Papers by Andreea Vornicu-Terna
A First Insight into the Production of Bone, Antler and Tooth Objects at the Copper And Bronze Age Site of Fulgeriş - La Trei Cireşi
Materiale si cercetari arheologice, 2021
Trinca-La Șanț – A Large North Moldovan Trypillia Settlement
JNA, 2023
n the years 2022 and 2023, the Trypillia hilltop settlement of Trinca-La Șanțin northern Moldova ... more n the years 2022 and 2023, the Trypillia hilltop settlement of Trinca-La Șanțin northern Moldova was investigated and excavated by the CRC1266 in col-laboration with the State University of Moldova. As a result, we unveiled thebasic structures of the 25 ha fortified settlement, which, adapted to the to-pography, combines the principles of linear and concentric rows of hous-es. Based on the 14C data available to date, it can be assumed that the set-tlement dates from 3950 to 3650 BCE. Of the 320 houses discovered, up to100 existed simultaneously, which corresponds to a maximum number ofinhabitants of 250–1000 people. δ13C/δ15N isotope values of domestic ani-mals indicate an extensive economy that corresponds to that of other, sim-ilarly large or mega-sites .
A complex subsistence regime revealed for Cucuteni–Trypillia sites in Chalcolithic eastern Europe based on new and old macrobotanical data
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2023
We present a comprehensive data-based characterization of the subsistence economy of Chalcolithic... more We present a comprehensive data-based characterization of the subsistence economy of Chalcolithic Cucuteni–Trypillia societies (CTS) on the Moldovian and Suceava plateaus and the Podolian and the Dnieper uplands. This study is based on a quantitative evaluation of archaeobotanical samples from 34 settlement sites, with a focus on Trypillia mega-sites and on stable isotopic analysis of ancient crop residues. The isotopic analysis allows us to identify specific cultivation strategies, which show a close relationship with animal husbandry for manure. We describe the economy of the Trypillia mega-sites as having been based on an elaborate agricultural system, in which the inhabitants knew how to grow crops that could withstand the ecological constraints of growth, especially along the forest steppe ecotone. We also argue that the agglomeration of greater population densities at these mega-sites contributed to landscape change from woodland and forest to open grassland and steppe. Following on from this, we suggest that cultivation practices of the CTS were important in the establishment of the present-day cultural steppe in this region
PNAS, 2023
The supporting Information for: Schlütz, F., Hofmann, R., Dal Corso, M., Pashkevychd, G., Dreibro... more The supporting Information for: Schlütz, F., Hofmann, R., Dal Corso, M., Pashkevychd, G., Dreibrodt, S., Müller, J., Shatilo, M., Ternaa, A., Fuchs, K., Videiko, M., Rud, V., Mülle, J. and Kirleis, W. (2023) 'Isotopes prove advanced, integral crop production, and stockbreeding strategies nourished Trypillia mega-populations', PNAS, 1-10.
Human social development from
foragers to citizens was linked to
amplified agricultural production
to feed the growing settlement
populations. The first settlements
in Europe with large numbers of
inhabitants (up to 15,000) were
built some 6,100 B.P. by Trypillia
societies in modern-day Moldova
and Ukraine. Each of these
“mega-sites” existed for multiple
generations. The isotopic
composition of bones and plants
tells us that cattle were
intensively pastured to provide
manure for the labor-intensive
growing of pulses and that the
human diet was based mostly on
pulses and cereals. There is no
discernible economic reason for
the demise of these mega-sites.
Developing sociopolitical
inequalities likely caused people
to leave the mega-sites and
re-establish smaller settlements.
PNAS, 2023
Schlütz, F., Hofmann, R., Dal Corso, M., Pashkevychd, G., Dreibrodt, S., Müller, J., Shatilo, M.,... more Schlütz, F., Hofmann, R., Dal Corso, M., Pashkevychd, G., Dreibrodt, S., Müller, J., Shatilo, M., Ternaa, A., Fuchs, K., Videiko, M., Rud, V., Mülle, J. and Kirleis, W. (2023) 'Isotopes prove advanced, integral crop production, and stockbreeding strategies nourished Trypillia mega-populations', PNAS, 1-10.
