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Maria Emilia CRÎNGACI ŢIPLIC
features 4 . However, one can still observe certain ethnic indicators in the German
colonization area, but only for a short period, namely from the mid-12 th century until
the mid-13 th century. This ethnic separation is visible from the perspective of material
culture (the material culture contrasts being due especially to technological and
cultural infusions brought by the Hospites from Western Europe, which they later
spread, after having settled in Transylvania), as well as from the political perspective,
from the point of view of the military potential and the administrative and
ecclesiastical organization – these communities of Western Hospites (Flanders,
Walloons, Saxons, and Flemish) finally succeeding to establish themselves as an
identity group (Saxones – Transylvanian Saxons – Siebenbürger Sachsen) 5 . The most
revealing elements of material culture from the 13 th century, preserved until today,
which present an ethnic character, an emblematic style 6 , are the objects made by
Western colonists. In this respect, the defining elements include liturgical objects 7 ,
swords, the bronze tripod vessel, certain tools and, to a certain extent, ceramics.
Nevertheless, these do not exclude the adoption of outside cultural elements by the
Transylvanian Saxon environment. Still, in order to achieve this ethnical attribution,
all artefacts must have a very clear context of discovery. Even then, there should be
reticence 8 regarding both certain types of weapons or items of military equipment (see
the swords from Hamba and Şeica Mică, the battle axe from Feldioara, the mace
heads from Racoşu de Sus, Bod, Dupuş), as well as the jewellery and clothing
accessories (see the temple S-ended rings from Feldioara, Mediaş etc. and the buckle
from Orăştie or Viscri).
The most important tools implemented by the German hospites in their settling
area include the plough with a mobile beam and the hatchet with rounded neck and
grip tube (see the tool hoard at Şelimbăr). Studies have shown that the emergence and
the large-scale manufacturing of iron hatchets with rounded neck and grip tube led to
several improvements of their efficiency during the production process, a fact which
4 Here we refer especially to ceramics and certain jewellery, which no longer reflect an ethnic character,
but the true fashion for that period. A good introduction to ethnicity in the early Middle Ages appears
in the studies of F. Curta 2002, p. 5-25, F. Curta 2006, p. 5-30, and Gh. A. Niculescu 1997-1998
(2001), p. 203-262; see also F. Curta’s online review of S. Brather’s book, Ethnische Interpretationen
in der frühgeschichtlichen Archäologie. Geschichte, Grundlagen und Alternativen, Berlin/New-York,
2004
(http://egg.mnir.ro/studii/florin/Brather_txt.htm).
5 On the historical interpretations and the integration of the artefacts described in a historical context, see
Th. Nägler 1992 and bibliography, K. Gündisch 2001 and bibliography, and M. E. Crîngaci-Ţiplic
2009, M. E. Crîngaci Ţiplic 2010 and bibliography.
6 On ethnicity and the emblematic style and their dependence on politics and power, see F. Curta 2002, p.
21-24, F. Curta 2006, p. 27-30, 301-302.
7 On liturgical objects from the 12 th – 13 th century, see M. E. Crîngaci Ţiplic 2005, p. 245-264.
8 When the context of discovery is not clear, establishing the belonging of certain artefacts discovered in
the settling area of the German Hospites is more difficult, hence the uncertainty whether the objects had
been adopted by the settlers or had belonged to other populations from the same area.