribuia semnificativ a tatlui meu la arheologia romneasc. Din nefericire, el este foarte apreciat peste hotare i mult mai puin n propria ar. Mai mult dect att, exist oameni care nu numai c i desconsider munca ci, de asemenea, pretind c ei au descoperit metode care au fost concepute de tatl meu, dat fiind c legea dreptului de autor ofer doar o slab protecie pentru lumea tiinific din Romnia. Am putea meniona aici cazul unui tnr arheolog romn care, n timpul documentrii pentru teza de doctorat, probabil c a dat peste publicaiile unde Dr. Eugen Coma a menionat metodele sale, concepute dup o ndelungat experien i munc de teren n multe necropole, cum este cea de la Radovanu. n situl menionat, arheologul Dr. Eugen Coma i-a aplicat propriile criterii de stabilire a poziiei necropolei Gumelnia, n funcie de cea a aezrii. A folosit aceast metod n alte cimitire din Romnia i, din cte tiu eu, n Republica Moldova i nord-estul Bulgariei, avnd ntotdeauna succes.

Tnrul a pretins c el a conceput acea metod i a ncercat s obin bani pentru a o aplica. Dar, spre dezamgirea lui, nu a avut succes n aceast aciune i nici n cazul necropolei Cucuteni. A uitat un lucru: ca muli ali inventatori, tatl meu nu a publicat toate detaliile metodelor lui, folosindu-se, de exemplu, de elemente din teren, pe care nu le preciza n lucrri.

Un alt aspect demn de menionat este faptul c, n ciuda invitaiei adresate ntregii mass-media, niciun ziar, niciun post de radio i nicio televiziune nu au fost disponibile la acea vreme, nici mcar dup sesiunea de deschidere. Totui, reprezentanii Ambasadei Franei (Michel Farine Attach pour Cooperation Scientifique, Antoine Chouinard Charge de Coopration Scientifique et Universitaire, Service de Cooperation et Action Culturelle) au fost dornici s afle despre rezultatele unui arheolog romn, au fost prezeni la ntrunirea noastr i, mai mult dect att, ne-au oferit sprijin financiar. Dr. Coma a fost de asemenea onorat printr-un Certificat pentru contribuia de excepie la preistoria balcanic, acordat de ctre Institutul Internaional de Antropologie din Salt Lake City, Statele Unite ale Americii i prin Diploma de excelen acordat de Institutul de Arheologie Vasile Prvan.

*

Indiferent ct de greu mi-a fost s duc totul la bun sfrit, am fost recompensat de zmbetul de pe faa tatlui meu, n fiecare zi cnd i povesteam despre lucrrile simpozionului, dat fiind c, la

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16 Cuvnt-nainte

acea vreme, el era acas, bolnav. Sunt sigur c i acum, dup ce a plecat de lng mine, el nc m vegheaz, la fel ca i mama i sora mea i, chiar dac nu pot pot s-l vd, el va purta un zmbet enigmatic de mulumire atunci cnd va aprea aceast carte.

*

Acest volum include contribuiile de la simpozion, organizate n ordine cronologic, ncepnd cu cele referitoare la culturile Neoliticului timpuriu sau dinainte de acesta, i ajungnd pn la cele trzii. Lucrrile aparin unor specialiti n arheologie, arhitectur, arheozoologie, antropologie, geologie, genetic, geografie i alte domenii, fiecare dintre ei venind cu propria abordare privind fenomenele sau obiectele studiate. Acest fapt ofer o imagine mai cuprinztoare despre modul de via i spiritualitatea comunitilor menionate. Sperm c va fi un volum stimulator, care va oferi noi interpretri i schimburi de idei, ceea ce, n final, va avea drept rezultat noi tematici de studiu sau, cel puin, abordarea unora mai vechi din unghiuri noi.

Alexandra Coma

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am deeply indebted and, in some cases, I am simply out of words to express my gratitude to some persons whose important contribution made not only possible, but even comfortable, the proceedings of our symposium and the publishing of the volume in good conditions. These are:

Acad. Alexandru Bogdan, but also Director Amalia Sceanu and Victor Sceanu, from the Patrimoniu Foundation, who offered me a helping hand for the publishing of this volume;

Acad. Mircea Petrescu-Dmbovia, former professor of Eugen Coma, for his constant support, before, during and after the meeting;

The entire team of editors beside me (Clive Bonsall Great Britain, Lolita Nikolova USA and Bulgaria,) and proof editors (Tinaig Clodor Tissot France and Ruxandra Alaiba Romania), but also Kalina Galabova (United States of America), copy-editor of the volume, who worked very hard on processing the papers of the symposium in order to bring them to a uniform condition, for being published and did a great job. I would especially mention the efforts of Dr. Lolita Nikolova, who, besides her involvement into the volume editing, also guided me in initiating and establishing contacts with my fathers collaborators abroad and she also supported me financially. Besides, I should mention the special efforts of Mrs. Diana iu, the wife of Clive Bonsall, who helped me in creating a good correlation between the Romanian and English version of some papers; moreover, I am also deeply grateful to Prof. Marian Dinu from North Dakota State University United States, for his valuable help, in many aspects;

Conf. Dr. Rodica Ursu and Eugen Ursu, my good old friends, who were always around, helping me in all regards (including the financial aspects) and watching over the good progress of the meeting;

University Prof. Dr. Mircea Babe, for his valuable help regarding the visit of our dear guest Michel Sfriades;

Ion Raba, at that time Director of the House of the Scholars of the Academy of Romania, who helped me step by step in my activities and made the arrangements for an appropriate hall for holding the meeting;

University Professor Dr. Drago Gheorghiu, University Professor Dr. Silviu Dancea and University Assistant Dr. Costel Chitea from the National University of Art Bucharest, for their great contribution in organizing the three exhibitions opened during the symposium, and also to Mihai Nomoloanu, who conceived the items included in two of the mentioned exhibitions;

University Professor Dr. Ioan Valeriu Franc, Director of the Center of Information and Documentation in Economics, for giving me the permission to use the Luxemburg Hall for the sessions of the symposium;

Acad. Alexandru Vulpe, Director and Dr. Eugen Nicolae, Deputy Director of Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology, for accepting to prepare the official documentation that enabled me to organize the symposium, to publish this volume, but also for awarding the Diploma of excellence to my father;

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18 Acknowledgements

Dr. Done erbnescu, Director of the Museum of the Gumelnia Civilization from Oltenia, who facilitated the free of charge visit to his institution, gave a helping hand with the visit of the site from Radovanu and solved a lot of other aspects;

Prof. univ. Dr. Nicolae Ursulescu, from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iai, for helping me to reconstruct part of the list of publications written by Eugen Coma and also for his useful advice;

Dr. George Trohani, researcher at the National History Museum of Romania, for his promptitude and support concerning the visits to his institution and the Village Museum;

Bianca Ene, at that time a master student at the National University of Art Bucharest, who conceived the very beautiful promotional materials of the meeting, as well as the covers of this volume;

Irina Ionelia-Ionescu, master student at the National University of Art Bucharest, for accepting to organize the second exhibition based upon her works;

Alice Bucur, my permanent helpful friend, who solved a lot of aspects regarding the IT difficulties;

University Prof. Dr. Cristian Schuster and Dr. Alexandru Morintz for the arrangements regarding the visit to Radovanu;

Vasilica Dobrescu, the mayor of Radovanu, for her hospitality during our visit in the village and for the possibility of awarding my father the title of citizen of honor of the village. The same gratitude I should address to the citizens of the Radovanu commune;

University Professor Dr. Petre Roman, but also Daniela Roman, for giving me a helping hand during the preparation of this volume, the latter also with the organization during the symposium;

Bratu Nicolae and his team, especially Maxim Ion and Smaranda Octavian, who helped me with the preparations for the exhibitions;

Anca Baot, librarian at Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology for giving a helping hand in the reconstruction of the publications list of Eugen Coma;

Valentin Viioreanu, Ctlina Toma and Denisia Nstas, for helping me with the last details of the symposium and also with the organization;

George Chelmec for taking photographs during our meeting; The management of the Publishing House of the Romanian Academy and

all who helped to editing and publishing this volume.

