Tracing Late Bronze Age transitions in the Eastern Carpathian Basin: insights from a new Cruceni–Belegiš type settlement from Dumbrăvița–Parohia Ortodoxă III (Timiș County, Romania)

This study presents the results of preventive archaeological investigations of the prehistoric settlement Dumbrăvița–Parohia Ortodoxă III, one of many sites identified in the peri-urban area of Timișoara. The site is one of the few settlements attributed to the Cruceni–Belegiš ceramic style, known from central Banat. This style developed across a wide area that includes present-day Romania, Serbia, and Croatia during the Late Bronze Age (LBA) of the eastern Carpathian Basin (ca. 1600–1200 BC). No dwellings were found during the excavation. However, the presence of daub fragments with wattle impressions indicates the existence of architectural structures at the site. Among the many refuse pits, a small but informative pottery assemblage was found, along with five beads and a metal artefact. The ceramics were analysed for manufacturing technology, vessel typology and ornamentation. This analysis provided information for the relative chronology of the site and facilitated comparison with the LBA settlement of Giroc–Mescal (Timiş county) using multivariate statistics. Additionally, an AMS radiocarbon date provided absolute chronological context for the assemblage, establishing a firmer timeline for the site. The main contribution of the Dumbrăvița–Parohia Ortodoxă III discoveries is in documenting a transitional chronological sequence. Certain regional LBA I traits were abandoned, others persisted, and new elements were adopted. The ceramic assemblage reveals transformations from the old to the newer phase of the discussed ceramic style. The discovery of beads in the Cruceni–Belegiš cultural area is unique so far. Also, the metal artefact – a saw blade – provides insights into metal utilisation on this site.