Human social development from foragers to citizens was linked to amplified agricultural production to feed the growing settlement populations. The first settlements in Europe with large numbers of inhabitants (up to 15,000) were built some 6,100 B.P. by Trypillia societies in modern-day Moldova and Ukraine. Each of these "mega-sites" existed for multiple generations. The isotopic composition of bones and plants tells us that cattle were intensively pastured to provide manure for the labor-intensive growing of pulses and that the human diet was based mostly on pulses and cereals. There is no discernible economic reason for the demise of these mega-sites. Developing sociopolitical inequalities likely caused people to leave the mega-sites and re-establish smaller settlements.
The adoption and development of ceramic production technologies, particularly the use of kilns, h... more The adoption and development of ceramic production technologies, particularly the use of kilns, have profoundly shaped prehistoric and historical societies. The introduction of kilns marked a transformative technological innovation, enabling better control over the firing process, improved pottery quality, and increased production efficiency. This innovation fostered craft specialization, economic interconnectivity, and new approaches to resource management. Despite these advantages, kiln technology adoption varied, with some communities retaining traditional open or pit firing methods. This session explores the dynamics of ceramic production areas in archaeological contexts, emphasizing technological, socio-economic, and environmental factors driving these changes. By examining kiln structures, workshop layouts, raw material procurement, and waste disposal patterns, as well as regional and chronological variations across Eurasia, the Mediterranean, and Europe, we aim to uncover patterns in the development of pottery production. Key questions include: What factors influenced the adoption of kiln technology in some societies while others maintained traditional methods? How did kiln innovations impact product quality, output, and trade networks? What role did technological and environmental constraints play in shaping production practices? We also investigate how ceramic production sites reflect broader societal dynamics, including urbanization, trade, and political shifts, with localized adaptations highlighting responses to resource availability and labour dynamics. Through interdisciplinary approaches-including geochemical analysis, spatial analysis, ethnographic comparison, and experimental archaeology-we seek to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between technology, society, and craft knowledge in ceramic production from prehistory to present.
Studia Antiqua Et Archaeologica, Dec 31, 2014
The authors' intention is to bring to the notice of specialists a decorated discbutted axe recent... more The authors' intention is to bring to the notice of specialists a decorated discbutted axe recently discovered east of the Carpathians, in the Moldavian Plateau. This type of axe (A1, according to the established typologies), with few known items, is a typical discovery (mainly as a component of hoards or as an individual find) for the Middle Bronze Age from the area west of the Carpathians -the Wietenberg, Suciu de Sus and Otomani-Füzesabony cultures. The microscopic investigations on the decoration techniques prove the ability of the metallurgical craftsmen to handle complex alloys, as well as a refined artistic sense, qualities used to achieve a certain impressive appearance. The corroboration of all available data on this artefact offers new possibilities for revealing the social and symbolic function of the disc-butted axes of the Bronze Age. Rezumat. Intenția autorilor este de a aduce la cunoștința specialiștilor un topor cu disc decorat, descoperit recent la est de munții Carpați, în Podișul Moldovei. Acest tip de topor (A1, după tipologiile uzuale), cu puține exemplare cunoscute, este caracteristic epocii mijlocii a bronzului de la vest de Carpați -culturile Wietenberg, Suciu de Sus și Otomani-Füzesabony. Investigațiile microscopice asupra modului de realizarea a decorului dovedesc abilitatea meșterilor metalurgi de a manipula aliaje complexe, precum și un simț artistic rafinat, calități folosite pentru a obține un anumit aspect exterior, impresionant. Coroborarea tuturor datelor disponibile despre acest artefact oferă
Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica, 2021
Besides its contribution to understanding the formation process of large settlements and complex ... more Besides its contribution to understanding the formation process of large settlements and complex social organization in the late period of Cucuteni-Trypillia, the site of Stolniceni (Republic of Moldova) provided new data on the construction and spatial distribution within the site of pottery kilns. The extensive magnetic surveys revealed a large settlement, with more than 350 burnt dwellings, hundreds of pits, ditches, paths, and 19 kilns. Of the latter, four were excavated during the 2016-2018 campaigns. Three kilns were more or less similar in terms of sizes and construction, belonging to the "simple", dual chambered, updraught type. The best-preserved of them already served as model for a published experiment conducted in 2017 near the Stolniceni archaeological base. The fourth provided several surprising building features, like six additional holes arranged around the fire channels and communicating with them, and two small clay arches above the channels' ends. A plausible hypothesis of the researchers is that these elements were meant to improve the draught, by increasing and uniformizing the circulation of hot air throughout the upper chamber. Thus, in order to test how this technological innovation acts on the firing efficiency, we conducted a new experiment (August-September 2020, Băiceni-Romania). The firing process and temperatures reached in this type of kiln proved the concern of prehistoric potters for continuous improvement of their craft, raising questions about the emergence and socioeconomic implications of such innovations.