Alexandra Coma

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MULUMIRI

Sunt profund ndatorat i, n unele cazuri, am rmas pur i simplu fr cuvinte pentru a-mi exprima recunotina fa de unele persoane a cror contribuie a fcut nu numai posibile, dar i confortabile, lucrrile simpozionului nostru i publicarea volumului n bune condiii. Acestea sunt:

Acad. Alexandru Bogdan, dar i doamna Director Amalia Sceanu i Victor Sceanu, de la Fundaia Patrimoniu, care mi-au oferit o mn de ajutor pentru publicarea acestui volum;

Acad. Mircea Petrescu-Dmbovia, fost profesor al lui Eugen Coma, pentru sprijinul constant acordat nainte, n timpul i dup organizarea ntrunirii;

ntreaga echip de editori (Lolita Nikolova Statele Unite i Bulgaria, Clive Bonsall Marea Britanie, Tinaig Clodor Tissot Frana i Ruxandra Alaiba Romnia), dar i Kalina Galabova, care au muncit din greu pentru a prelucra lucrrile de la simpozion i pentru a le aduce la o condiie uniform, pentru a fi publicate, dar au facut o treab minunat. A meniona, n special, eforurile Dr. Lolita Nikolova care, pe lng implicarea n editarea volumului, m-a ghidat n iniierea i stabilirea contactelor cu unii colaboratori de-ai tatlui meu de peste hotare i m-a sprijinit financiar. n afar de asta, a meniona eforturile deosebite ale Dianei iu, soia lui Clive Bonsall, care m-a ajutat s realizez o bun corelaie ntre versiunea romn i cea englez a unor lucrri. Sunt de asemenea recunosctoare Prof. Marian Dinu de la North Dakota State University, U.S.A., pentru preiosul su ajutor n multe aspecte;

Conf. Dr. Rodica Ursu i Eugen Ursu, vechii i bunii mei prieteni, care mi-au fost mereu prin preajm, ajutndu-m n toate privinele (inclusiv sub aspect financiar) i veghind asupra bunei desfurri a ntrunirii;

Prof. univ. Dr. Mircea Babe pentru ajutorul deosebit acordat n ceea ce privete vizita dragului nostru oaspete Dr. Michel Sfriades;

Ion Raba, la acea vreme Director al Casei Oamenilor de tiin, care m-a ajutat pas cu pas n activitile mele i a fcut aranjamentele necesare pentru o sal n care s inem ntrunirea;

Prof. univ. Dr. Drago Gheorghiu, Prof univ. Dr. Silviu Dancea i Asist. univ. Dr. Costel Chitea, de la Universitatea Naional de Art Bucureti, pentru importanta lor contribuie la organizarea celor trei expoziii deschise pe durata simpozionului, dar i domnului Mihai Nomoloanu, care a creat piesele incluse n dou din expoziiile menionate;

Prof. univ. Dr. Ioan Valeriu Franc, Director al Centrului de Informare i Documentare n Economie, pentru amabilitatea de a-mi pune la dispoziie Sala Luxemburg pentru sesiunile simpozionului;

Acad. Alexandru Vulpe, Director i Dr. Eugen Nicolae, Director adjunct la Institutul de Arheologie Vasile Prvan, pentru acceptul de a pregti documentaia oficial care mi-a permis organizarea acestui simpozion, dar i pentru acordarea Diplomei de excelen tatlui meu;

Dr. Done erbnescu, Director al Muzeului Civilizaiei Gumelnia din Oltenia, care ne-a facilitat vizitarea fr tax a instituiei sale, mi-a dat o mn de ajutor n ceea ce privete vizitarea sitului de la Radovanu i a rezolvat o serie de alte probleme;

Prof. univ. Dr. Nicolae Ursulescu de la Alexandru Ioan Cuza din Iai, pentru sprijinul acordat la reconstituirea listei de publicaii scrise de Eugen Coma, dar i pentru sfaturile sale utile;

Dr. George Trohani, cercettor la Muzeul Naional de Istorie a Romniei, pentru promptitudinea i sprijinul oferit la vizitarea instituiei sale i a Muzeului Satului;

Bianca Ene de la Universitatea Naional de Art Bucureti, care a conceput frumoasele materiale promoionale ale ntrunirii, dar i coperile acestui volum;

Irina-Ionelia Ionescu, student la masterat la Universitatea Naional de Art Bucureti, care a acceptat s-i expun creaiile n cea de-a doua expoziie;

Prietena mea, Alice Bucur, care a fost mereu de ajutor i a rezolvat o mulime de probleme legate de dificultile IT;

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20 Mulumiri

Prof. univ. Dr. Cristian Schuster i Dr. Alexandru Morintz, pentru aranjamentele referitoare la vizita de la Radovanu;

Vasilica Dobrescu, primarul comunei Radovanu, pentru ospitalitatea sa n timpul vizitei n sat i pentru posibilitatea de acordare a titlului de cetean de onoare al localitii pentru tatl meu. Aceleai mulumiri i consideraie le adresez locuitorilor comunei Radovanu;

Prof. univ. Dr. Petre Roman, dar i Daniela Roman, care m-au sprijinit n timpul pregtirii acestui volum, iar n ultimul caz i cu organizarea din timpul simpozionului;

Domnul Bratu Nicolae i echipa sa, n special Maxim Ion i Smaranda Octavian, care m-au ajutat la organizarea spaiului expoziional;

Anca Baot, bibliotecar la Institutul de Arheologie Vasile Prvan pentru sprijinul acordat la reconstituirea listei de publicaii scrise de Eugen Coma;

Valentin Viioreanu, Ctlina Toma i Denisia Nstas, pentru ajutorul dat la ultimele detalii ale simpozionului i n ceea ce privete organizarea;

George Chelmec, pentru fotografiile fcute pe durata simpozionului; Conducerea Editurii Academiei Romne i toi cei care au ajutat la pregtirea i publica-

rea volumului.

Alexandra Coma

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SYMPOSIUM J SIMPOZIONUL

Fig. 1 Opening session-speech of Eugen Nicolae,

the Deputy Director of Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology, Bucharest.

Fig. 2 Eugen Comas curriculum vitae presentation.

Fig. 3 Opening of the second exhibition by Irina-Ionelia Ionescu.

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22 Symposium

Fig. 4 Visiting the first two exhibitions.

Fig. 5 Visiting the third exhibition Eugen Coma,

63 years in the field of archaeology.

