The Dacian red deer antler sleeve discovered at Unip, Timiș County

Complex no. 7 was discovered during the 2011 archaeological campaign in the multi-layered fortified settlement from Unip – „Dealul Cetăţuica” / “Little Fortress Hill” – dated from the Second Iron Age (Geto-Dacian culture, probably 1st century AD). It is a ritual pit containing ceramic pots, other small pieces in clay, stone and metal, a bone handle and a red deer antler sleeve. The antler sleeve is a piece quite rare, less studied in the area of Dacian civilisation. It is entirely and in exceptional state of conservation. It is cone-shaped and he has 40.30 mm length and 50.42 mm maximum diameter. The surfaces were carefully finished. Three of the exterior surfaces were engraved with 14 double circles with a central dot. The circles are arranged in two rows, each of them having seven circles. This type of ornamentation is usual for bone and antler artefacts corresponding to the same chrono-cultural level both from Romania and Europe (handles, combs etc.). In order to analyse the piece, the optical and digital microscopic techniques were used (x10 – x200 magnifications). The artefact was probably used as sheath for a sword or a dagger. The use-wear traces revealed the fact that the sleeve was used before it had been put in the pit, quite habitual situation in the Geto-Dacian area. As analogies we may mention the pieces discovered in the sites from Sighişoara-“Wietenberg”, Mureş County and Poiana, Galaţi County. The close analysis of the artefact discovered at Unip offers an example regarding the way in which the methodology of study of osseous materials industry can be applied for Geto-Dacian materials.Beldiman Corneliu. The Dacian red deer antler sleeve discovered at Unip, Timiș County. In: Annales d'Université "Valahia" Târgovişte. Section d'Archéologie et d'Histoire, Tome 14, Numéro 1, 2012. pp. 73-84