Die Autoren untersuchen im Beitrag Grubengräber unter Grabhügeln (Kurgane) von der gesamten Unteren Donau auf ihre Bestattungssitte, Grabausstattung, Stratigraphie undLes sépultures à fosses ou à puits sous tumulus (kourgane) de la culture Yamna dans la vallée inférieure du Danube font l’objet de notre article. Nous nous penchons sur les questions concernant les rites funéraires, le mobilier des sépultures, la stratigraphie et les datations radiocarbone. Ces dernières comprennent 17 dates AMS récemment obtenues en Munténie du nord, la plupart inédites. On peut distinguer deux groups de sépultures. Un premier groupe consiste en sépultures à fosses plus ovales que rectangulaires; les corps sont fléchis sur le côté, il y a peu d’ocre et les récipients (en céramique de production apparemment locale) sont rares. Les sépultures de ce groupe sont pour la plupart les sépultures primaires à l’intérieur des tumuli. En utilisant des datations radiocarbone obtenues récemment pour les sépultures 3B et 5 B à Ariceşti IV (et en partie celles de la sépulture 2/3 de Păuleşti II), comté Prahova, nous démontrons que the groupe date d’avant environ 3050/3000 cal BC, probablement recouvrant tout le dernier tiers du IVe millénaire BC. Le second groupe présente toutes les caractéristiques de la culture classique ‘Yamna’: sépultures primaires et secondaires, fosses surtout rectangulaires et couvertes de poutres, corps en décubitus avec jambes fléchies, taches ou morceaux d’ocre, mobilier rare où on remarque quelques anneaux de chevelure en métal précieux. La céramique est à nouveau rare, mais quand elle est présente il s’agit souvent de gobelets décorés au cordon, très semblables aux gobelets de la culture de la céramique cordée de l’Europe du centre et du nord. Les datations radiocarbone de ces sépultures de ce groupe datent d’après environ 3050/3000 cal BC, et il est peut-être même possible de les subdiviser le long des parties plates et raides de la courbe de calibration, c’est-à-dire allant d’environ 3050/3000 à 2880 cal BC, et ensuite depuis environ 2880 à 2580 cal BC. Ceci pourra en fin de compte nous permettre de distinguer uns phase ‘Yamna’ ancienne d’une phase plus récente. En bref, et après avoir examiné plus de 500 datations radiocarbone et/ou dendrochronologiques provenant d’une zone allant de l’Oural à la Tisza, le phénomène des sépultures à puits ou fosses couvre une période allant d’environ 3500 cal BC à 2400 cal BC. En incluant les sépultures plus anciennes de Suvorovo-Novodanilovka (Ve millénaire BC.) et certaines sépultures (ou kourganes) de la culture des steppes attribuées à Cernavoda I et cultures associées (première moitié du IVe millénaire BC), il devient évident qu’un courant d’échange existait de façon continue durant 2000 ans entre le nord-est, le nord et l’ouest du Pont-Euxin. Quoique nous supposons que la culture ‘Yamna’ a surtout vu une vague intense de migrants venants de l’est au sein d’un milieu social, économique et idéologique nouveau, il reste à établir si les premières sépultures à fosses sous tumulus du Danube inférieur datant d’à partir de 3300 cal BC étaient un apport de peuples des steppes apparentés à des peuplades du nord du Pont-Euxin avec traditions funéraires de type Nizhne-Mikhailovka et Kvityana, ou s’il s’agit plutôt de rites appartenant à une population locale qui aurait intégré de nouvelles coutumes ‘orientales’ dans ses propres rites funéraires. Il est fort probable que nous avons affaire à une combinaison des deux possibilités.The Pit-Graves under burial mounds (Kurgans) of the Lower Danube region are being assessed in terms of their burial customs, funeral equipment, stratigraphy and radiocarbon dates. The latter comprise 17 recently performed AMS dates from Northern Muntenia, most of them yet unpublished. Two distinct burial groups can be separated: A first consists of graves with more oval than rectangular grave-pits, predominantly side-crouched body positions of the deceased, few ochre, and rare but seemingly local pots. Graves of this group are mostly the primary graves in their mounds. By using some already published and the newly obtained