Fig. 6 Another aspect during the visit of the third exhibition.

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Fig. 7 Aspects during the meeting

at the Museum of the Gumelnia Civilization, Oltenia.

Fig. 8 C. Schusters presentation

at the Museum of the Gumelnia Civilization Oltenia.

Fig. 9 On the way to Radovanu.

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24 Symposium

Fig. 10 The path to the archaeological site of Radovanu Gorgana I and II.

Fig. 11 At the archaeological site from Radovanu Gorgana I and II.

Fig. 12 General view of the site.

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Fig. 13 The mayor of the Radovanu village,

meeting the participants at the symposium.

Fig. 14 Romanian hospitality includes tasting bread and salt.

Fig. 15 The mayor of the Radovanu village, reading the festive speech for Dr. Eugen Coma, as Citizen of Honor.

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26 Symposium

Fig. 16 Alexandra Coma and the diploma for Citizen of Honor awarded to Eugen Coma

by Vasilica Dobrescu, the mayor of Radovanu village.

Fig. 17 The end of the festivity for awarding the title of Citizen of Honor

of the Radovanu village.

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FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ACTIVITY OF EUGEN COMA

DR. EUGEN COMA AT 85 YEARS Acad. Mircea PETRESCU-DMBOVIA

(Professor of Eugen Coma)

The Romanian archaeologist of national and international reputation, born in Chiinu on October 20, 1923, reached the venerable age of 85 in 2008. In 1940, when Bessarabia was incorporated into the U.S.S.R., he took refuge in Bucharest with his family, where he graduated from high school and university, at the latter benefiting from instruction by professors such as Ion Nestor, C.C. Giurescu, and Gh. tefan. After graduation in 1949, he became university assistant to the Chair of Romanian History held by Gh. tefan, and then assistant to the Chair of Prehistory held by Prof. Ion Nestor, where he continued until 1952. Between 1946 and 1948 he was librarian at the Prehistory Seminary of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Bucharest and, from 1950, he was employed as assistant at the National Museum of Antiquities, which subsequently became the Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology where, after the death of Ion Nestor, in 1974, he was appointed Head of the Prehistory Division, retiring in 1991. At the same Institute he also defended his doctoral thesis on the Boian Culture, under the supervision of Prof. Ion Nestor.

As a researcher, he was known for his very intense field activity. In this regard, I could mention that from the early years of his studies he took part in the excavations at the tell between the villages of Glina and Blceanca (Ilfov County), situated at the edge of the floodplain of the Dmbovia river, directed by Ion Nestor in 1926 and 1927. It was in these excavations that the link between the Boian, Gumelnia and Glina cultures was proposed for the first time, and confirmed in subsequent excavations there, by myself and co-workers in 1943, 19451948 and 19701971, supported by funds from the Romanian Academy. Here, I should like to mention that I gained my first field experience on the excavation at Srata Monteoru (Buzu County) also under the guidance of Ion Nestor, who at that time was a curator in the National Museum of Antiquities. Therefore, in this context, it was natural that the young archaeologist Eugen Coma was sent to the site at Glina where he performed well. He proved himself eager to learn as much as possible about the excavation of that site, and this helped him in his work at the sites of Zimnicea, Glvnetii Vechi and Corlteni directed by I. Nestor, as well as in the excavations at Verbicioara, Balta Verde and Gogou.

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28 Dr. Eugen Coma at 85 years

Having distinguished himself, in 1950, Eugen Coma began directing his own archaeological excavations, especially those relating to the Neolithic, including Luncavia and Techirghiol in Dobrogea, Drgneti in Moldova, Feldioara in Transilvania, Ciumeti and Oara de Sus in north-west Romania, Bile Herculane, Liubcova and vinia in Banat, Silitea and Orlea in Oltenia, Giuleti, Greaca, Dudeti, Olteni, Bogata, Boian, Ipoteti, Radovanu, Izvoare and Cuneti in Muntenia.

To the above list can be added a large number of archaeological sites detected during his surface surveys along the Danube, Olt and Lower Prut rivers, but also in the area of the canal that links the Danube to the Black Sea. The results of these field investigations, especially those concerning the Neo-Eneolithic were published by Eugen Coma in a series of synthetic volumes, namely Istoria comunitilor Boian (The History of the Boian Communities) Bucureti, 1974, and Neoliticul pe teritoriul Romniei (The Neolithic of Romania) Bucureti, 1987, but also in more than 400 articles on various aspects and problems of the Romanian Neo-Eneolithic period. Also, many of them are mentioned in volume I of Istoria Romnilor. Motenirea timpurilor ndeprtate (History of the Romanians: legacy of the distant past) coordinated by Academician Mircea Petrescu-Dmbovia and Prof. dr. Alexandru Vulpe (Member of the Romanian Academy) and published by Editura Enciclopedic, Bucureti, 2001.

Thus, as far as the Early Neolithic is concerned he made remarkable contributions to the Ciumeti-Picol group, named by the author after two villages in Satu Mare County belonging to the Linear Pottery Culture of the Upper Tisza basin, and having connections in SE Slovakia and NE Hungary. Also, he published interesting papers about the Cri and Linear Pottery Cultures in Romania.

Regarding the Middle Neolithic, we could mention here his studies of the Dudeti Culture, named after a district in Bucharest, which overlaps with the Vina culture in the region of Oltenia, resulting a mixed cultural phenomenon, but also the Linear Pottery Culture which extends east of the Carpathians as far as the Dniestr river, and which had contacts with the southern Bug Culture.

Eugen Coma went on to study the evolution, periodization and relative chronology of the Eneolithic cultures, as well as the pottery kilns of the Cucuteni-Ariud Culture, the en violon figurines in the Gumelnia Culture area, the dwellings with beaten earth floors from the Gumelnia Culture levels at Radovanu, the periodization of the Cucuteni civilization, the relations between the Cucuteni and Ariud cultures, the Eneolithic complex from Radovanu, and other archaeological problems.

To all these, we could add his compilation of a complete bibliography of Romanian prehistory, covering the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages.

Besides the Neo-Eneolithic, which was his main concern, the excavations of Prof. D. Berciu at Balta Verde and Gogou sparked his interest in the pre-Roman metal ages, in the funerary practices of the 2nd1st centuries A.D. in south-east Oltenia, and in the Getic-Dacian civilization of the second half of the 2nd century

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B.C. up to the beginning of the 2nd century A.D., which led to the publication in 1981 in collaboration with V. Georgescu, of the article Cetuia dacic de la Gura Vitioarei (The Dacian Fortress of Gura Vitioarei).

For his rich and valuable scientific research activity, he was awarded the Medal of Scientific Merit in 1966, and in 1974 the Medal of the Centenary Anniversary of the Academy of Sciences in Krakw, as well as the Vasile Prvan Prize of the Romanian Academy.

In recognition of the prestigious scientific activity of Dr. Eugen Coma in the field of prehistoric archaeology, I venture to suggest to the management of the Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology in Bucharest that they should investigate the possibility of awarding Eugen Coma the Diploma of Excellence of the Institute to which he dedicated himself through his illustrious research career for more than half a century.

