The ‘Celtic episode’ of the prehistoric Sanok region should be associated with a group of colonists from the south who, during phase LT C, used the local brine springs to produce salt and supply it to the population of the Upper Tisa River basin. For now, no finds definitely associated with phases LT B or LT D have been discovered in the region. The settlers probably relied on both agriculture and animal husbandry to sustain their communities. It seems unlikely they were able to produce any food surpluses, considering the unfavourable climate and poor soil conditions. When the expansion of Dacian tribes to the south of the Carpathians began to cause shifts in the political landscape and the trade routes’ network, the San River Valley cultural centre lost its economic significance and entered a period of decline. Presumably, some of the population may have migrated north into the more fertile lands, while others might have returned to the areas of their origin. According to the available data, there seems to be no clear continuity between the La Tène occupation and the oldest Przeworsk culture finds dated to the end of the early pre-Roman period.

The analysis of the cultural and settlement situation in the Upper San River basin in the Late Roman Period and the early phase of the Migration Period (timespan between phases C2 and D) is difficult due to the small database. In addition to materials from the partially researched settlement in Lesko and recently excavated (during the investment works on the bypass of Sanok) settlement in Sanok 59-60, the materials from these phases are primarily stray finds, such as metal fragments of clothing, such as buckles or coins, discovered outside the archaeological context. It is important to underline that most of the wheel-made pottery finds have a wide chronological frame and it is a rare possibility to narrow pottery dating. Despite the limited amount of data, they provide the basis for the new analysis of the archaeological material and settlement situation in this area dated roughly to the Late Roman Period and Early Migration Period. In this context, wide-scale research, which for the first time allowed observation of the extent and organization of settlements, proved to be particularly important.

The material content of the Púchov culture reflects complicated cultural relations in the Carpathian area. In the Early Roman Period, southern regions of the Púchov culture inclined towards Suebian cultural environment, whereas northern areas to the Przeworsk culture. Contacts between regions located north and south of the Carpathians, in the mountainous area of northern Slovakia, have been evident from the Late La Tène Period. They have been the most intensive since the 2nd century, especially in the Roman phases B2 and B2/C1. This is particularly noticeable on the metal findings and ceramic artefacts of the Przeworsk culture in the milieu of the Púchov culture, where they influenced local production.

The downfall of the settlement structure of Przeworsk culture in the Lublin region happened during chronological phases B2/C1-C1a. In course of the research concerning the time of formation of cemeteries, settlements and their duration of use, it was proved, that each of three settlement regions (north-western, western and eastern – see at the maps) displays certain unique features. Those differences are motivated by the accessibility of the Czerniczyn group in the pre-Roman period and the speed of Wielbark culture spread in the Roman period. The most long-term duration of the settlement was recorded in subregion I (A2-B2/C1-C1a). In subregion II it begins with phase B2 (possibly – end of phase B1) and lasts until the phase B2/C1-C1. In subregion III, after the episode of Przeworsk culture influx, that happened in the younger pre-Roman Period, Przeworsk culture appears in phases B2/C1-C1. The research of hoards of Roman coins allows us to suppose, that they were deposited in times of danger provoked by the migration of Goths in the years 193-218 A.D. (supposedly shortly after those events), as the latter date is indicated on the coin found in hoard from Spiczyn.

The author presents the movements of the Przeworsk culture warriors basing on written and archaeological sources but utilizes also the results of anthropological research. The warriors participated in military enterprises, viz. the raids but also more important ventures aimed at different areas (i.a. to the north – Vimose on Funen, and south-east – Čatyr Dag on Crimean Peninsula). Anthropological studies suggest that what was important for them was not the permanent direction, but tantalizing goals accomplishable in a military way. Possibly the warriors participated in retinues, also multi-ethnical ones, as described by Tacitus. It seems possible that the Przeworsk culture warriors occasionally collaborated with the Balts, but also the Wielbark culture warriors. Whether they occupied a privileged position among the Barbarians is still uncertain, but the Przeworsk culture forms of weapons imported and imitated in neighbouring cultures seem to suggest that for a long time they were treated as ‘role model’ warriors. The loss of their leading military impact in the Younger Roman Period should be linked with the increasing position of the Scandinavians with their well-equipped and stratified armies, probably fighting in the battle order. Written sources and weapons appearing as elements of grave furnishing, although not so frequent due to changes in the burial rite, suggest that it did not erase Przeworsk culture zealots from the military sphere. Detailed studies of sacrificial bog/watery sites, found in the territory of Poland, Scandinavia, and maybe also Lithuania and Latvia, have allowed finding further evidences of distant warlike expeditions.

