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Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 71 (2013) 206 215

International Workshop on the Historiography of Philosophy: Representations and Cultural Constructions 2012

The situation of the archaeological findings in the area of cultural role of this political, administrative and religious centre in the Middle Ages
Dorel Micle
West University of Timisoara, Blvd. V. Parvan No. 4, Timisoara, 300223, Romania

Abstract In the context of increasingly intense debates regarding the cultural role that the Comitat of Cenad, and especially the Fortification of Morisena, had in the propagation of religious ideas, political administration and economical implications of this local power center lying at the border of present day Romania and Hungary, our study intends to be a retrospective of their spatial archaeological findings till the present time distribution, their importance, their relation with the old Morisena power center but also to capture the topographicalarchaeological features specific to this area. Our research combines field work and documentary work in a landscape archaeology study, in order to clarify the situation of this historical area within the medieval cultural landscape. During this study, we try to dismantle Romanian historiography theories based on erroneous data, and to check the authenticity of those based on archaeological findings. by Elsevier Ltd. and/or peer-review under responsibility of Claudiu Mesaros (West University of 2013 2013 Published The Authors. Published by Selection Elsevier Ltd. Timisoara, Romania) Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Claudiu Mesaros (West University of Timisoara, Romania)
Keywords: archeological findings; archeological sites; lanscape archeology; cultural landscape.

1. The situation of archeological findings at Cenad 1 The situation of archaeological findings at Cenad is a complex one with regard to the issue of historiography. The abundance of documentary sources about Cenad is impressive, making it a major fortified and ecclesiastical

For complete information, see the final version of this study, [1].

1877-0428 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Claudiu Mesaros (West University of Timisoara, Romania)
doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.01.028

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urban center in the Middle Ages, with hundreds of studies being written about it [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]2. Cenad played a major role in the strategic policy of the Lower Mure between the 10th and the 16th centuries, and the spiritual influence of the Churces in Cenad was a special one in the plain region of Banat. Even so, the modern investigation of the fortifications, churches, and the civil settlement evolution is very difficult due to total overlay of the modern settlement onto the archaeological site site that was thus affected by interventions after the 18th century. The structural elements of the fortification and the medieval town were completely destroyed and leveled at the beginning of the 18th century, when the Habsburg colonization and systematization occurred [9]. The most important clues regarding the topography of the medieval settlement and fortification are offered by the description of the Turkish traveler Evlia Celebi [10] and by the sketches of the Italian topographer Luigi Ferdinando Marsigli [9,11]3 Cenad fortification.

Fig. 1. Plan of the Morisena Fortress elaborated by L. F. Marsigli in 1697, overlaid onto the satellite image of the present day Cenad

Random artifacts or old urban structures discoveries began in the 19th century and they still bring into attention the existence of archaeological vestiges in the precincts of the modern settlement. In 1864 [20,21,22] some skeletons in stone coffins were randomly discovered, and in 1868, while demolishing the old church in the center of the locality, foundations and architectonic elements were uncovered that could have belong to St. John the Baptist Orthodox monastery built by Ahtum in the late 10th century. The observations of archaeologists Floris Romer and Imre Henszelmann suggested that the initial Cenad fortification could belong to a Roman fortress or to the 10th century monastery. The random discoveries made in the 19th century in the areas of Cenad, Periam and Snnicolau Mare entail the assertion that they could belong to the Roman Age, being retrieved as such by modern historiography [23,24,25,26,27,28,29]4. In the interwar period a series of random discoveries enter the heritage of the Banat Museum in Timi oara.

2 3 4

For the Hungarian literature, unavailable to us, see Rusu, A.A. (1996). , # 169, 419, 670, 939, 1061. For more information on Austrian cartographical aspects regarding Banat, see [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19]. presence at Cenad at [30].

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Fig. 2. Detail extracted from map plate no. 9 of the first topographic survey of the Habsburg Empire, 1769 1772, representing Cenad (apud Arcanum, The First Military Survey of the Habsburg Empire was made 1763 1785, 2004)