North of the Mălăieştii de Jos village (Prahova county), on the edge of a high terrace (295 m altitude), an Eneolithic settlement was noted. To the north and south the site is naturally bordered by deep gullies and ravines, and to the east by the river valley. A rather easy way of access, probably manmade. exists on its west side. The settlement is located in the hilly area at the northern limit of a microzone characterized by relatively high and extensive terraces, at 3.3 km north from the confluence of the Vărbilău and Teleajen rivers. Despite the fact that the southern part of the Mornel terrace covers a large area where the settlement could have been conveniently located, the Eneolithic community preferred this remote edge of the terrace because of its natural protection from three sides, and probably cut an access path to ensure its isolation. 2002 saw the beginning of the systematic archaeological research, within a project focusing on the dynamics and evolution of the Neo-Eneolithic communities in the northern Wallachia. The excavation system emplyed aimed to completely expose the habitation features, not only for the observing the internal organization of the settlement, but also for obtaining detailed information on the the house building techniques and strategies, distribution of household items, etc. An important part of the research focused on the areas outside the living quarters, in an attempt to improve our understanding of the vertical internal development of the settlement, as well as the horizontal stratigraphic relationships between the various feature uncovereds. In this respect, among other things, it was sought not to isolate the houses from the rest of the archaeological context. In order to obtain such information, the excavation was carried out by simultaneous opening and excavation of large areas. The settlement had one archaeological layer, with several habitation phases. These do not necessarily signify a discontinuity in the evolution of the site, but it rather mirrors the internal evolution of the settlement. These phases could be observed both in the the superposition of the archaeological features, various building facilities and levelings, and the variable thickness of the archaeological layer in different areas of the site. There are places where the cultural layer thickness does not exceed 0.20 m, while in others it reached lower than 0.60– 0.80 m. Several superpositions and intersections of the archaeological features are the markers of the important internal dynamics of this settlement. We were able to identify and observe not only a cumulative stratigraphic evolution, but also the disturbances of the natural and anthropic deposits, as the land was reshuffled in various stages. While excavating we noticed an increased activity in the modeling of the living space. The occuppied perimeter was, naturally restricted and rugged at the same time, and thus various changes were required in order to create additional space, but also to „ isolate” the community. This community reached creative solutions in modelling a restricted space, building homes tailored to the topography. The archaeological research revealed traces of artificial terraces. The settlement covered approx. 4000 sqm, and counted no more than 6 to 8 houses, most likely not all contemporaneous. The dwellings were relatively small, with one or two rooms. It is worth noting the richness of the archaeological finds, especially refitting pottery fragments. Flint and stone tools occured mainly outside the living areas and in waste dumps. Mammal bones were both very rare and poorly preserved.. The archaeological materials discovered indicate the presence of an Eneolithic community with cultural affinities in the Stoicani-Aldeni cultural aspect.

This study aims to publish the results of the archaeological excavations carried out in 2012 in the Neoeneolithic site from Boldeşti-Scăieni, Seciu neighbourhood (Prahova County). The surface excavated in 2012 was small, comprised of two sections. Extensive research was performed at the site in 2009 ; the results were published in a monography and in several studies. Archaeological artefacts specific to the Starčevo-Criş culture, especially ceramics, but also an inhumation burial of a child were unearthed in 2012. Archaeozoological material was also found. An Eneolithic dwelling attributed to the Stoicani-Aldeni cultural aspect was found above the Early Neolithic habitation layer. Two radiocarbon dates were obtained from samples taken from the Neolithic layer. They are presented and analised in this paper in the broader context of the evolution of the Starčevo-Criş culture at the Lower Danube.

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In 2011 the Museum for History and Archaeology of Prahova County conducted a series of rescue archaeological works in the area surrounding the city of Ploieşti. As a result, six tumuli (detected prior to this excavation at Ariceştii-Rahtivani (2), Păuleşti (3) and Strejnicu (1) were investigated. Inhumation graves were uncovered (both principal and secondary ones) with the individuals lying crouched on dorsal or lateral decubitus positions, having their legs constricted, fallen or lying laterally. Few grave goods were present. The burials were dated to the Bronze Age, probably the Jamnaja funerary horizon. Two other funerary complexes discovered at Păuleşti and Strejnicu were attributed to horsemen populations from the beginning of the IInd millenium AD. The grave from Păuleşti contained, alongside the human remains remains, parts of a horse skeleton. The human skeleton was lying on the back, head towards the west, arms along the body, legs stretched. The horse parts comprised the skull and the extremities of the legs, found together with a horse bit, two arrowheads, a ring and an iron object (whose functionality could not be determined because of its precarious state of conservation). The tomb from Strejnicu (probably a cenotaph) contained only the skull and leg extremities from a horse, together with a horse bit, an arrowhead and another iron object whose functionality could not be determined for the same reason as above.