Atestarea arheologică a celei de a patra linii de fortificații a cetății de epoca bronzului de la Cornești – Iarcuri (jud. Timiș) / Archaeological evidence for the fourth line of fortification of the Bronze Age fortress from Cornești – Iarcuri (Timiş County)

Abstract

The first attestation of the fortification at Cornești – Iarcuri is given by a 1720 military map (“Mappa vom der Temesvaer District”) and the fortification continued to be more or less schematically marked, on the later maps from the 18th and 19th centuries. Initially, only three ramparts were mentioned at Iarcuri. Because of their concentric layout, the fortification was assigned to the Avar period. The archaeological excavations from the first half of the 20th century dated the fortification at Cornești – Iarcuri to the Bronze Age. Interrupted by WWII, the archaeological excavations were resumed in the autumn of 2007, and they have continued until present within an international research project. The new archaeological excavations based on modern methods of research confirmed the previous proposals for a Late Bronze Age dating. At the same time, the LiDAR scanning and the magnetic prospections confirmed the observations made on the aerial photos from 1959 and 1973, which revealed the existence of a forth enclosure. The rampart of Enclosure IV, situated to the exterior of the fortification, covered an area of 1,765 ha. The 2011 archaeological investigations aimed at obtaining the archaeological evidence that would confirm the existence of the rampart of Enclosure IV. In the area where the archaeological excavation was conducted, investigations concerning the Spontaneous Potential of the ground were also carried out, parallel to the magnetic prospection. Area T. IV/ 2011 was situated ca. 500 m east of the north-eastern corner of Cornești village, and ca. 35 m west from the access gate into Enclosure IV, as revealed by the magnetic prospections. The rampart of Enclosure IV was made of clay lentils and battered soil. It was defended by a ditch over 9 m in width and 2.50 m in depth at the moment of its usage. The role of the fourth enclosure is difficult to determine, since the length of the rampart would not allow for an efficient defense. Thus, the interpretation of the Cornești – Iarcuri fortification cannot be reduced only to that of a construction with a military role. Very probably, this huge Bronze Age fortification emphasized the economic power (and, implicitly, the military one) of a group of communities. Behind them, one can see the existence of the warrior elite whose leaders were able to control and coordinate both the huge construction effort necessary for the four enclosures, and, the long-term maintenance of the ramparts and the defensive ditches.