ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF SIGHISOARA. TINSMITHS’ TOWER Daniela Marcu Istrate” inte cheie - Turnul Cositorarilor, Sighisoara, sondaj arheologic jords — Tinsmiths’ Tower, Sighisoara, archaeological survey ict — The paper presents the results of an archaeological survey was positioned on the north- jern corner of the Tinsmiths’ Tower in Sighisoara, with the goal to research the structure and depth of foundations and to eventually establish the evolution of the grourid level. The conclusion of the h is that the Tinsmiths’ Tower, one of the most interesting structures in the fortress, was built ig the first part of the fourteenth century to the fifteenth century Turmul Cositorarilor (Tinsmiths’ Tower) is on the mid southern side of the fortress of isoara', It is one of the 14 towers that were built on one side or the other of the curtain wall ing the Middle Ages. It is an inner tower, on four levels, of a height of 25 meters: the inferior yy, on a rectangular plan, two pentagonal levels and a third one, octagonal, partially ted on brackets. The ground storey is built of relatively regular stone slabs, while the nd and third stories present a mixed masonry, predominant in stone; the fourth storey is of brick. The tall roof is supported on this masonry, which is partially covered with a ling plastering that bears traces of ageing. The tower is accessible on the ground storey from jdle the enclosure, by a door that was later opened in the | meter thick wall. It is possible that initial access point was only possible at the level of the walkway, also inside the enclosure. first three stories still preserve a few arrow loops shaped like tumed key-holes while yeen the third and the fourth stories there are bracketed machicolations. Rectangular and «d key-holes-shaped arrow loops alternate on the last storey, but here there are also visible openings, probably resulted during a later intervention. ‘The original architecture as well as the tower's massiveness, visible in the forefront from most accessible parts of the fortification, make the Tinsmiths’ Tower one of the most resting structures in the fortress. It is in fact one of the towers that lasted across time in a that was probably finished at the end of the sixteenth century, unmarred by the great fire in 16 that destroyed most of the fortress and of the Downtown’, or by the attacks in the nteenth and the eighteenth centuries (the fagades still have bullet marks from the Kurucs’ ge in 1704-1706), but also from different “urbanistic” activities in the later years. The treatises mention this tower in the description of the fortress but so far it was not the ject of special research that would permit detailing its construction stages. It is generally sidered one of the carly structures of the fortification mainly because of the square base plan was covered with a stone vault’. In fact, the scientists never agreed upon the stages of Damasus SRL, Bragoy, str. Jepilor, nr. 2B, e-mail: damasus2000@ yahoo.com a history of the town and its fortress see: Topografia monumentelor din Transilvania, IV.1. Municipiut igoara, 2002, Kiln. Timeline also in Atlas istorie al oraselor din Romédnia, seria C, Transilvania. Fascicolul 1 jsoara, Ed. Enciclopedica, Bucuresti 2000. spografia, p. 51-52. Atlas istoric, leat VIIL las, leaf VILCorviniana + Acta Musei Corvinensis, xil, 2009, Daniela Marcu Istrate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower development of the fortress of Sighisoara. The archaeological and historical information have so far are insufficient for a decisive chronology. It is generally accepted that the shape of the fortress dates from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries, the constructit being started during the second half of the fourteenth century. Some sections of the curtain: the one near the Tinsmiths’ Tower included, can be dated during the first part of the fou century‘; likewise, some of the towers are considered to be older, from the thirteenth centur connection to a smaller enclosure, or they are considered to be dwelling towers’. The towers are generally dated in the fifteenth century, while the outer ones date back in the sixt century®. Because of its architectural attributes The Tinsmiths’ Tower is susceptibly older, the fourteenth to the fifteenth centuries’. Paul Niedermaier considers that the inferior part building dates from before 1400, while the polygonal stories were probably built around 15¢ The literature frequently mentions an inscription mounted above the entry, which states works in 1583. P. Niedermaier accepts the possibility that this inscription refers to the | ‘octagonal, bracketed storey’. It is also assumed that at the same time a semicircular rampart ¥ in front of the tower (bastion that was mentioned and drawn as such in the old images). At th the tower was added with a staircase in order to make it accessible from outside the enclosure™ At the beginning of the seventeenth century the Tinsmiths’ Tower had its current it was represented as such in an anonymous drawing in 1630''. We find the same image on Blasius’s drawing in 1662"? and in all ulterior images that render the fortress from n name here L. Rohbock’s 1860 etching and the 1880 Betty Schuller’s water color drawing". Archaeological research An archaeological survey was done during the summer of 2000. It was positio north-western corner of the tower and its goal was to research the structure and de foundations and to eventually establish the evolution of the ground level'*, General stratigraphic sequence The stratigraphy of the excavation has over 30 distinctive or apparently distinctive § ‘The barren ground is represented by a chestnut-gray clay (layer), overlapped by deposits wit traces of materials such as charcoal and pottery pigments (layers 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 16, 22). The pottery shards that were recovered from these layers are dated between the sixth and centuries, in connection to a dwelling on the Fortress Hill/ Dealul cetafii in Sighisoara, * Topografia monumentelor , p. 51. * Topografia monumentelor, p. 34-35. * Topografia monumentelor, p. 52. TTopografia monumentelor, p. 52, 116. * Topografia monumentelor, pag. 40. Gheorghe Baltag suggests that the lower part could be dated in the fi the 15" century while the other levels are posterior: Gheorghe Baltag, Sighisoara. Istoria Sighigo intemeierea orasului pand in 1945, ed. Nereamia Napocae, Cluj Napoca, 2004. ° Atlas istoric, leaf VIL. "° Topografia monumentelor, pag. 54. Baltag 2004, pag. 187. "Topografia monumentelor, pag. 51. Bildband Schéissburg /Sighisoara/Segesvdr aus Vergang Gegenwart, Verlag Alberdruck, Diisseldorf, 2002, p. 27. (afterwards Scheissburg). " Topografia monumentelor, pag. 40. Baltag 2004, pag. 81, fig. 4. 