Iai, 15 August 2008

DR. EUGEN COMA LA 85 DE ANI Academician Mircea PETRESCU-DMBOVIA

(profesor al lui Eugen Coma)

Arheologul romn de reputaie naional i internaional, nscut la Chiinu, la 20 octombrie 1923 a ajuns n 2008 la venerabila vrst de 85 de ani. n 1940, dup anexarea Basarabiei de ctre U.R.S.S. s-a refugiat cu familia la Bucureti, unde a efectuat studiile liceale i universitare, la ultimele avnd profesori pe Ion Nestor, C.C. Giurescu, Gh. tefan i alii. Dup terminarea studiilor universitare, n 1949 a avut funcia de asistent universitar la catedra de Istoria Romniei, condus de profesor Gh. tefan, apoi de Preistorie, sub direcia prof. Ion Nestor, la care a activat pn n 1952. n perioada 19461948 a fost bibliotecar la Seminarul de Preistorie al Facultii de Filozofie i Litere a Universitii din Bucureti, iar n 1950 a fost angajat ca asistent la Muzeul Naional de Antichiti, corespunztor, n continuare, Institutului de Arheologie Vasile Prvan, unde, dup ncetarea din via a lui Ion Nestor n 1974, a fost ef al seciei de Preistorie, devenind pensionar n 1991. n cadrul acestui Institut i-a trecut i teza de doctorat referitoare la cultura Boian, sub ndrumarea profesorului Ion Nestor.

n calitatea de cercettor s-a remarcat prin o foarte bogat activitate pe teren. n aceast privin, menionez c din primii ani de studii dateaz participarea sa la spturile subsemnatului din tell-ul dintre satele Glina i Blceanca (jude Ilfov), pe marginea luncii rului Dmbovia, n care s-au efectuat spturi n 1926 i 1927, de ctre Ion Nestor, precizndu-se pentru prima dat raporturile dintre culturile Boian, Gumelnia i Glina i apoi n 1943, 19451948 i 19701971 de ctre subsemnatul i colaboratorii, cu fonduri de la Academia Romn, confirmndu-se rezultatele spturilor mai vechi i aducndu-se multe date noi. n legtur cu aceste spturi, menionez c subsemnatul i-a fcut practica arheologic pe antierul de la Srata Monteoru (jud. Buzu) sub ndrumarea lui Ion Nestor, pe atunci conservator la Muzeul Naional de Antichiti. Deci, n acest context era justificat repartiia tnrului arheolog Eugen Coma la antierul de la Glina, unde s-a comportat foarte bine, dorind s cunoasc ct mai bine lucrrile de pe acest antier, ceea ce i-a fost de ajutor n activitatea de pe antierele Zimnicea, Glvnetii Vechi i Corlteni de sub conducerea lui I. Nestor, precum i la lucrrile de pe antierele Verbicioara, Balta Verde i Gogou.

Fiind foarte bine apreciat, Eugen Coma, cu ncepere din 1950 a condus antiere arheologice, n special din neolitic, dintre care menionm Luncavia i Techirghiol n Dobrogea, Drgneti n Moldova, Feldioara n Transilvania, Ciumeti i Oara de Sus n nord-vestul Romniei, Bile Herculane, Liubcova i vinia n Banat, Silitea i Orlea n Oltenia, Giulesti, Greaca, Dudeti, Olteni, Bogata, Boian, Ipoteti, Radovanu, Izvoare i Cuneti n Muntenia.

La acestea se adaug numeroase situri arheologice depistate prin perieghezele de-a lungul Dunrii, Oltului i Prutului Inferior, precum i din zona canalului care leag Dunrea cu Marea

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30 Dr. Eugen Coma at 85 years

Neagr. Rezultatele acestor cercetri de teren, ndeosebi cu privire la neo-eneolitic au fost valorificate de autorul lor n volumele sale de sintez, respectiv Istoria comunitilor Boian, Bucureti, 1974 i Neoliticul pe teritoriul Romniei, Bucureti, 1987, precum i n peste 400 de studii i articole referitoare la diferite aspecte i probleme din neo-eneoliticul Romniei. De asemenea, multe dintre acestea sunt menionate i n volumul I din tratatul Istoria Romnilor. Motenirea timpurilor ndeprtate, volum coordonat de academician Mircea Petrescu-Dmbovia i profesor dr. Alexandru Vulpe, membru corespondent al Academiei Romne, Editura Enciclopedic, Bucureti, 2001.

Astfel, n ceea ce privete neoliticul timpuriu se remarc contribuiile sale privind grupul Ciumeti-Picol, denumit de autor dup dou localiti din judeul Satu Mare, aparinnd civilizaiei liniare vechi din bazinul superior al Tisei cu legturi n SE Slovaciei i NE Ungariei. De asemenea, prezint interes comunicrile sale cu privire la culturile Cri n Romnia i a ceramicii liniare.

n legtur cu neoliticul dezvoltat menionm studierea culturii Dudeti, denumit dup un cartier din Bucureti, cultur care interfereaz n Oltenia cu cultura Vina, rezultnd un aspect cultural mixt, precum i cultura ceramicii liniare la est de Carpai pn la Nistru, care a intrat n contact cu cultura Bugului sudic.

n fine, n eneolitic au fost analizate evoluia, periodizarea i cronologia relativ a culturilor eneolitice din Romnia, precum i caracteristicile cuptoarelor de ars ceramica ale culturii Cucuteni-Ariud, figurinele en violon din aria culturii Gumelnia, locuinele cu podea de pmnt bttorit din aria culturii Gumelnia de la Radovanu, periodizarea civilizaiei Cucuteni, relaiile dintre culturile Cucuteni i Ariud, complexul eneolitic de la Radovanu i alte diferite probleme.

La aceastea se adaug i ntocmirea unei bibliografii complete a preistoriei Romniei, respectiv a paleoliticului, mezoliticului i ale epocilor bronzului i fierului.

n afar de neo-eneolitic, care l-a interesat n mod deosebit, l-a preocupat, pe baza spturilor profesorului D. Berciu de la Balta Verde i Gogou, i epoca metalelor, nainte de romani, respectiv unele practici funerare din secolele II-I . Hr. din sud-estul Olteniei i civilizaia geto-dacic din a doua jumtate a secolului II . Hr. pn la nceputul secolului II p. Hr., elabornd n 1981, n colaborare cu V. Georgescu, lucrarea Cetuia dacic de la gura Vitioarei.

Pentru bogata i valoroasa sa activitate de cercetare tiiific, a fost distins n 1966 cu medalia Meritul tiinific, n 1974 cu medalia aniversrii Centenarului Academiei de tiine din Cracovia i n acelai an cu premiul Vasile Prvan al Academiei Romne.

Avnd n vedere prestigioasa activitate de cercetare tiinific n domeniul arheologiei preistorice din Romnia a dr. Eugen Coma, mi permit s propun conducerii Institutului de Arheologie Vasile Prvan din Bucureti a se analiza dac este posibil s i se acorde diploma de excelen a acestui Institut, cruia i s-a dedicat, prin munca sa, competent i continu, mai bine de jumtate de secol.

Iai, 15 august 2008

Fig. 1 Eugen Coma and M. Petrescu-Dmbovia during the 1958 visit at the Chiinu Museum

of History / Eugen Coma mpreun cu M. Petrescu-Dmbovia n vizita din 1958 la Muzeul de Istorie din Chinu.

