Scientific context and motivation
For a long time archaeological research in Romania and in
other countries of Central Europe remained confined within the limits
of studies based strictly on stratigraphy and typology of various
artifacts disconnected from their contexts. The principal consequence
of the assumption of the cultural-historical paradigm consisted mainly
in producing repetitive results and ignored the wider question of
resource management modalities and strategies for the control and
distribution of various goods and the structuration of built and unbuilt
space. Neither was envisaged an extremely important issue referring
to society, to its structure, to the causes of some social
developments, particularly in the relations between man and
environment. In such conditions, social mechanisms of the
relationships with the environment, its economic and cultural value,
differentiation and communication and/or exchange systems soon
became general aspects of enunciation which were based on
opinions transformed into dogma.
Thus, general ideas have been spread about, often
misconceptions and the lack or scarcity of complex multidisciplinary
studies was significant, especially considering that the conceptual
content of research has not evolved.
Thus, this project aims, for the first time in Romania, to define
the specificities of human communities in close relation with the
natural environment. Several chronological levels like the Neo-
eneolithic period, the La Tène epoch and the Middle Ages have
privileged positions in a large study area, and can be studied through
a comprehensive interdisciplinary diagnostic, allowing to highlight the
framework of the linked evolution of man and his environment. It will
correlate the specific parameters obtained through studies of
archaeology, sedimentology, micromorphology archaeozoology,
palynology, antracology, carpology and physical anthropology with
special reference to different categories of social spaces.
This theme primarily aims to allow the correlation of data on
areas larger than those traditionally considered which were reduced
to the built social space of the settlement, so we can try to highlight
the characteristics of the development of various human communities
not only in time but also depending on the variability of environment’s
ecological parameters.
It is envisaged that in general, the natural existing resources
may not only have a limited or restrictive impact value and much
smaller extent than was long believed, but can also be determining.
Therefore we consider it is obvious that the natural environment, as
well as its evolution must be reconstructed in an as detailed way as
possible in its whole complexity, to allow us to define strategies of
resources exploitation, cultural options and the social behaviors of
these communities, based on measurable scientific data.
Study area is situated in the “Balta Ialomiţei” meadow, a
floodplain area between two parts of the Danube, the Old Danube
and Borcea, which presents natural areas permanently or
occasionally flooded and dammed areas with artificial or natural
forests. These wetlands are currently true refuges for the
preservation and conservation of natural biodiversity. The Danube
including its delta is a significant part of EU Regional Strategy,
presented and adopted in December 2010 by the European
Commission.
Analysis of topographic maps showed that the area has
undergone significant changes as a result of geomorphologic
evolution, being affected by the draining and damming works of the
last half century in a lesser extent than previously thought. An
Austrian military map at 1:20.000 scale on the basis of
measurements made at the end of the nineteenth century, illustrates
a situation much closer to the present, except for major changes
caused by human interventions in the twentieth century. The
1:25.000 scale military topographic map, printed in 1960, illustrates
the same situation for micro-topography. This time, however,
common areas with lakes, ponds and channels, from north and
south, are separated by one of the first dams made in this part of
the Danube floodplain.
“Popina Borduşani” is the most important prehistoric
settlement known so far in “Balta Ialomiţei” area. It is one of the
largest tells in the south-eastern Europe under current
archaeological research by a multidisciplinary team (S. Marinescu-
Bîlcu et al. 1997; D. Popovici et al. 2003).