'S Schdissburg, Abb. 431. ' The survey (2,5 by 2,5 meters) was done as a preliminary stage of research for a restoration project the chief of the project at that moment was architect Benczedi Sandor. Unfortunately the operation never that direction and it was limited to the archaeological investigations and partial wall research; direct if were never done and the tower is even today in collapse. The excavations also involved Mr. Ioan Fedor the Sighisoara Museum. Although the results of the excavation have little relevance (but correspot ampleness of the research!) I have nevertheless decided to publish them, hoping that at least some contribute to the enrichment of our knowledge on the fortress of Sighisoara. 238Corviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xl, 2009, Daniela Marcu istrate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower istence has yet to be established'®. Around - 1.30 m deep, on the ground, a circular stain, 1 ter in diameter, was contoured. It consists of wood charcoal and ash and it most likely belongs to a fh that was very shortly used. Approximately on the same level another hearth was cleaned. It a chime made of small stones and a crust that was strongly burnt to a red color, covered wish ash charcoal. These contexts are connected with the dwelling with gray, coarse-surfaced pottery. fortunately we were not able to research these complexes on the surface excavation. The beginning of the medieval dwelling corresponds to layer 4, which consists of a Jing with bluish-gray clay, with pigments of charcoal and pottery, with artifacts dating the twelfth to the thirteenth centuries. At this same time layer 5 was deposited, a nish-yellow clay, with scarce pigments of mortar. This layer suggests a constructing iivity anterior to the erection of the tower, somewhere near it”. Layer 6 seems to represent a leveling of the surface before the building of the tower; its ading across the ground on the steep slope had also carried scarce pigments of mortar as well pottery shards which are datable during the twelfth to the thirteenth centuries or to the enth to the fourteenth centuries. The upper part of this layer belongs to the tower struction site: on the southern profile we can see a small foundation ditch that descends to the of the foundation decrosh; the foundation ditch was filled with clay layers that contain rent proportions of mortar pigments. The dirt resulted from digging the foundation ditches yw clay mixed with different proportions of dwelling traces from the Migrations Age such as fragments, brick and frequent pigment of mortar — was spread around the tower, elevating ground level by maximum 0.5 m (layers 8 and 9+23). The materials unearthed in these layers 12 specifically to the fourteenth century until the first half of the fifteenth century, thus yrting the tower’s construction during this timeframe. The next layer is the 10", black dirt with small fragments of brick and pigments of ‘oal and mortar, which was spread over the foundation ditch, thus equalizing the surface | We have unearthed from this layer a fifteenth century dinar and several pottery shards in the same period. It is difficult to connect these artifacts with a certain stage of tower ction at this stage of research. I do not exclude the possibility that these layers actually some sort of development at the end of the first stage of construction, considering that only are the traces of foundation ditches eliminated. There is of course, the possibility that these its are linked to another stage of construction, probably of the two pentagonal stories. On the upper part of layer 10+15 major interventions to the building were developed, which in a layer of mortar mixed with brick and stone fragments (18); the surface was leveled ards with clay mixed with mortar and pigment of charcoal (19, 20). It is very likely that these tions are the ones in 1583, when the aforementioned inscription was mounted above the ce. The massive presence of brick fragments lead us in the same direction, because at least part constructions done at that time around the tower have used this material. The archaeological from these layers are dated between the fifteenth and the sixteenth centuries. Above a layer of burn (21) a filling of black, loose dirt mixed with a lot of construction rials, including brick (11, 11A) was added around the tower. The ground level was thus ed by about 1 m, reaching the current elevation. kind of pottery shards frequently appear in the excavations on the Fortress Hill/ Dealul Cetatii: Gheorghe Date pentru un studiu istoric al zonei municipiului Sighisoara, p. 76-106, Matisia IX, 1979, p. 75-106. Still ished identical fragments appeared during the excavations carried between 1998-2001 around the Hill Biserica din Deal. not unlikely that this deposit is actually connected to the building of the church under the covered stair case Pupils’ Stair); this church is considered by most of the specialists as the first community parish church. wfia monumentelor, p. 43. 