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Fig. 2 Tatiana S. Passek, the well-known researcher from Moscow, at Glina, together

with Eugen Coma, in 1960 / Cunoscuta cercettoare de la Moscova Tatiana S. Passek la Glina, cu Eugen Coma, n 1960.

Fig. 3 The Presiding Committee of the International Symposium The Cucuteni Culture in its

European Context, Iai, 1984: Acad. P. Jitariu, Dr. Eugen Coma, Prof. Maria Gimbutas (Los Angeles) and Prof. M. Petrescu-Dmbovia / Prezidiul simpozionului internaional Cultura Cucuteni n context

european, Iai, 1984: Acad. P. Jitariu, Dr. Eugen Coma, Prof. Maria Gimbutas (Los Angeles), Prof. M. Petrescu-Dmbovia.

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EUGEN COMA

(20 OCTOBER 1923 7 NOVEMBER 2008) Dr. Eugenia ZAHARIA

(colleague in the Faculty of History at the University of Bucharest

and in the Institute of Archaeology Vasile Prvan Bucharest)

Eugen Coma was one of the most prominent researchers in the Romanian archaeology after the World War II. He was a member of the research team organized by Professor Ion Nestor, a team who introduced new working methods, not only technical, for a good and correct registration of the field situation, but also for a better understanding of the archaeological documents, as a source for a reconstruction of our ancient history.

*

He was born on October 20, 1923, at Chiinu, he attended the high school and Faculty of History at the University of Bucharest. In 1968 he obtained the doctor degree in historical sciences, also at the Faculty of History from Bucharest, in the first series, when the Ministry of Education created the possibility of getting this higher qualification in the country. After the University graduation, he was an appointed librarian (19461949) and afterwards an assistant at the Chair of Archaeology and Prehistory.

As a consequence of the restructures following after the World War II in the educational system, Eugen Coma was appointed researcher at the Museum of National Antiquities, which depended at that time on Nicolae Iorga Institute of History. In the same institution that became the Institute of Archaeology in 1956, Eugen Coma was a principal researcher (1968) and afterwards a chief of the Neolithic sector and subsequently a chief of the Prehistory Section (19741990). In all this time, he also had the position of the editorial boards secretary for the journal Materiale i Cercetri Arheologice and Studii i Cercetri de Istorie Veche.

He began his research activity at Srata Monteoru, Zimnicea, Glina, Corlteni, Glvnetii Vechi etc., achieving a good experience in chronological achaeology, as it could easily be observed both from his field activity and from his numerous publications.

His field activity is extremely rich and important, bringing very necessary contributions that helped both the reconstruction of prehistoric cultural ranges and those of the first millennium. From this perspective, Eugen Coma continued the activity of Vasile Prvans disciples (Professors Radu Vulpe, Gheorghe tefan, Vladimir Dumitrescu, Ion Nestor), having a significant contribution at organizing the archaeological research. Eugen Coma remained till his death the most active and the most restless field investigator, since the time span after the World War II. We owe him many findings, which determined a long lasting research, with important results.

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Even if he worked in all time sequences, the Neolithic period was his main and permanent concern, bringing valuable contributions for the knowledge regarding the evolution of the south Carpathian Neolithic cultures from our country.

Another distinctive feature of Eugen Coma was his participation to almost all archaeological manifestations, both general and regional ones. It was a custom that in autumn, after the end of the excavations, to organize a groupvisit to the investigation sites bearing a special interest. I remember that Eugen Coma never missed such activity. He registered in his calendar all such manifestations. The publishing of that diary of all Romanian archaeology might be of general interest, both for the younger generations, but also for a history of the achaeological activity during the time of Eugen Coma.

A last aspect concerning his rich activity that we consider worth being mentioned here is the bibliography he made for each research period, prehistoric, of the first millennium BC, of the period of the Romanian people formation, but also of the migration period. A research of all Romanian publications, in order to select and group on periods what had been published, all processed by hand, because at that time we had no computers, is a huge effort, but also a good instrument for work. I cannot say where this paper stopped but this is necessary to be continued.

He took part at a large number of international congresses, representing with competence the Romanian archaeology, whose prestige he fully enriched.

Being always concentrated upon his research, without long or contradictory comments, Eugen Coma left us the memory of a good mate archaeologist.

18th December, 2008

EUGEN COMA (20 OCTOMBRIE 1923 7 NOIEMBRIE 2008)

Dr. Eugenia ZAHARIA (coleg la Facultatea de Istorie

a Universitii din Bucureti i la Institutul de Arheologie Vasile Prvan Bucureti)

Eugen Coma a fost unul dintre cei mai proemineni cercettori ai arheologiei romneti de

dup al Doilea Rzboi Mondial. El a fost membru al echipei de cercetare organizate de ctre Prof. Ion Nestor, o echip care a introdus metode noi de cercetare, nu numai tehnice, pentru o bun i corect nregistrare a situaiei din teren, ci, de asemenea, pentru o mai bun nelegere a documentelor arheologice, ca surs a reconstituirii istoriei noastre vechi.

*

S-a nscut pe 20 octombrie 1923, la Chiinu, a terminat liceul i Facultatea de Istorie la Universitatea din Bucureti. Tot la Facultatea de Istorie din Bucureti, n 1968, a obinut titlul de doctor n tiine istorice, n prima serie, cnd Ministerul Educaiei a creat posibilitatea de a obine o calificare superioar n ar. Dup absolvirea facultii, a fost numit bibliotecar (19461949) i apoi asistent la Catedra de Arheologie i Preistorie.

Ca o consecin a restructurrilor care au urmat dup al Doilea Razboi Mondial n sistemul educaional, Eugen Coma a fost numit cercettor la Muzeul Naional de Antichiti, care depindea, n acea vreme, de Institutul de Istorie Nicolae Iorga. n aceeai instituie, care a devenit ulterior

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34 Eugen Coma

Institutul de Arheologie, n 1956, Eugen Coma a fost numit cercettor principal (1968), apoi ef al sectorului Neolitic i, ulterior, ef al seciei Preistorie (19741990). n tot acest timp, a deinut, de asemenea, poziia de secretar al comitetului de redacie al revistelor Materiale i Cercetri Arheologice i Studii i Cercetri de Istorie Veche.

i-a nceput activitatea de cercetare la Srata Monteoru, Zimnicea, Glina, Corlteni, Glvnetii Vechi etc., obinnd o bun experien n arheologia cronologic, aa cum se poate observa, cu uurin, din activitatea sa de teren i din numeroasele sale publicaii.

Activitatea sa de teren este extrem de bogat i important, aducnd contribuii foarte necesare, care au ajutat att la reconstituirea ariilor culturale din preistorie, ct i din primul mileniu. Din aceast perspectiv, Eugen Coma a continuat activitatea discipolilor lui Vasile Prvan (Profesorii Radu Vulpe, Gheorghe tefan, Vladimir Dumitrescu, Ion Nestor), avnd o contribuie semnificativ la organizarea activitii arheologice. Eugen Coma a rmas, pn la moartea sa, cel mai activ i cel mai ardent cercettor de teren, din perioada de dup al Doilea Razboi Mondial. Lui i datorm multe descoperiri, care au dus la cercetri de durat, cu rezultate importante.

Chiar dac a lucrat n toate secvenele temporale, perioada neolitic a fost principala i permanenta sa preocupare, aducnd valoroase contribuii la cunoaterea referitoare la evoluia culturilor neolitice de la sud de Carpai, din ara noastr.