The Przeworsk culture is part of the development of the Roman Period in Eastern Slovakia from the end of the Early Roman Period. First finds are known from the middle 20th century when the burial ground in Zemplín and settlement in Prešov were discovered. The goal of the submitted article is to inform about the first finds and gradual development of investigation as well as of our knowledge of the Przeworsk culture in Eastern Slovakia.

There is only a handful of burial sites dated to the Roman Period on the territory of the Eastern Slovakia. Only hitherto excavated cemetery dating to this period is located in Zemplín. In the year 2014 new Przeworsk culture cemetery was identified in Rankovce. During four seasons of the archaeological research forty-six burials were excavated at the site. Cemetery can be dated to the phases B2b - C1a of Roman Period and assigned to the Eastern zone of the Przeworsk culture based on the inventory of the burials.

In the last decade, the Hungarian research of settlements belonging to the Przeworsk culture, generally identified with the Germanic Vandals, yielded important new results. The aim of this paper is to summarize these latest results based on which it also discusses the extension of the settlement territory, the problems of relative chronology, the evolution of material culture as well as the relations of the above-mentioned Germanic ethnic group in the Roman Imperial Age.

This paper discusses a fragment of a terra sigillata vessel discovered at site no. 47 in Stronie, Limanowa district, Poland – which constitutes a unique find in the area of northern slopes of the Polish Carpathians. It was found during a field survey conducted within the Beskid Wyspowy Mountains and in the Sącz Basin. The state of preservation of this artefact is probably indicative of a settlement as opposed to a burial context, as it does not bear any traces of burning. The fragment in question probably comes from the beaker of type Drag. 30. The presence of terra sigillata finds in the Polish Carpathians, most probably indicates the contacts between the Beskidy Mountains zone and the Danubian Roman provinces during the reign of the Severan dynasty.

The aim of the article is to publish and discuss the late Roman solidus of Theodosius II (408-450), found in 2018 in the vicinity of the village of Prełuki, Komańcza commune, Sanok County. The coin was found randomly by treasure hunters, eventually recovered and donated to the Historical Museum of Sanok by Robert Fedyk. It is the second find of a late Roman solidus in the Upper San River basin. Several years ago a solidus of Valentinian III (425-455) had been found in Prusiek, Sanok County. Both coins belong to the early Migration Period finds horizon in this area. This consists of few bronze buckles, a sword, and fragments of a Hunnic cauldron finds. In all likelihood, the solidi found their way into the Upper San River basin as a consequence of the Hunnic-Germanic relations. They should be also treated as a part of the latest wave of Roman coins arriving in the present Lesser Poland area in the 5th century AD.

The aim of the analysis of Theodosius’ II solid was to determine the chemical compounds of the coin alloy and to conduct a traseological analysis. The results show that the fineness of gold of which the coin was made was very high (obverse: 99,16% which means 23,8 karat gold and reverse of 99,20% which constitutes for the 23,81 karat gold), and the alloy metal was silver (0,65% and 0,62%). Traseological analysis has shown, that the hole in the lower part of the obverse, 2,1 mm in the diameter, was drilled with a very sharp, narrow, conical tool, the marks of which are still visible on the inside of the hole. Also, some traces of work concerning the coin’s die have been spotted. The engraving of the die was done gradually. Traces of consequent scratching with a graver are well visible both on the obverse and reverse. The character of places where sharp edges framing letters and some images are preserved serve proof of those being prepared with the use of a narrow, triangular-ended graver. All this suggests, that the maker of the die had a developed set of technical and artistic skills.