239Corviniana + Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xi, 2009 Daniela Marcu strate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara, The Tinsmiths’ Tower Wall structures The western side of the Tinsmiths’ Tower has (according to this stage of resea stepped foundation, adapted to the landscape (a pretty accentuated slope). The limit between foundation and the elevation is marked by a narrow decroche that slopes from south (— 0.92. to north (— 0.72 m). The lower part of the foundation is at — 1.16 m (— 2.19 m from the hij point of the terrain in the researched area) at the southern limit of the excavation and at — 1.9 near the corner (— 2 m from the current ground level). Therefore, southward, approximately the middle of the western side, the foundation is only 0.3 m thick. The foundation was built of medium and large boulders, with just a few fragments of B scattered in it (whose dimensions cannot even be approximated). The masonry is irregular binding is lime mixed with a lot of sand (extremely friable, probably due to the soil humid The underground stricter is otherwise robust, without fissures or cracks. On the southern s the foundations, interwoven with it, we were able to observe a wall that was narrowed with 0.2 m, between — 1.02 m and - 1,42 m deep. The tower’s dado was built over the foundation, of medium and large stone slabs, approximately rectangular shapes, carefully laid in regular layers, with thin equalizing bl and small stones. The mortar is made of lime and sand, with a friable inferior part (th underground) but a resistant above-ground part. We did not see fissures, cracks or mending, The archaeological artifacts The artifacts discovered in the excavation from the Tinsmith’s Tower are relatively in number, if we were to consider the reduced size of the survey. They cover a timeframe, from the Age of Migrations (the fifth to seventh centuries) until durin seventeenth century. The items consist of two coins, eighteen iron objects and a large at of pottery shards, out of which 62 I have added to the catalogue. Both coins were discovered in the same layer (10+15), 0.3 m deep from each other. The | one is dated at the middle of the fifteenth century. Above it, at the limit between layers 10 and fragment of the second coin has been unearthed (which is unfortunately too small to be p dated). It most likely is a fragment of obol from the end of the fourteenth or form the begint the fifteenth century, moved from its in situ position by the later interventions near the towel coin from the middle of the fifteenth century is in an in situ position, thus dating, along with materials from the layer, a stage which is ulterior to the construction of the tower’s foundatio In the upper part of layer 9 and in layer 10 several metallic items were discovered. them during the fourteenth to the fifteenth centuries. The artifacts consist in who fragmented iron nails (3-5, 7-8), a fragmented spur (6), a fragment of a knife handle with tang (9) and part of a padlock (10). The other metallic items were found in the upper part of 10 and the inferior part of layer 11, dated from the fifteenth century to the seventeenth ce Their stratigraphic position is inconclusive because these items are also associated ¥ artifacts; also, none of the iron objects is so typical as to be framed to a narrow timefra typological criteria. Most of the objects are nails, a fragment of a tube (most likely from - 16), a fragment of a spear head (17) and a fragment of a clasp knife (20). In the layer of gray clay pigmented with charcoal and pottery we have dise¢ several pottery shards that can be dated during the sixth to the seventh centuries. made of semi-coarse paste, slow wheel turned with a lot of manual interventions. fired to an ashen-gray color by complete reducing firing. Their surface is graine visible coarse sand and even pebbles. These fragments belong in the upper part 0 vessels with a mouth diameter raging between 11 and 13 cm, with a short neck outwardly pulled lip (22, 23) or a thinned and rounded lip (21)'”, "’ Similar artifacts were mentioned in other excavations on Dealul Cetatii (Fortress Hill): Baltag 1979, p. 240Corviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xil, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate + Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighigoara, The Tinsmiths’ Tower From the upper limit of layer 3 and from layer 4 we have discovered several shards of red ‘pottery that were made of fine or semi-fine, homogenous paste of a complete oxidizing firing to a yellowish-red color. The pots were fast-wheel tured and have very thin walls, with simple, ‘outwardly arched edges. The preserved fragments are very small and therefore we were not able to ind the diameters of the vessels, but it is highly possible that they belonged to small, serving vessels (24, 25). Their stratigraphic position suggests an early dating, in a layer without mortar pigments, refore a first medieval deposit on the fortress hill slope. 1 suggest for these fragments a dating ing the twelfth to the thirteenth centuries, as they belong to Hospites ceramics'*, Similar shards se moved from their in situ position in upper deposits, like those in layer 6 (26, 29). I place another in the same time frame. It is part of a pot that belongs to local pottery. It is molded from a ium paste, tempered with a lot of sand and it is turned on a slow wheel. It is superficially idizing fired. Its short neck is decorated with two wavy lines, firmly incised in the crude paste (64). ‘The material from layers 5 and 6, layers that precede the building of the tower and contain rce pigments of mortar, can be dated in the thirteenth to the fourteenth centuries. The shards ong to pots made from medium paste, with short necks, outwardly pulled lips and thickened jges molded with collars (27, 28, 30). Generally speaking this is fine pottery, oxidizing fired to ides of brick-red, with frequent traces of secondary burning. Some other shards are semi- Se, superficially oxidizing fired, with intense traces of secondary burning: a fragmented lid ) and part of a pot with rounded, thickened edge (32); it is decorated immediately below the ulder with a horizontal, incised line; also a bowl fragment with a thickened edge, molded small alveoli pressed with the finger from place to place (31). In the layers that are in direct connection to the construction of the tower (8, 9, 12) we have arthed pottery shards dated in the fourteenth century to the first half of the fifteenth century. As matter of fact most of the pottery discovered in this excavation is datable in this interval. They 1g to vessels with a diameter raging from 12 to 18 cm. The characteristic profile seems to be short neck, the outwardly pulled edge that has an inner groove for the lid, corresponding to the ior with a thickness that“transforms into a rib (34-37). Also frequent is the profile with an d neck, thickened and rounded edge (43-46, 47, 50) or widened to a triangular profile (48, Other sub-groups present an everted edge, outwardly pulled and obliquely splayed (39-42), or lickened