Data systematization in the Neo-Eneolithic of Southeastern and Central Europe: Essays in honor of Sergej Ryzhov, 2021
Збірку наукових праць присвячено 70-річчю видатного укра їн ського архе олога Сергія Рижова, робо... more Збірку наукових праць присвячено 70-річчю видатного укра їн ського архе олога Сергія Рижова, роботи якого стали взірцем для багатьох поколінь археологів. Збірка містить роботи із систематизації археологічних джерел і осмислення накопичених матеріалів, за якими стоять складні соціальноекономічні, міграційні та культурні процеси неоліту-енеоліту Південно-Схід ної та Центральної Європи.
Așezarea precucuteniană de la Isaiia–Balta Popii (com. Răducăneni, jud. Iași, România) – cercetări arheologice interdisciplinare
A planitiebus usque ad montes Studia archÆologica AndreÆ Pelisiak vitÆ anno sexagesimo quinto oblata, 2020
The paper discusses the results of trial archaeological investigations undertaken into the recent... more The paper discusses the results of trial archaeological investigations undertaken into the recently discovered site of Broscăuți –Hârtop (Botoșani County), in the north-eastern part of today’s Romania. The site is strongly affected by landslides, leading to restrictive
excavation possibilities and a focus on partially destroyed features. A Late Chalcolithic pit and a Sarmatian grave have been investigated.The pit provided material dated back to the second half of the 4th millennium BC (Horodiștea – Gordinești group). The grave belonged to an adult female and contained various adornments alongside wheeled pottery. It may be dated back to the 2nd century AD.
Beauty and the eye of the beholder : personal adornments across the millennia, 2020
The paper brings together different sets of data regarding the anthropomorphic pendants and figur... more The paper brings together different sets of data regarding the anthropomorphic pendants and figurines made of osseous materials (bone, antler and shell) that were in use in the 5th millennium BC
in the north-western Pontic region. The appearance of such miniatures is related to the emergence of the Chalcolithic way of life in this area and played an important role in the power and prestige discourse during the transformation processes underwent by the Cucuteni-Tripolye societies. Morphological and stylistic changes were observed in the assemblages from the middle of the 5th millennium BC, in the sense that they became more elaborate and closer to the realistic depiction of the human body.
GODIŠNJAK /JAHRBUCH 48, 2019
Four complex dual-chambered pottery firing kilns have been recently systematically excavated at t... more Four complex dual-chambered pottery firing kilns have been recently systematically excavated at the Cucuteni-Tripolye mega-site of Stolniceni in Northern Moldova. The data obtained from these investigations are corroborated with older and newer evidences from other sites and allow us to address wide problems such as technological and social context for specialized pottery firing on large Cucuteni-Tripolye settlements from the 4th millennium BC.