O alt trstur distinctiv a lui Eugen Coma a fost participarea lui la aproape toate manifestrile arheologice, att generale, ct i regionale. Exista un obicei ca toamna, dup sfritul spturilor, s se fac o vizit n grup la siturile care prezentau un interes deosebit. mi aduc aminte c Eugen Coma nu a ratat niciodat astfel de activiti. i nregistra n calendarul su toate aceste manifestri. Publicarea acestui jurnal al ntregii arheologii romneti ar fi de interes general, att pentru generaiile mai tinere, dar i pentru o istorie a activitii arheologice din timpul lui Eugen Coma.

Un ultim aspect, referitor la bogata sa activitate, care considerm c merit s fie amintit aici este bibliografia pe care a creat-o pentru fiecare perioad de cercetare, preistoric, a mileniului I a.Chr., a perioadei de formare a poporului romn, dar i a perioadei migraiilor. O cercetare a tuturor publicaiilor romneti, pentru a selecta i grupa pe perioade ceea ce s-a publicat, totul fcut de mn, deoarece la acea vreme nu aveam computer, constituie un efort uria, dar i un bun instrument de lucru. Nu tiu unde s-a oprit aceast lucrare, dar este necesar s fie continuat.

A luat parte la un numr mare de congrese internaionale, reprezentnd cu competen arheologia romneasc, al crei prestigiu el l-a ridicat cu prisosin.

Fiind ntotdeauna concentrat pe cercetrile sale, fr comentarii lungi sau contradictorii, Eugen Coma ne-a lasat amintirea unui bun coleg arheolog.

18 decembrie 2008

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ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE GENERATION MEMORY

In memory of Eugen Coma

Lolita NIKOLOVA Director of the International Institute

of Anthroplogy Salt Lake City

Eugen Coma has been a part of my social biography since I became a postgraduate student. I know him personally just from a short conversation during a conference at Bile Herculane in 1990s while his publications gradually built the image of a professional and a hard working person. His key position among the most prominent Romanian archaeologists in Balkan Prehistoric research makes me today, a few months after he departed from our life, think about what we, the archaeologists of the 21st century need to reproduce from the previous generations. Very helpful in this case is Eugen Comas daughter, Alexandra Coma, whom I have accepted as one of the most brilliant colleagues that I have ever had and who has been contributing essentially to rebuild our profession as a garden of flowers for the humankind of the 21st century.

The generation scholarly memory is extremely important for the development of archaeology as a science, since it is one of the most dynamic disciplines, with fast developing technology of excavations and theory.

The works of Eugen Coma are a classical example of a dedicated to archaeology scholar for whom the field is a laboratory for new scientific results and not for new finds only. Whether he was writing about the Boian culture or about the Gumelnia culture, the key problems of Balkan prehistory were always in the focus of the prominent researcher chronology, evolution and cultural pattern. Coma never was only descriptive. He always searched for the problem and tried to resolve it. I believe this comprehension of the social personality of Coma complimented by excellent excavation and organization skills helps to look in past not with the cultural glasses of what was lost but what was achieved at least in the case of Eugen Coma.

Today, the mission and image of archaeology have been changing. We have been not only doing excavation and traditional interpretations. We have been studying, researching, producing and updating topics that have been opening our mind with opportunity to expand our knowledge and not to close it, not only to reproduce concepts and models, but to produce new knowledge at any level of our development from the first year student to late elderly. Today we, the archaeologists, have been studying categories like value, sex, love, emotions, power, etc. It is almost a revolutionary turn and it depends on us to keep the direction and not to be blamed by the future generation, that we did it wrong.

The second turn is expanding the chronological frame of archaeology. Today, it includes widely the contemporary past, but tomorrow it may even have a topic of future past. This broadness of contemporary archaeology additionally opens the

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36 Archaeology and the generation memory

minds and makes the archaeologists some of the most advanced in knowledge anthropologists.

Both turns are extremely important since they help to develop archaeology as a highly intellectual discipline. And when there is such development, it is an invitation for more intellectuals to join the archaeology branch. In contrast to technical skills, the cognitive knowledge requires a specific matrix and a long-term process of specific enculturation. Then focusing on the anthropological subject of archaeology is extremely important for the whole development of this discipline. One more turn makes our decade almost revolutionary. The epoch of Internet gives everybody an opportunity to publish and to communicate quality knowledge.

However, there is still a lot to do to make archaeology safe and more attractive for the present and future generations. Although the Berlin Wall is past, there are still invisible walls in our social environment that people build mostly as a reproduction of old social habits. We still need to find the best way to communicate with humanity because our profession is about humanity. We still need to learn how to communicate our knowledge most effectively.

In all present and future directions the generation memory helps to keep the framework of archaeology within humanity and to maintain archaeology as a discipline about humanity.

ARHEOLOGIA I MEMORIA GENERAIEI In memoriam Eugen Coma

Lolita NIKOLOVA Director al Institutului Internaional

de Antropologie Salt Lake City

Eugen Coma a fost parte din biografia mea social de cnd am devenit student la cursuri post-universitare. L-am cunoscut personal doar dintr-o scurt conversaie, pe care am purtat-o n timpul unei conferine de la Bile Herculane, n anii 90, n timp ce publicaiile lui mi-au construit treptat imaginea unei persoane profesioniste i foarte muncitoare. Poziia sa cheie printre arheologii proemineni ai cercetrii preistoriei balcanice m face pe mine astzi, la cteva luni dup ce a plecat din viaa noastr, s m gndesc la ceea ce ar trebui s reproducem de la generaiile precedente noi, arheologii secolului XXI. Foarte util n acest caz este fiica lui Eugen Coma, Alexandra Coma, pe care am acceptat-o ca pe unul dintre colegii cei mai strlucii pe care i-am avut i care a contribuit, n mod esenial, la reconstruirea profesiei noastre, sub forma unei grdini cu flori, pentru umanitatea secolului XXI.

Memoria generaiei de specialiti este extrem de important pentru dezvoltarea arheologiei ca tiin, dat fiind c este una dintre cele mai dinamice discipline, cu tehnologie i teorie de sptur care se dezvolt rapid.

Lucrrile lui Eugen Coma sunt un exemplu clasic al unui specialist dedicat arheologiei, pentru care munca de teren este un laborator pentru noi rezultate tiinifice i nu numai pentru cteva noi descoperiri. Indiferent dac scria despre Cultura Boian sau despre Cultura Gumelnia, problemele cheie ale preistoriei Balcanilor au fost ntotdeauna avute n vederea proeminentului cercettor cronologie, evoluie i model cultural. Eugen Coma nu a fost numai descriptiv. El a cutat ntotdeauna problema i a ncercat s o rezolve. Consider c aceast percepie a personalitii sociale a lui Eugen Coma, completat cu abiliti excelente de sptor i organizator, nc ne ajut s privim ctre trecut, nu cu ochelarii culturali a ceea ce a fost pierdut, ci a ceea ce a fost ctigat cel puin n cazul lui Eugen Coma.