profile with an edge that evolves towards an overhang (51-56). ‘The vessel no. 57 is remarkable by its reducing firing and its shape: a short, slightly arched , an edge with a triangular profile molded like a lace. Just one fragment preserves a banded lle (61), while several shards represent bodies decorated with thinly incised, horizontal lines ). Two of the edges belong to bowls (59, 60). The fourteenth century pottery is, almost entirely, of a medium quality, oxidizing fired in nt degrees, with traces of use. Only a few fragments are of a fine quality: a pot fragment }), a plate fragment (58) and the upper part of a cup with a lobate edge (63)'°. Isuggest the fifteenth century as dating for the artifacts in layer 10+15, as suggested by the coin found here. The shards belong to vessels with diameters raging between 14 to 16 cm, molded from quality or semi-coarse paste, weakly oxidizing fired. The lip is most often thickened and marked orrect assumption is that such fragments are usually associated to Hospites but the reality is that we know very of this kind of pottery. A very surprising fact is that this pottery appears rarely in locations where it should be The same kind of pottery, with or without a polished decoration, is relatively frequently mentioned in a, dated in the 13® century: the excavations at Vlad Dracul House (Radu Popa, Gheorghe Baltag, Documente wri materiald ordseneascat in Transilvania din a doua jumdtate a secolului al XIII-lea, SCIVA, 31, 1, 1980, p. ); Stag House/ Casa cu cerb ( Pascu Ioan Fedor, Casa cu Cerb, o istorie succinté a celui mai impotant monument idin Sighisoara p. 339-353, in vol. In Memoriam Radu Popa, ed. Accent, Cluj Napoca 1993); excavations on Hill/ Dealul Cetitii (Baltag 1979, p. 93). Similar materials, mostly from contexts: Daniela Marcu Istrate, Sibiu Huet. Monografie arheologica, Ed. Altip, Alba Tulia 2007, p. 93-95, especially note 186. shape itself could be even older. These kind of lobate cups are frequent in the Saxon milieu. Pascu 2003, pl 2. But the fact that it was not discovered in the inferior layers makes it possible to date it later. 241Corviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis,Xil, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower outwardly by a rib (65-67, 73). Two of the fragments belong to flat lids, 11 to 12 cm in diameter 70), and another one probably belongs to a cup with a mouth opening of 11 cm. ‘The material discovered in the superior layers (18, 19, partially and layer 9) is dated between the fifteenth and the seventeenth centuries, although it is highly likely that) interval can be reduced to the fifteenth century. Generally speaking the pottery is of a quality, more or less compactly oxidizing fired; it preserves the appearance of simple, fired without other treatments that are Modern Age specific. The shapes are handle-less decorated under the shoulder with superficially incised, horizontal lines (74-76, 78); also be without a decoration (77); their diameters vary from 16 to 22 de cm. A bow! fra remarkable by it’s strongly alveolated edge and firmly incised with horizontal lines body (79). The flat lids are also illustrated (82) along with a pitcher (81)”. Conclusions The 2000 archaeological survey of the Tinsmiths’ Tower in Sighisoara was initiated as stage of multidisciplinary research of this building, one of the oldest and best components of the fortress of Sighisoara. By historical and urbanistic studies it was establis! the tower was built in several stages of construction along the fourteenth to the sixteenth The archaeological survey has offered us a general picture over the stratigraphic se this fortress area and has allowed us to observe an important segment of the western side tower. In the very limited excavation we were not able to see a clear archaeological config ‘on which to restrain the chronology of this tower's construction. The artifacts discovered layers that can be directly connected to the erection of the tower’s infrastructure belong fourteenth century, but they most definitely would have been in use even during the first after the year 1400, There are no reasons to lower the construction age of the oldest tower the fourteenth century based on this one survey. A conclusion cannot be rendered howe after the amplification of the research. Future detailed markers in the history of the Ti Tower will be rendered by the relation of the tower with the curtain wall, the evolution | ground level on the inside of the tower as well as by a thorough wall research. Catalogue of the artifacts 1. Fragmented coin, illegible. (c”!.2, - 1.2 m, from the southern profile) (Inv.No M17”). 2. Coin. Dinar, issued by Vladislav I (1440-1444) or Interregnum (1445-1446). (c.2, = (Inv.No M18). 3. Forged iron nail. L. 7,2 cm. 14-15" centuries. (c.2, ~ 1.58 - 1.6 m) (Inv.No M6). 4. Forged iron nail. L. 8 cm. 14"-15" centuries. (c.2, — 1.58 — 1.60 m) (Inv.No M6a). 5. Strongly oxidized, iron nail, with a flat head. L. 6,2 cm, approximately rect: 1.7x2.9 cm. 14-15" centuries. (c.2, — 1.4 — 1.6 m) (Inv.No M9). 6. Fragmented iron spur. L. 47.5 cm. 14"-15" centuries. (c.1, — 1.58 m) (Inv.No M12). 7. Bended nail with a nose. L. 5.3 cm. 14""-15" centuries. (c.1, — 1.58 m) (Inv.No M13). 8. Fragmented, bended, iron nail. L. 4.3 em. 14""-15" centuries. (in greenish-yellowish — 1.44 m) (Inv.No M14). 9. Strongly oxidized, iron knife handle. Fragmented. L. 8.7 cm, |. 1,. em. 14-15" (c.1, — 1.58 — 1.60 m from the tower dado) (Inv.No M4). 2 Similar shapes were discovered during the excavations at the Stag House/ Casa cu Cerb and they were @ during the fifteenth century. Pascu 2003, pl. V/7 (flat lid), pl. VI/1 (pitcher) 2 ‘The excavation was squared on its southern side, meter by meter; the first square is near the tower. ® The inventory numbers are ftom the provisory excavation one; on it the artifacts were handed to th Museum in Sighisoara. For granting me access to the items I am grateful to Mr. Nicolae Tescula, museum and Mr. loan Fedor Pascu. 242CCorviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xil, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate + Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighigoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower, 10. Iron piece, from a padlock or a latch. L. 5.2 cm, head diam. 1.4. cm. 14"-15" centuries? (c.1, ~ 1.40 ~ 1.60 m) (Inv.No M16). M1. Forged, iron nail, with a nose. L. 5.9 cm, rod 0.4x0.6 cm, 15-17" centuries. (c.1, - 0.6 — 0.7 m) (Inv.No M1). 