The archaeological research at Cenad began in 1974-1975, being initiated by a team of specialists from the History and Archaeology Institute of Cluj Napoca and from the Banat Museum of [31]. The research resumed in 1986, 1994 and 1995 through sections and soundings from different points within the modern settlement [3,9,32,33]. A team coordinated by Iambor, Heitel and the systematic archaeological research in 2000, 2001 and 2003; the results are being processed and will represent a monographic study. The sections and surface locations conditioned by modern constructions did not allow a punctual research to significantly clarify the medieval, and eventually, the Roman inhabitance. Based on the accumulated and published information till the present date, there is no evidence of Roman inhabitance the artifacts invoked being truly Roman, but located in a secondary position, probably used in the Middle Ages. Only the complete excavation reports will be able to solve this continuously disputed issue. No visible architectonic elements were left at the surface after the total and systematic destruction which took place at the beginning of the 18th century of both the stone and the earth fortifications, or after the construction of the modern locality. Even so, the richness of documentary data regarding the Middle Age Cenad echoes a site of great importance. As the results of the 1974, 1975, 1986, 1994, 1995 campaigns show, under the present day modern locality there are vestiges of great importance for the medieval history of the plain region of Banat. The low amplitude of systematic archaeological research, also conditioned by the existence of the modern settlement and the brief publishing of the discovered archaeological material, continue to maintain uncertainty regarding the Roman presence at Cenad, overlaid by the medieval inhabitance. Even in the given conditions, the archaeological remains representative for LMI5 Timi .

LMI List of Historical Monuments

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Fig. 3. The present day topographic conformation of Cenad, detail extracted from the military topographic map, 1973, edited in Global Mapper (apud Directia Topografica Militara)

The archaeological vestiges that are still visible on the surface are not suitable to be included into tourist circuits. The launch of systematic archaeological research campaigns would represent an extraordinary opportunity in this direction, especially because the whole Cenad community has a wide opening towards promoting local cultural values already having a local museum where the archaeological findings from around the locality are exhibited6. Cenad has a favorable geographic position for touristic development, being set along the National Road no. 6 which connects Timi oara to Szeged. Tourists arriving at Cenad can visit special natural habitats included in the Natural Park Lunca Mure ului, along other cultural sites of the commune. 2. The archaeological discoveries situation in the area of Cenad Because the former area of the Comitat of Cenad is very large, within this study we limited ourselves to the territory around present day Cenad, with a radius of approximately 15 kilometers from the center of the locality meaning to the limit of the neighboring localities: Igri to the East, Saravale and Smpetru Mare to the East and South-East, Snnicolau Mare and Tomnatic to the South, Ner u to South-West, Dude tii Vechi, Colonia Bulgar , Cheglevici and Cherestur to the West, and Pordeanu to North-West. The total research area sums up to 41,000 hectares.

Fig. 4. The area of Cenad, analyzed by us from an archaeological point of view

Regarding the activity of the community of Cenad, see the well-set official website, www.cenad.ro.

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The area is very rich in archaeological sites belonging to most historical eras, the geographical area being characterized by low floodplains drained by many fossil arms of the the West the medium elevation fitting between 90 meters to the East and 82 meters to the West. The fossil meanders create popins and grinds high terrains that take shape in the flat surroundings with relief energy between 1.5 to 3 meters, very usable for inhabitance because they are protected from floods, aspect that was speculated by inhabitants from Prehistory until the Middle Ages. Over time, the area has been punctually investigated by numerous history and archaeology enthusiasts, both amateurs and professionals, treasure hunters and simple peasants, who made various random discoveries (some of immense importance such as the Snnicolau Mare Hoard). However, no systematic archaeological investigations were performed yet to professionally verify, identify, and map all archaeological sites in this area. The first random discoveries, and then punctual research, resulted in some cases with unprofessional and unauthorized excavations (nowadays called archaeological poaching) between the 18th and the 19th centuries, the best known being the case of archaeology enthusiast Kislegi Nagy Gyula, but also by professionals of the era such as Romer, Henszelmann or Milleker. Some cases of local history teachers are known, who, from a passion for the cultural values of their locality, did field research that enriched the repertory of known sites, such as the case of the teacher C. Kalcsov from of residence realized .

Fig. 5. The map of archaeological discoveries in the area of Dude tii Vechi (apud C. Kalcsov, op. cit., p. 161)

Systematic research was performed in the area in the last 30 years by archaeologists P. nnicolau Mare, 7 [48,49,50,51,52], but most data is still being processed and will be soon published. The field research undertaken between 2006 and 2007 by the team of specialists from the History Department of the West University of Timi oara in order to identify and map with the help of the Total Station all the the Banat Archaeological Repertory published by A. S. Luca [53] in 2006, with the note that in the final project report [1] only the sites that were part