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Astzi, misiunea i imaginea arheologiei s-au schimbat. Noi am fcut nu numai spturi i interpretri tradiionale. Am studiat, cercetnd, producnd i actualiznd tematici care ne-au deschis minii oportunitatea de a ne extinde cunoaterea i nu de a o limita, nu numai de a reproduce concepte i modele, ci a produce cunoatere nou la orice nivel al dezvoltrii noastre de la primul an de studenie i pn la adnci btrnei. Astzi, noi, arheologii, am studiat categorii ca valoare, sex, dragoste, emoii, putere etc. Este o turnur aproape revoluionar i depinde de noi s pstrm direcia i s nu fim blamai de ctre generaia viitoare, c am procedat greit.

A doua schimbare este extinderea cadrului cronologic al arheologiei. Astzi, el include, n sens larg i trecutul contemporan, dar mine poate avea chiar o tem de viitor trecut. Aceast lrgire a arheologiei contemporane deschide minile i mai mult i i include pe arheologi printre antropologii cei mai avansai n cunoatere.

Ambele schimbri sunt extrem de importante, dat fiind c ajut arheologia s se dezvolte ca o disciplin elevat intelectual. i, atunci cnd exist o astfel de dezvoltare, constituie o invitaie pentru ali intelectuali, de a se altura breslei arheologice. n contrast cu aptitudinile tehnice, cunoaterea cognitiv necesit o matrice specific i un proces pe termen lung, de enculturaie specific. Epoca internetului creeaz pentru toi o oportunitate de a publica i de a comunica cunoaterea de calitate.

Oricum, sunt nc multe de fcut pentru a face arheologia sigur i mai atractiv pentru generaiile prezente i viitoare. Cu toate c Zidul Berlinului este de domeniul trecutului, exist nc ziduri invizibile din mediul nostru social, pe care oamenii le ridic, mai ales ca o reproducere a unor obiceiuri sociale nvechite. Avem nevoie s gsim cea mai bun cale pentru a comunica cu umanitatea, deoarece profesia noastr se refer la umanitate. Avem nc nevoie s nvm cum s comunicm cunoaterea noastr n mod mai eficient.

n toate direciile prezente i viitoare, memoria generaional ne ajut s pstrm cadrul arheologiei n limitele umanitii i s meninem arheologia ca o disciplin despre umanitate.

18 decembrie 2008

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EUGEN COMA

Biography

Date of birth: Octomber 20, 1923. Place of birth: Chiinu, today the Capital of the Republic Moldova. There, he attended the general school. 19371940 He attended Alexandru Donici high school in Chiinu. At

that time, the Republic of Moldova was part of Romania but, beginning with 1940, as his family took refuge in today Romania in 1940, after the former U.S.S.R. ultimatum, he graduated from the today Cantemir Vod National College in Bucharest, in 1943.

At the end of 1943, he was recruited and sent to the School of Infantry Reservation Officers in Ploieti, subsequently moved to Slnic-Prahova. He was released at the end of 1944, as a reserve (sublieutenant) officer. After 1989, he became a war veteran.

January 12, 1945 He applied for the Faculty of History from the University of Bucharest, Professors: I. Nestor, C. Giurescu, C. Marinescu, Gh. tefan, Th. Sauciuc Sveanu and others.

1946 Besides, the courses attended as a student, he was a librarian at the Prehistory Seminar of the Faculty of History from the University of Bucharest.

1948 He graduated in 1948, being specialized in prehistory. 1949 He was appointed assistant at the Chair of Prof. Gh. tefan,

afterwards being transferred at the Chair of Prehistory of Prof. I. Nestor, where he worked until 1952. In parallel, since 1950, he also worked at the National Museum of Aniquities that subsequently became the today Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology of the Romanian Academy.

19501956 He worked as a researcher in the sector of prehistory of the National Museum of Antiquities, at the time when that institution depended upon the Institute of Historical Sciences Nicolae Iorga.

1951 He published his first paper, in Studii i Cercetri de Istorie Veche, the journal of the institution where he worked.

1956 The Museum became the today Institute of Archaeology that subsequently took the name of Vasile Prvan.

1960 He became a researcher in the mentioned institution. 1968 He became principal researcher, at his retirement occupying the same

position, namely that of principal researcher III. 1968 He obtained his doctor degree in historical sciences, with the thesis

entitled Cultura Boian, coordinated by Prof. I. Nestor. 19691974 He managed the Neolithic Sector of the Prehistory Section of

the Institute of Archaeology; 1974 He published his doctorate thesis, with the title Istoria comunitilor

culturii Boian (History of the Boian Culture Communities). 19741991 After the death of Prof. Ion Nestor, he became the chief of the

Prehistory Section, until he retired. During that time he organized 18 coloquia

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regarding different sequences of the prehistory, as well as 6 workshops, on more special aspects of the prehistory.

He retired in 1991. He worked for 58 years in the Prehistory Section of the National Museum of

Antiquities and subsequently of Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology. Some of his excavations

He took part at his first excavations at Glina (coordinated by Prof. M. Petrescu-Dmbovia), Zimnicea, Glvnetii Vechi and Corlteni (coordinated by Prof. Ion Nestor), at Verbicioara, Balta Verde and Gogou (coordinated by Prof. D. Berciu) and Garvn (coordinated by Prof. Gh. tefan);

He was part of complex research teams like the one that studied the region of the Iron Gates (Mehedini County), or Valea Jijiei (Iai County);

Other important excavations he attended were those at: Bile Herculane, Liubcova, Svinia (in Banat), Drgneti-Tecuci (in Moldova), Feldioara (in Transylvania), Ciumeti, Oara de Sus (in Maramure), Siliteni and Orlea (in Oltenia), Giuleti, Greaca, Dudeti, Aldeni, Bogata, Boian, Ipoteti, Radovanu, Izvoarele, Cuneti (in Muntenia), Luncavia, Techirghiol (in Dobrogea). Over this time, he also did surverys, discovering a large number of prehistorical settlements on the entire territory of Romania;

19601991 He had an intense activity on the territory of the Clrai County, mostly in the region of the former lakes Greaca and Boian, but also in the proximity and within the Radovanu commune (Clrai County). During his research at Radovanu, he established a new method of field investigation, which enabled him to discover the necropolis, a fact of significance for the archaeological investigation, given that the data about the settlement and the necropolis, brought together, create a more clear image about the every day life and spirituality of the ancient communities. He successfully used that method for supporting other specialists from Romania, Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova and Southern Ukraine, who studied the Gumelnia Culture. Also, he was the first Romanian archaeologst to use the arial photos and film for the study of some archaeological sites. In order to do that, he had used a crop duster;

During his career, he tried to apply many other modern methods, in colaboration with specialists from other disciplines (dendrochronology, physical chemistry, anthropology, archaeozoology etc.);

He studied in detail, but also discovered some Neolithic cultures, he published 11 volumes (one being in print and two others remaining in manuscripts after his death), but also over 400 specialized articles. He took part at more than 204 de national symposia, conferences or congresses, but also to 96 international ones, in Europe or Asia, he attended in person, or by sending his contributions. He also made 49 trips abroad, for documentation;

He had an intense editorial activity, being editorial secretary for the journals of the institute, Materiale i cercetri de arheologie and Studii i cercetri de istorie veche subsequently transformed into Studii i cercetri de istorie veche i arheologie;

We should mention here the great effort he made for conceiving some bibliographies, structured upon the larger time sequences of the history and especially

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40 Eugen Coma biography

prehistory. Part of the bibliography has been published. All the tens of thousands of titles have been processed and ordered exclusively by hand, because at the time they were conceived there were no computers in the Romanian research institutions;

After his retirement, he was awarded for several years the merit allowance of the Romanian Academy.