12. Bended iron nail. L. 3.2 cm. 15""-17" centuries. (c.1, — 0.6 — 0.7 m) (Inv.No M2). 13. Strongly oxidized iron nail. L. 7.9 cm. 15"-17" centuries. (c.1, - 0.6 — 0.7 m) (Inv.No M3). 14. Strongly oxidized iron nail. L. 5.35 cm. 15"-17" centuries. (c.1, - 0.6 - 0.7 m) (Inv.No Ba). 5. Bended forged nail. L. 5 cm, section 0.3x0.4 em. 15-17" centuries. (c. 2, - 0.65 — 0.7 m) linv.No M7). . Fragmented arrow tube. Iron. L. 2.2 em, exterior diam. 1 cm. 15"-17" centuries.’ (¢.2, - 0.6 0.7 m) (Inv.No M8). !. Fragmented spear head. Iron. 1. 1.95 cm, gr. 0.8 cm. 15"-17" centuries. (c.2, — 0.65~0.7 m) W.No M10). Iron nail with a rod of square section. L. 6.4 cm. 15-17" centuries. (c. 3, — 0.6 m) (Inv.No 15a). ). Fragmented iron nail. L. 9.25 em. 15-17" centuries. (c. 3, - 0.6 m) (Inv.No M15b). Clasp knife, mounted with plate applications on both ends. Iron. Fragmentary. L. 5,8 em, 1. of idle 1,4 cm. 15"-17" centuries. (c. 3,-0.6 m) (Inv.No M15). |. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Turned on a slow wheel. Semi-coarse paste, tempered a lot of small pebbles. Reducing firing to an ashen-gray color. A large number of small )bles can be seen on the surface. Globular body; very short, slightly pronounced neck; thinned rounded edge. The shoulder is decorated with horizontal incisions. Mouth diameter 11.3 cm. 7 centuries. (c.1, — 1.80 ~ 1.95 m) (Inv.No 32/1). Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 11 cm. Semi-coarse paste, tempered a lot of small pebbles. Turned on a slaw wheel. Reducing firing to an ashen-gray color. neck; strongly outwardly pulled edge, thickened and vertically splayed. The shoulder is rated with deep, irregular, partly superposed incisions. 6-7" centuries. (c.1, — 1.80 ~ 1.95 (Inv.No 32/2). Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 13 cm. Semi-coarse paste, tempered a lot of small pebbles. Reducing firing to an ashen-gray color. A large number of small Jes can be seen on the surface. Globular body; short neck; slightly thickened edge. 6"-7" ries. (c.1, — 1.80 — 1.95 m) (Inv.No 32/3). Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. Fine, homogenous paste, turned on a fast wheel. iplete oxidizing firing to a yellowish-red color. 12"-13" centuries. (c. 2-3, - 1.75 - 1.90 m) No C27a). Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. Fine, homogenous paste, turned on a fast wheel ete oxidizing firing to a yellowish-red color. Outwardly arched lip, thickened and ally cut, with a fine alveola on its mid section. 12""-13" centuries. (c. 2-3, - 1.75 ~ 1.90 m) No C27ba). Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. Fine, homogenous paste, turned on a fast wheel. ete oxidizing firing to a yellowish-red color. The lip is thickened, with a triangular profile, ard accentuated by an indent. 12-13" centuries. (c. 3, — 1.20 — 1.35 m) (Inv.No C25). Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 10 cm. Semi-fine paste. Complete ng firing. Short neck; outwardly arched edge, thickened. 13” century? (c.1, ~ 1.75 - 1.90 W.No C34). iment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 13,5 cm, Short neck; outwardly arched molded into an overhang. Semi-fine paste. Complete oxidizing firing. 13-14" centuries. , ~ 1.30 - 1.40 m) (Inv.No 23). 243Corviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis,Xil, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate + Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighigoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower 29, Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. Short neck; almost horizontally pulled, straightly edge. Semi-fine paste. Complete oxidizing firing to a light red color. 12""-13" centuries? (¢. 1.20— 1.35 m) (Inv.No 26a). 30. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Outwardly arched edge thickened and molded collar. 13""-14" centuries. (¢.2, - 1.20 — 1.35 m) (Inv.No 26b). 31. Fragment of the upper part of a bowl. Semi-coarse paste. Complete oxidizing firing. The is obliquely developed and it is decorated with superficial cannelures. The lip is widen slightly cannelated on its mid section and marked from place to place by small alveoli that indented with the finger in the crude paste. 13""-14" centuries. (c.1, — 1,20 m- 1.90 mo western profile) (Inv.No C13). 32. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 16.5 cm. largely arched neck; everted with a slightly thickened and rounded edge. Semi-coarse paste, tempered with small pebbles limestone granules, Superficial oxidizing firing. The upper part of the shoulder is decorated superficially incised, horizontal line. 13-14" centuries. (c, 2-3, -1.30~ 1.40 m) (Inv.No 23a), 33. Fragment of the upper part of a lid. Handle diameter 3,5 cm. Semi-coarse paste. Super oxidizing firing. Strong secondary burning. 13"-14" centuries ? (c.2-3, -1.30 — 1.40 m) (Inv.No 23 34, Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 12,5 cm. Short neck; the high outwardly everted and horizontally cut. The lip presents an inner slight alveola that corresp on the exterior to a wall thickening. Fine paste. Complete oxidizing firing. 14" to the first hal the 15" century. (c.1,~ 1.10 — 1.15 m) (Inv.No 33). 35. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 18 cm. Slightly arched lip; it almost horizontally cut and it is alveolated; the lip presents an outer angular, slightly relive pulled from the paste, Semi-coarse paste. Complete oxidizing firing. Secondary burning on exterior of the lip. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (¢.2, ~ 1.40 - 1.50 m) (Inv.No 1 36. Fragment of the upper part of a mug. Mouth diameter 12 cm. The lip is developed a vertically; it presents a slight inner alveola, while its exterior is articulated by an angular ril thickened edge is horizontally cut. Semi-coarse paste. Superficial oxidizing firing to a ret gray color. Secondary inner and outer burning on the edge. 14" to the first half of the century. (¢.2, ~ 1.20 — 1.40 m) (Inv.No 6/5). 37. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 16 cm. Short neck; splaye thickened in the mid section; it is gradually thinned toward the edge; the lip presents a super alveola for the lid on the inside, while on the outside it corresponds with a slightly prono rib. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.2, - 1.20 - 1.40 m) (Inv.No 6/4). 38. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 18 cm. Semi-coarse paste. Supe oxidizing firing to a yellowish-gray color. Very strong outer secondary burning. Spalyed li a thinned, rounded edge, with a vaguely overhanging outer profile. 14" to the first half of th century. (¢.3, — 1.60 m) (Inv.No C5/2). 39, Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 14 cm. Medium paste. oxidizing firing. Stong secondary burning on the exterior of the lip. The lip is strongly sp it presents an inner groove for the lid, corresponding on the outside with a rib. 14" to th half of the 15" century. (c.1,- 0.80 — 0.90 m) (Inv.No 10/3). 40. Fragment of th e upper part of a vessel. Almost obliquely outwardly pulled lip, mar the exterior by a rounded rib. Semi-coarse paste. Complete oxidizing firing. 14" to the of the 15" century. (c.3, — 1.60 m from the tower dado) (Inv.No 4/2). 41. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Medium paste, tempered with fine sand, lim granules and mica. Complete oxidizing firing. Superficial secondary burning on the lip. C of a fine quality. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.3, — 1.60 m) (Inv.No C5/3). 42. Fragment of the upper part of a vessel, possibly a mug. Slightly outwardly spla obliquely splayed edge. Semi-coarse paste. Complete oxidizing firing. Very strong burning on the lip. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.2, — 1.40 — 1.50 m) (Inv.No) 244CCorviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xill, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower 43. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 16 cm. Medium paste. Complete oxidizing firing. Arched neck; thickened and arched lip, with an inner pronounced cannelure, possibly for a lid. Under the neck a decor of slightly incised, parallel lines. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.1, ~ 1.55 — 1.60 m) (Inv.No C2/2). 44, Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. Mouth diameter 18 cm. Medium paste, tempered with 4 lot of limestone granules. Complete oxidizing firing. Strong inner and outer secondary burning ‘on the edge. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.2, — 1.20 - 1.40 m) (Inv.No 6/11). 45. Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. Slightly pronounced neck. Outwardly pulled li thickened and rounded, with an inner groove for the lid. Mouth diameter 12 cm. Medium paste. Complete oxidizing firing. Intense secondary burning. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. {c.2, ~ 1.20 ~ 1.40 m) (Inv.No 6/7). 46. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 18 cm. The arched lip presents an inner ove for the lid and an outer marking by a rounded rib. Medium paste. Complete oxidizing firing. Strong outer secondary burning. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.2, ~ 1.20 - 1.40 m) (Inv.No 6/10). Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Strongly arched neck. Thickened, obliquely splayed lip, ith an inner groove for the lid. Under the shoulder, the pot is decorated with finely incised, allel, very dense lines. Mouth diameter 20 cm. medium paste, tempered with coarse sand and arce small pebbles. Complete oxidizing firing. Intense secondary burning. 14" to the first half the 15" century. (¢.2, — 1.20 — 1.40 m) (Inv.No 6/3). . Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Large, arched neck. Thickened, obliquely splayed lip. fouth diameter 14 cm. Medium paste, tempered with a lot of limestone granules. Complete idizing firing. Secondary burning on the exterior. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c. 1.20 - 1.40 m) (Inv.No 6/2). ). Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. Splayed lip, with a much thickened, rounded edge. mi-coarse paste. superficial oxidizing firing to a yellowish-gray color. Intense secondary ing on the edge. 14" century. (¢.2, - 1.40 - 1.50 m) (Inv.No 1/2). Fragment of a pot. Mouth diameter 18 cm. Semi-coarse paste, tempered with a lot of sand. perficial oxidizing firing to a yellowish-gray color. Strong secondary burning. High, arched k. The lip is thinned by a choke that inwardly corresponds to a lid place; the lip has a rounded alge. The body is decorated with wide, extremely superficial cannelures. 14" to the first half of 15" century. (c.1, — 0.80 — 0.90 m) (Inv.No 10/1). |. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 16 cm. Semi-coarse paste, tempered ith sand and limestone. Superficial oxidizing firing to a yellowish-gray color. Short neck, layed, thickened lip. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.3, — 1.60 m) (Inv.No C5/1). Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Inwardly splayed lip, with a superficial alveola for the Medium paste. Superficial oxidizing firing to a yellowish-gray color. Secondary burning on lip. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (¢.3, — 1.60 m from the tower dado) (Inv.No 4/3). Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. Mouth diameter 12 cm. Outwardly arched lip; the ‘kened edge is molded with an overhang. Medium paste, tempered with coarse sand. iplete oxidizing firing. Strong secondary burning. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. 2, - 1.20 ~ 1.40 m) (Inv.No 6/9). Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. Mouth diameter 12 cm. Arched lip, with a thickened , articulated by a superficial splay. Semi-coarse paste, tempered with small pebbles and stone granules. Complete oxidizing firing. Secondary burning. 14" to the first half of the * century. (c.1, 0.00 — 0.50 m) (Inv.No 8/1). Fragment of the upper part of a pot. The slightly splayed lip presents a lid groove; the outer is molded with an overhang. Medium paste. Complete oxidizing firing. 14" century. (c.2, - ~ 1.40 m) (Inv.No 6/8). Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 14 cm. Short neck; arched lip, with a kened, rounded edge. Slightly relieved rib on the outside. Semi-coarse paste. Complete 245Corviniana Acta Musei Corvinensi, XI, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate + Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower oxidizing firing. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c (Inv.No 4/1) 57. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. The edge is molded like a lace. Medium paste. Comp reducing firing. Intense secondary burning. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.3, ~ m) (Inv.No C5/4). 58. Fragment of a plate (bowl). Mouth diameter 16 em, height 2,5 em. Fine paste. Comp oxidizing firing. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.1, 0.00 - 0.50 m) (Inv.No 8/2). 59. Fragment of the upper part of a bowl. ““T” shaped, slightly splayed, widened edge. Mo diameter 21 cm, Medium paste. Complete oxidizing firing. 14" to the first half of the century. (¢.2, ~ 1.20 — 1.40 m) (Inv.No 6/1). 60. Fragment of the upper part of a bowl. Mouth diameter 30 cm. Oblique wall. “T” sha thickened edge, with a superficial splay on the mid section. Medium paste. Complete oxi firing. Finely incised, parallel lines on the body. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c. 0.80 - 0.90 m) (Inv.No 10/2). 61. Fragment of the upper part of a pot with handle. Medium paste. Complete oxidizing fi The base of the neck presents an irregular, incised line. 14" to the first half of the 15" cent (c.1, = 1.55 = 1.60 m) (Inv.No C2/1). 62. Fragment of a vessel wall. Medium paste. Complete reducing firing. Strong seco burning. The vessel had a strongly curved body that was decorated with superficially parallel lines. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.3, - 1.60 m) (Inv.No. C5/5) 63. Fragment of the upper part of a mug with a lobate opening. Fine paste, tempered with co sand, scarce small pebbles and a lot of mica. Complete oxidizing firing. Weak secon burning. 14" to the first half of the 15" century. (c.1, ~ 1.55 — 1.60 m) (Inv.No €2/3). 64, Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 16 cm. Medium paste. incomp oxidizing firing, Superficial secondary burning. Short neck; the thickened, arched lip almost circular section; to the inside it presents a deep groove for the lid. The neck is deco with two wavy, incised lines. 13" century? (c.1, - 0.80 — 0.90 m) (Inv.No 10/4). 65, Fragment of the upper part of a pot. The thickened lip has a rounded edge; the exterior of lip presents a rib that was pulled from the paste. Mouth diameter 14 cm. Semi-coarse p tempered with a lot of pebbles and limestone granules. Superficial oxidizing firing to a redd gray color. 15"century. (c.2, ~ 1.35 - 1.40 m) (Inv.No 7/1). 66. Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. High neck. Slightly outwardly splayed Ii thinned by a double alveola, outwardly marked by a rib pulled from the paste; the edge of th is obliquely splayed. Semi-coarse paste. Superficial oxidizing firing to a gray color. In secondary burning, 15" century. (¢.2,— 1.35 — 1.40 m) (Inv.No 7/2). 67. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. The lip is splayed; the edge has a triangular pro outwardly marked with a rounded rib. Semi-coarse paste. Superficial oxidizing firing. Inte secondary burning on both faces. 15" century. (¢.2, — 1.35 ~ 1.40 m) (Inv.No 7/4). 68. Fragment of a flat lid; 12 cm in diameter. Semi-coarse paste. Superficial oxidizing Intense secondary burning on the edge. 15" century. (¢.2, ~ 1.35 — 1.40 m) (Inv.No 7/5). 69, Fragment of the upper part of a pot. The edge is much thickened and it is obliquely spla Medium paste. Superficial oxidizing firing. Intense secondary burning. Mouth diameter 15" century. (c.2, — 1.35 - 1.40 m) (Inv.No 7/3). 70. Fragment of a flat lid; 11 em in diameter. Medium paste. Complete oxidizing firing. of grime from the use. Traces of secondary burning after it was broken. 15" century. (c.3, ~ 1.20 m) (Inv.No C9/1). 71. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Mouth diameter 16 cm. Fine paste. Superficial oxidi firing. Intense secondary burning on the outside. Arched neck; thickened and rounded lip. Th present a small groove for the lid on the inside. 15" century. (c.3, - 1.10 1.20 m) (Inv.No C9 72, Fragment of the upper part of a mug. Mouth diameter 11 cm. Short neck, outwardly lip, with rounded edge. Semi-coarse paste, tempered with sand and limestone gr: -60 m from the tower d 246Corviniana + Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xl, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate + Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighigoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower Superficial oxidizing firing. Intense secondary burning on the inside and outside of the lip. 15 century. (c.1,— 1.65 m from the tower dado) (Inv.No 12/2). 73. Fragment of the upper part of a vessel. The lip is obliquely pulled outward, horizontally cut; it is accentuated on the exterior by a rib pulled from the paste. Mouth diameter 20 cm. Semi-coarse paste. Complete oxidizing firing. 15"century. (c.1,— 1.65 m from the pedestal) (Inv.No 12/1). 74, Fragment of the upper part of a pot. Barely pronounced neck; thickened, rounded lip. Mouth diameter 19 cm. Superficially incised, horizontal lines under the neck. Medium paste. Complete oxidizing firing. 15"-16" centuries. (c.2, — 0.70 — 1 m) (Inv.No 3/1). 75. Fragment of the upper part of a pot. The lip is almost vertically pulled upward while its edge is thinned and rounded, with a pronounced lid groove on the inside. The body is decorated with superficially incised, horizontal lines. Medium paste, tempered with limestone granules. Complete oxidizing firing. 15""-16" centuries. (c.2, — 0.70 — 1 m) (Inv.No 3/2). 16. Fragment of the upper part of a vessel; mouth diameter 21 cm. Medium paste. Complete oxidizing firing. Secondary burning on the inside of the lip. The body is decorated with superficially incised, horizontal lines. 15"'-16" centuries. (c.2, — 0.70 — 1 m) (Inv.No. 3/3). ‘77. Fragment of the upper part of a pot; mouth diameter 21 cm. medium paste. Complete oxidizing firing. Intense secondary outer burning (lip included). The lip is thickened and pulled horizontally; it is articulated by two deep cannelures. 15'"-16" centuries. (c.1, 0 — 0.25 m) W.No. 16/1). Fragment of the upper part of a pot; mouth diameter 22 cm. Semi-fine paste, tempered with a of mica. Complete oxidizing firing. Superficial outer secondary burning. The neck is strongly hed, The lip is pulled vertically upward; it has a rounded edge, while its interior presents a ove for the lid. Under the shoulder, the body is decorated with finely incised, parallel lines. 