7 Regarding the part [44], [45], [46], [47].

[34], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43],

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of LMI version 2004 were presented and analyzed. Other tens of archaeological objectives were identified with this occasion and are now in the course of being published. After all the research, the picture of medieval archaeological discoveries from the area of Cenad looks as follows: 1. Sites belonging to the migration period (between the 7 th and 10th century) Cenad Roman Catholic Ch inhabitance traces Cenad archaeological complexes, centuries 9th to 10th earth mound, graves belonging to the migration period earth mound, grave belonging to the migration period Movila l settlement, centuries 7th to th 8 settlement, centuries 8th to 10th th Tomnatic to 11th th th 2. Sites belonging to the Middle Ages (between the 11 and 18 century) Cenad fortified center, monastery, inhabitance traces, stone sarcophagus of the 11th century, graves R centuries 11th to 12th, medieval settlement earth mound, medieval graves earth mound, early medieval graves , po Canalul lui centuries 11th to 12th settlement, church ruins Movila l settlement, centuries 10th to th 12 the ruins of Kemenche monastery, centuries 12th to 13th Snnicolau Mare multilayered site, open early and late medieval settlement Snnicolau Mare multilayered site, open early and final medieval settlement Snnicolau Mare multilayered site, open early medieval settlement Snnicolau Mare Strada Como multilayered site, open late medieval settlement Snnicolau Mare, punct multilayered site, open middle medieval settlement These are the most representative Middle Age archaeological discoveries (both in literature and unpublished, identified by us in the field), although there is more sporadic information and random discoveries of objects, finery and coins, but inaccurately localized. The general picture of discoveries would not be complete if we would not mention some interesting information about the possibility of the existence of fortified medieval monasteries and churches that was not verified through field research. They are mentioned in different Hungarian sources and in different folk legends the information being borrowed by various authors, thus penetrating into the specialty literature. One of these is a th Pordeanu [53]. Another source mentions South of Co to the presence of medieval bricks and walls [54]. The same author talks about a possible earth fortification (a wood identified until recently [54]. Instead, we have evidence regarding the existence of two medieval earth fortifications: a circular one in the .) and a square one north-east of Smpetru Mare (Fig.

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7. shore (both fortifications were still visible in the 18 th century). Neither of the two fortifications was investigated by archaeological excavation.

Fig. 6. Detail extracted from map plate no. 15 of The first topographic survey of the Habsburg Empire, representing Igri (in the interior of the locality we can observe the circular fortification) (apud Arcanum, The First Military Survey of the Habsburg Empire was made 1763 1785, 2004)

Fig. 7. Detail extracted from map plate no. 15 of The first topographic survey of the Habsburg Empire, representing the NE area of Smpetru Mare (in the interior of the image we can observe the square fortification) (apud Arcanum, The First Military Survey of the Habsburg Empire was made 1763 1785, 2004)

Thus, only two important medieval archaeological sites that were investigated and documented by archaeological excavation remain in Cenad sector): halfway between Cenad and Although it is believed that a chain of fortresses was located along the southern shore of the Mure (in this sector), as well as several fortified churches and monasteries, they were not identified in the field or have not yet been the subject of exhaustive archaeological investigations.

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Fig. 8. Monastery Kemenche plan with topographical detail and plan substructures identified by magnetometric prospections

3. Conclusions In the early middle ages, the was one of the corridors for penetration of Western culture and civilization, so it is not surprising that the first Catholic monasteries were built either by the papacy, or by different monastic orders from the 11th to 12th centuries [55]. After the Tatar invasion in 1241-1242, the number of these monasteries significantly increased, having a double purpose: religious (Catholic) and strategic (to defend the Mure line because these monasteries were undisputedly fortified). However, they lost part of their importance once the Catholicization process of Banat and Transilvania ended (around the middle of the 14 th century), and also after the strengthening of the new feudal power centers. Local autonomy and power of these monasteries was not well seen by the Hungarian king after the role they played during the eastward expansion, they were no longer needed. As it has happened in many cases, in addition to these monasteries, civil settlements were also developed, multiplying them with the Hungarian conquest of these areas and their Catholicization and local cultural, political and administrative symbiosis. It is difficult to say to what extent Catholicism was imposed at the lowest level of the rural population who lived in this area, and how they carried out contacts with Christian Orthodox religious centers. So far, we have no evidence of institutionalized Orthodox power centers in the analyzed area. In this context, the development of Cenad as an administrative, religious, economical and cultural power center in this border area (religious, ethnic, cultural, political, etc.) emerged as a natural phenomenon of regional coagulation and centralization of power. Thus, Cenad was imposed as a regional power factor, geostrategic, economic and religious, being the gateway to Banat and Transylvania. The disappearance of the other ephemeral power centers from the 9th to the 12th century happened gradually, leaving behind an impressive number of civil settlements mostly of agricultural character which ask to be discovered, analyzed and interpreted today more than ever in order to understand the complex context of spiritual and material relationships in this area. Far from being able to draw some final conclusions, our work of identification and localization of all medieval archaeological sites in the area of Cenad is only a work in progress, systematic archaeological research being the only way to explain aspects of demography, the relationship between center and periphery, the role of elites in the political game of power, economic features of the region and the cultural and religious importance, which the medieval Cenad (Morisena) had.

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