Journal of Neolithic Archaeology, [S.l.], v. 21, 2019
During extensive field work, different aspects of the large Tripolye settlement Stolniceni I in n... more During extensive field work, different aspects of the large Tripolye settlement Stolniceni I in northwest Moldova were investigated by an international team. These investigations allow a reassessment of these population agglomerations from the first half of the 4 th millennium BCE in Moldova and their comparison with more eastern Trip-olye sites. The investigations carried out in 2017 included the completion of the archaeo-magnetic survey of the settlement and the targeted archaeological excavations of various types of contexts. Besides the investigation of a ditch enclosing the site and test trenches in different parts of the settlement, the excavations focused mainly on two areas in the north of the settlement: On the one hand, excavations were carried out in a pottery production complex, including the uncovering of a pottery kiln, several pits and a dwelling. On the other hand, one specific 'ash-mound-like' anomaly was investigated which are arranged in regular intervals at the periphery of the settlement. The archaeological excavations were accompanied by comprehensive archaeobotanical analyses, which provide an insight into the subsistence and wood selection in the settlement, as well as permitting environmental reconstructions. A larger series of 14 C-datings proves the occupation of the settlement Stolniceni I over a longer period between about 3925 and 3700 BCE.
НАРОДИ І КУЛЬТУРИ НИЖНЬОГО ДУНАЮ В ДАВНИНУ Матеріали Міжнародної науково-практичної конференції (м. Ізмаїл, 23-26 серпня 2018 р.), 2018
Матеріали Міжнародної науково-практичної конференції (м. Ізмаїл, 23-26 серпня 2018 р.) Ізмаїл 201... more Матеріали Міжнародної науково-практичної конференції (м. Ізмаїл, 23-26 серпня 2018 р.) Ізмаїл 2018 ОДЕССКИЙ МИНИСТЕРСТВО АРХЕОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ МУЗЕЙ И НАУКИ УКРАИНЫ НАЦИОНАЛЬНОЙ ИЗМАИЛЬСКИЙ АКАДЕМИИ НАУК ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УКРАИНЫ ГУМАНИТАРНЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ ИСТОРИКО-КРАЕВЕДЧЕСКИЙ МУЗЕЙ ПРИДУНАВЬЯ ОБЩЕСТВЕННАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ «ЦЕНТР РАЗВИТИЯ БЕССАРАБИИ» ОРЛОВСКИЙ СЕЛЬСКИЙ СОВЕТ НАРОДЫ И КУЛЬТУРЫ НИЖНЕГО ДУНАЯ В ДРЕВНОСТИ Материалы Международной научно-практической конференции (г. Измаил, 23-26 августа 2018 г.) Измаил 2018 ББК 63.4(4)32 УДК 902/904(477.7)''-03/-02,, Н-30
Comunitățile cucuteniene din zona Târgului Frumos. Cercetări interdisciplinare în siturile de la Costești și Giurgești
Arheologia Moldovei XLI, 2018
This paper describes an archaeological experiment which took place in September 2017 in Stolnicen... more This paper describes an archaeological experiment which took place in September 2017 in Stolniceni, Edineț County, Republic of Moldova, based on the recent discovery, in the Cucuteni-Trypillia site from the locality, of an exceptional two-chambered updraft kiln. First are presented the phases of the (re)construction of the complex, which strictly followed the dimensions and constitutive elements of the original discovery. After the kiln was finished and dried, a first attempt was made to fire a batch of about 50 vessels of various sizes. During over 10 hours of continuous firing, the kiln worked perfectly, with no incidents that could jeopardize the pottery. In the end, although the vessels seemed to be very well fired in an oxidizing atmosphere, it was proved that the temperatures reached in the kiln (measured with Orton temperature cones and confirmed by a series of XRD analyses) were inferior to those known (based on analyses) for Cucuteni- Trypillia ceramics. However, this first experimental attempt allowed some interesting observations, being a step forward in understanding this complex chaine opératoire of prehistoric pottery production.
Memoria Antiquitatis XXXI-XXXII, 97-112
The article presents the materials from a new Cucuteni B settlement in Botoșani County (Romania).... more The article presents the materials from a new Cucuteni B settlement in Botoșani County (Romania). The site with a possible radial structure and a well-visible ditch is potentially very important for contouring the centripetal large site formation of Cucuteni B - Tripolye B2/C1 stages in the Prut region.