15"-16" centuries. (c.1, 0 — 0.25 m) (Inv.No. 16/2). ). Fragment of the upper part of a bowl; mouth diameter 24 cm. Medium, paste. Incomplete widizing firing. The walls are slightly arched inward. The “T”-shaped widened edge presents an entuated mid alveola. The body is decorated with deep, parallel incisions. 15"-16" centuries. fc.1, 0— 0.25 m) (Inv.No. 16/3). Fragment of the upper part of a vessel; mouth diameter 14 cm. the wall is vertically veloped, the lip is slightly arched toward the exterior, with a much thickened edge. Semi- arse paste, tempered with small pebbles and limestone granules. Complete oxidizing firing. S"-16" centuries. (c.2, —0.80 — 0.96 m) (Inv.No. 17/1). |. Fragment of the upper part of a pitcher, 3,7 cm in diameter. The neck is marked by a rounded . The lip is obliquely cut and alveolated. Semi-coarse paste, tempered with sand and stone. Complete oxidizing firing. 15-16" centuries. (c.2, — 0.80 — 0.96 m) (Inv.No. 17/2). Fragment of a flat lid, 18 cm in diameter. Medium paste, complete oxidizing firing, strong ondary burning. 15'"-16" centuries. (c.2, - 0.70 — 1 m) (Inv.No. 3/4). Stratigraphic sequence Chesnutt-brown, clean clay. Grayish-brown clay, with pigments of charcoal and pottery. . Chesnutt-brown clay with gray spots. Gray clay with pigments of charcoal and pottery. Bluish-gray clay with pigments of charcoal and scarce pottery. Clayish, yellowish-brown dirt, with scarce pigments of charcoal, pottery and mortar. Clayish, yellowish-gray dirt. Clayish, gray dirt, with charcoal and ash. Black dirt, with pigments of charcoal, pottery and stones. Greenish-yellow dirt, with brown spots and pigments of charcoal, pottery and scarce mortar. . Yellowish-gray dirt, with pigments of charcoal, pottery and mortar. 247Corviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xil, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower 10. Black dirt with small fragments of pottery and pigments of charcoal and mortar. 11. Black, light dirt, filling, with fragments of pottery, tiles, mortar and stones. 1IA. Layer 11 relatively compressed. 12. Clayish, gray dirt with yellowish spots, with pigments of charcoal, pottery and scarce m¢ 13. Burn lens, black upper part, reddish lower part; ash. 14. Clayish, greenish-yellow dirt with gray spots and pigments of charcoal, pottery and scarce 15. Black dirt with small amounts of pigments of pottery, charcoal and mortar. 16. Gray clay with pigments of charcoal. 17. Clayish, black dirt, with large amount of pigments of charcoal and pottery. 18. Mortar brash, with stones and smal] amounts of brick. 19. Yellow dirt, with pigments of mortar, charcoal and pottery. 20. Yellowish-gray dirt, with pigments of mortar, pottery and charcoal. 21. Yellowish-gray dirt, with large amounts of charcoal and burn pigments. 22. Reddish dirt, with pigments of charcoal. 23. Gray dirt with yellow spots, small fragments of charcoal and pigments of pottery and Translated by Delia-Maria Re 248rviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, xi, 2009 Daniela Marcu istrate + Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths! To PII — 1. General view of the Tinsmiths’ Tower from the yard of the parish house. 2. Tinsmiths’ Tower and the parish house. 3. Tower elevation as seen from the inside of the fortress 249Corviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xl, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate + Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower Pl, 2 1. The north-eastern side of the tower as seen from the inside of the fortress. 2. The east side, seen from the outside of the fortress, with a small stair case tower that was built at the sé time as the semicircular rampart. 3. The tower's north-western corner, before the ex ations 250Corviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis,Xill, 2008 Daniela Marcu Istrate « Archaeological contributions tothe history of Sighisoara, The Tinsmiths’ Towe PI. 3 — 1-3. The eastern profile of the excavation, details of the tower's west side foundation 251Corviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xl, 2008 Daniela Marcu lstrate + Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths' Tower Pl. 4 — 1-3. The eastern profile of the excavation, details of the tower’s west side foundation the stratigraphy 252Corviniana 12 Musei Corvinensis,xll, 2009 Daniela Marcu itrate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighigoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower PI. 5— 1-3. The eastern profile, details of the stratigraphy 253Corviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xl, 2009 Daniela Marcu Itrate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths! Tower PI. 6 — 1-3. The southern profile, details of the stratigraphy 254CCorviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, XI, 2009, Daniela Marcu fstrate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower eS 71. The fortress of Sighisoara. Drawing by Andreas Blasius - 1662. (apud Gh. Baltag 2004, fig. 6). Placement of the archaeological survey. 3-4. General plan of the excavation, at different levels 255256 Corviniana + Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xi, 2009, Daniela Marcu Israte * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower PI. 8 — 1-2. Eastern profile of the archaeological surveyCCorviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis, Xi, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate + Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower 9 1-3. Southern, northern and western profiles of the archaeological survey 257i ee “a — Sere, mee avations overed during the exe: Pl. 10 — Metal artifacts disc 258Corviniana * Acta Musei Corvinensis,Xill, 2009, Daniela Marcu Istrate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower et 1 - Pottery discovered during the excavations 259Corviniana + Acta Musei Corvinensis, XII, 2009 Daniela Marcu Istrate + Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara. The Tinsmiths’ Tower wl? CEE? CCPTP?E A CQ cm (llr st rFvy BY Pl. 12 - Pottery discovered during the excavations 260CCorviniana + Acta Musel Corvinensis, XII, 2009, Daniela Marcu Istrate * Archaeological contributions to the history of Sighisoara, The Tinsmiths’ Tower 13 - Pottery discovered during the excavations 261