A Hoard of Early Roman Sestertii from the Region of Święta Góra in the Krucze Mountains, Poland/ Skarb wczesnorzymskich sesterców z rejonu Świętej Góry w Górach Kruczych

Marcin Bohr, University of Wrocław, Institute of Archaeology

ORCID: 0000-0002-0611-6683

Dawid Maciejczuk, University of Wrocław, Institute of Archaeology

ORCID: 0000-0002-3044-0467

A Hoard of Early Roman Sestertii from the Region of Święta Góra in the Krucze Mountains, Poland

Abstract: The area of the Central-European mountains, including the Sudetes, is viewed as an area almost completely devoid of human settlements during the Roman period. This region was located away from the more densely populated lowlands and has not been subject of any research carried out by prominent academic centers. The archaeological works conducted in 2017–2019 in the area of Święta Góra in the Krucze Mountains alter that picture. The discovered deposit consists of 13 early Roman sestertii, three of which were identified as sestertii of Marcus Aurelius (161–180), one as a sesterce of Commodus (180–190), one as a sesterce of Marcus Aurelius or Commodus, and eight as sestertii of undetermined issue. Such a deposit is absolutely unique in the context of Central European Barbaricum, both in its quantity and the material from which the coins were made. Geographically the closest finds of similar deposits are known from the area of modern-day Bohemia and Moravia. The presence of prominent concentrations of Roman copper alloy coins of other denominations in the Polish part of the Sudetes is also interesting. Considering the functioning and course of the amber route, it is interesting that a very large number of copper alloy coins can be observed in the Western Baltic cultural area. The find from Święta Góra has a clearly symbolic character, connected with the spiritual sphere of the ancient communities living here during the period of Roman influence. This sphere became visible in very specific conditions of the mountainous borderland created by the Sudetes, including the Krucze Mountains. The imposing presence of those mountains from the east and the Ore Mountains and the Lasocki Ridge from the west create monumental pylons flanking the Lubawska Gate – the only convenient pass through the Sudetes in this area. There are examples of analogous votive offerings deposited in the mountains (often in aquatic contexts, such as springs) from all over the Barbaricum. The find from Lubawka is a key argument confirming the use of the Lubawska Gate as a communication route between the areas inhabited by the representatives of the Przeworsk Culture and the peoples of the Bohemian Basin and the Upper Elbe cultural circle during the Roman period. It is highly probable that the “depositors” were members of the Elbe basin communities who tried to expand northwards. It is also necessary to take into account the possibility that representatives of the Western Baltic communities were connected in some way to the treasure.

Key words: hoard, Roman influence period, Roman coins, sestertius

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52800/ajst.1.18.a5

Bohr, M. and Maciejczuk, D. 2023. “A Hoard of Early Roman Sestertii from the Region of Święta Góra in the Krucze Mountains, Poland”, Notae Numismaticae – Zapiski Numizmatyczne 18: 73–100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52800/ajst.1.18.a5