Southeast Europe and Anatolia in prehistory Essays in honor of Vassil Nikolov on his 65th anniversary., Dec 2016
We will address here the subject of prehistoric games by looking with fresh eyes at knucklebone c... more We will address here the subject of prehistoric games by looking with fresh eyes at knucklebone collections from Chalcolithic sites
located in modern-day Bulgaria and Romania, with special attention to Drama-Merdžumekia – Karanovo V-VI/Maritsa-Gumelnitza – Târgu
Frumos-Baza Pătule and Isaiia-Balta Popii – Precucuteni culture. Gaming activities did not always leave identifiable traces in
the archaeological record. Children’s toys appear occasionally among very old remains, as it is the case of the bone anthropomorphic
figurines of the late Linear Pottery culture (5100 BC), for which a function as dolls for girls can be firmly supported 3. But these
are only isolated cases. The great importance of the Drama Merdžumekia assemblage and of other assemblages from neighboring
contemporary cultures, resides in the fact that they contain hundreds of game pieces, which provide the means to understand the issue
of games in their social aspects, since it is observable. On these sites, games appear with frequency and intensity, as a common practice.
Thereby, we push back the prehistory of games to the moment it becomes systematic, at the beginning of the 5th millennium BC, with
Karanovo V/Maritsa 4, and Precucuteni in the Eastern part of Romania.
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Papers by Andreea Vornicu-Terna
Human social development from
foragers to citizens was linked to
amplified agricultural production
to feed the growing settlement
populations. The first settlements
in Europe with large numbers of
inhabitants (up to 15,000) were
built some 6,100 B.P. by Trypillia
societies in modern-day Moldova
and Ukraine. Each of these
“mega-sites” existed for multiple
generations. The isotopic
composition of bones and plants
tells us that cattle were
intensively pastured to provide
manure for the labor-intensive
growing of pulses and that the
human diet was based mostly on
pulses and cereals. There is no
discernible economic reason for
the demise of these mega-sites.
Developing sociopolitical
inequalities likely caused people
to leave the mega-sites and
re-establish smaller settlements.
Human social development from foragers to citizens was linked to amplified agricultural production to feed the growing settlement populations. The first settlements in Europe with large numbers of inhabitants (up to 15,000) were built some 6,100 B.P. by Trypillia societies in modern-day Moldova and Ukraine. Each of these "mega-sites" existed for multiple generations. The isotopic composition of bones and plants tells us that cattle were intensively pastured to provide manure for the labor-intensive growing of pulses and that the human diet was based mostly on pulses and cereals. There is no discernible economic reason for the demise of these mega-sites. Developing sociopolitical inequalities likely caused people to leave the mega-sites and re-establish smaller settlements.
excavation possibilities and a focus on partially destroyed features. A Late Chalcolithic pit and a Sarmatian grave have been investigated.The pit provided material dated back to the second half of the 4th millennium BC (Horodiștea – Gordinești group). The grave belonged to an adult female and contained various adornments alongside wheeled pottery. It may be dated back to the 2nd century AD.
in the north-western Pontic region. The appearance of such miniatures is related to the emergence of the Chalcolithic way of life in this area and played an important role in the power and prestige discourse during the transformation processes underwent by the Cucuteni-Tripolye societies. Morphological and stylistic changes were observed in the assemblages from the middle of the 5th millennium BC, in the sense that they became more elaborate and closer to the realistic depiction of the human body.
located in modern-day Bulgaria and Romania, with special attention to Drama-Merdžumekia – Karanovo V-VI/Maritsa-Gumelnitza – Târgu
Frumos-Baza Pătule and Isaiia-Balta Popii – Precucuteni culture. Gaming activities did not always leave identifiable traces in
the archaeological record. Children’s toys appear occasionally among very old remains, as it is the case of the bone anthropomorphic
figurines of the late Linear Pottery culture (5100 BC), for which a function as dolls for girls can be firmly supported 3. But these
are only isolated cases. The great importance of the Drama Merdžumekia assemblage and of other assemblages from neighboring
contemporary cultures, resides in the fact that they contain hundreds of game pieces, which provide the means to understand the issue
of games in their social aspects, since it is observable. On these sites, games appear with frequency and intensity, as a common practice.
Thereby, we push back the prehistory of games to the moment it becomes systematic, at the beginning of the 5th millennium BC, with
Karanovo V/Maritsa 4, and Precucuteni in the Eastern part of Romania.