Some of the most important prizes and medals awarded to Eugen Coma in Romania and abroad

Meritul tiinific (Scientific merit) medal awarded by the Decree no. 739 of the State Council, in September 26, 1966;

The medal of the Academy of Sciences from Krakow (Poland), awarded in 1974;

Vasile Prvan Prize of the Romanian Academy in 1974, awarded for the volume with the title Istoria comunitilor culturii Boian (The History of the Boian Communities);

The excellence title awarded by the International Institute of Anthropology in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America, for his entire activity in the field of archaeology;

Diploma of excellence awarded by Vasile Prvan Institute of Archaeology; Dr. Eugen Coma was a citizen of honor of the villages Clugreni (Giurgiu

County) and Radovanu (Clrai County).

EUGEN COMA Biografie

Data naterii: 20 octombrie 1923. Locul naterii: Chiinu, actuala capital a Republicii Moldova, la acea vreme fiind nc parte

din Romnia. Acolo a urmat cursurile colii generale. 19371940 A studiat trei ani la Liceul Alexandru Donici din Chiinu, dar, datorit

refugierii familiei sale din anul 1940 n urma ultimatumului Uniunii Sovietice a absolvit Liceul Cantemir Vod din Bucureti, n 1943.

La sfritul anului 1943 a fost nrolat i trimis la coala de Ofieri de Rezerv n Infanterie de la Ploieti i apoi de la Slnic-Prahova. A fost lsat la vatr ca sublocotenent. Dup anul 1989 a devenit veteran de rzboi.

1945 12 ianuarie S-a nscris i a fost admis ca student al Facultii de Istorie a Universitii din Bucureti. Profesori: I. Nestor, C. Giurescu, C. Marinescu, G. tefan, Th. Sauciuc Sveanu i alii.

1946 n afara cursurilor urmate ca student, a devenit bibliotecar al Seminarului Preistorie de la Facultatea de Istorie a Universitii Bucureti.

1948 A absolvit facultatea, cu specialitatea preistorie. 1949 A fost numit asistent la Catedra Prof. Gh. tefan i apoi la Catedra de Istorie,

condus de Prof. I. Nestor, unde a lucrat pn n 1952. n paralel, din 1950, a lucrat i la Muzeul Naional de Antichiti, care a devenit, ulterior, actualul Institut de Arheologie Vasile Prvan al Academiei Romne.

19501956 A lucrat ca cercettor n preistorie la Muzeul Naional de Antichiti, la vremea cnd instituia depindea de Institutul de tiine Istorice Nicolae Iorga.

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1951 A publicat prima sa lucrare n Studii i Cercetri de Istorie Veche, revista institutului unde lucra.

1956 Muzeul a devenit Institutul de Arheologie, care ulterior i-a adugat la titulatur i numele lui Vasile Prvan.

1960 A devenit cercettor n instituia menionat. 1968 A devenit cercettor principal, la pensionare ocupnd aceeai poziie, de cercettor

principal III. 1968 A obinut titlul de doctor n tiine istorice, cu teza intitulat Cultura Boian, sub

ndrumarea Prof. I. Nestor. 19691974 A condus sectorul Neolitic al Seciei Preistorie din Institutul de Arheologie. 1974 i-a publicat teza de doctorat, sub titlul Istoria comunitilor culturii Boian. 19741991 Dup moartea Prof. Ion Nestor, a condus Secia Preistorie a Institutului pn

cnd s-a pensionat. n acea perioad a organizat 18 colocvii privind diferite secvene i aspecte ale preistoriei, ca i 6 alte ntruniri privind aspecte mai speciale ale preistoriei.

S-a pensionat n 1991. A lucrat timp de 58 de ani n Secia de Preistorie de la Muzeul Naional de Antichiti i

ulterior de la Institutul de Arheologie Vasile Prvan. Unele dintre spturile sale arheologice A luat parte la primele sale spturi la Glina (sub coordonarea Prof. Petrescu-Dmbovia),

Zimnicea, Glvnetii Vechi i Corlteni (coordonate de Prof. I. Nestor), la Verbicioarea, Balta Verde i Gogou (sub coordonarea Prof. D. Berciu) i la Garvn (coordonate de Prof. Gh. tefan);

A fcut parte din echipele complexe de cercetare, cum a fost aceea care a studiat regiunea Porilor de Fier (Jud. Mehedini) sau Valea Jijiei (jud. Iai);

Alte spturi importante la care a participat sunt cele de la: Bile Herculane, Liubcova, Svinia (n Banat), Drgneti-Tecuci (n Moldova), Feldioara (n Transilvania), Ciumeti, Oara de Sus (n Maramure), Siliteni i Orlea (n Oltenia), Giuleti, Greaca, Dudeti, Aldeni, Bogata, Boian, Ipoteti, Radovanu, Izvoarele, Cuneti (n Muntenia), Luncavia, Techirghiol (n Dobrogea). n tot acest timp el a efectuat de asemenea periegheze, descoperind un numr mare de aezri preistorice pe ntreg teritoriul Romniei;

19601991 A desfurat o intens activitate pe teritoriul judeului Clrai, n special n regiunea fostelor lacuri Greaca i Boian, dar i n vecintatea i din comuna Radovanu (jud. Clrai). n timpul cercetrilor de la Radovanu el a stabilit o nou metod de cercetare, datele cumulate despre aezare i necropol crend o imagine mai clar despre viaa de zi cu zi i spiritualitatea comunitilor din vechime. El a folosit cu succes aceast metod pentru a sprijini ali specialiti din Romnia, Bulgaria, Republica Moldova i Ucraina de Sud, care se ocupau de studiul culturii Gumelnia. De asemenea, a fost primul arheolog care a folosit fotografiile aeriene i filmul pentru studiul unor situri arheologice. Pentru a realiza acest lucru s-a folosit de un avion pentru mprtierea ngrmintelor pe culturile agricole;

n timpul carierei sale a ncercat s aplice ct mai multe metode moderne, n colaborare cu specialiti din alte discipline (dendrocronologie, chimie fizic, antropologie, arheozoologie etc.);

A studiat n detaliu, dar a i descoperit unele culturi neolitice, a publicat 11 volume (unul fiind n curs de publicare i dou rmnnd n manuscris), dar i peste 400 de articole de specialitate. A participat la peste 204 simpozioane, conferine i congrese naionale, dar i la 96 internaionale din Europa sau Asia, la care s-a dus personal sau a trimis lucrrile. De asemenea, a efectuat 49 de cltorii de documentare peste hotare;

A avut o activitate redacional intens, fiind secretarul de redacie al revistelor institutului, Materiale i cercetri arheologice i Studii i cercetri de isorie veche, transformat ulterior n Studii i cercetri de istorie veche i arheologie;

Merit menionat aici i marele efort pe care l-a fcut pentru a concepe bibliografii, structurate pe perioade mai mari de timp, n special pe preistorie. O parte a bibliografiilor a fost publicat. Toate cele cteva zeci de mii de titluri au fost prelucrate i ordonate esclusiv manual, deoarece n acea vreme nu existau computere n instituiile de cercetare romneti;

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42 Eugen Coma biography

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