Socio-scientific collections

Archaeology

The beginnings of the colonisation of the Banská Bystrica region stretch back to the Palaeolithic era, to the older phase of earlier Palaeolithic Era (10 000 BC). Palaeolithic material from the cave Horná Tufná in Dolný Harmanec brought the evidences of the seasonal settlements of the cave bear hunters.
The movement of the colonisation to the mountainous area got more intensive in the later Palaeolithic Era (Eneolithic Era) with the arrival of the prospectors (ore seekers) to the surroundings of Špania Dolina. With this location there can also be connected the findings of Eneolithic ceramics in the caave Chapel in Sásová Valley.
The unique findings of the polished stony tools come from Kremnička and Malachovská Valley. In this period there also occur the first products made of metal – copper. Eneolithic copper tool was found in Banská Bystrica at closely unspecified place.

The continuity of copper ore mining together with further processing, grinding and torrefying is presumed in Špania Dolina from the older Bronze Battle stone axe – Malachov. Late Stone Age, around 3 000 BC Age, which is supported by the numerous findings of the stone axes for ore grinding. The locality is considered as the Bronze Stone axe for ore grinding – Špania Dolina. Late Stone age, 2700–2000 BC Age raw material basis for all southern area of the central and eastern Slovakia, which had effect on the populating process in the region. In the archaeological findings there is found a new metal in plenty – bronze, which is used for making arms and jewellery. Banská Bystrica (and even the closest surroundings) is populated by the people of Lusatia culture in the younger and later Bronze Age. The uphill settlements are situated in Horné Pršany, on Malachovský and Sásovský hrádok and in the area of Špania Dolina in the area of Horný diel. The settlement material comes from Sásová, where there was also found a firing burial. Even the cave Chapel and Bat cave in Sásovský karst were populated, where there was found, during the revision search some little bronze axe with socket and the ceramic cup of Lusatia culture. The density of population increased, the terraces of the river Hron and its inflows in Zvolen were populated. From the following period of Hallstatt (Iron) Age we have no material proofs. In this time period the development of the domestic Lusatia culture fluently continued.

Little bronze axe with socket and tag – Banská Bystrica–Nemce, Netopierska Cave. Early Bronze Age, 12th – 11th century BC. Ceramic cup, Zvolen, area Balkán. Late Bronze Age, Lusitian culture, 9th century BC. Ceramic cup, Banská Bystrica–Nemce, Netopierska Cave. Late Bronz Age, Lusitian culture, 10th century BC. In the earlier Iron Age the Celts entered the area of Carpatian fold. In the middle and even later La Tene period there was populated and fortified even Hrádok in Horné Pršany. In the 3rd and 2nd century BC there was developing the culture of the domestic inhabitants in Central Slovakia when the Celts get to the upper Pohronie with the aim to capture the rich ore region. Their traces were found in the fortified settlement above the lake Mútnô on Suchý Hill. The culmination of the indusial and social development of the Celtic society was coinage. Unspecified Celtic coins were found in 1669 while building the bell tower in Radvaň on Hôrka hill.

Bronze bodkin – Zvolen, area Balkán. Late Bronze Age, Lusitian culture, 10th to 8th century BC. Around the turning point of eras, the development of the Celtic society interrupted by the Roman Empire from Podunajsko region and by German tribes from the north. Historical sources of the Roman period localize the tribe of Celtic Cotini to the area of Horehronie and they connect it with the prospectors of iron ore. In this period little mountain fortresses (the settlements of Puchovská culture) were captured by the Germans from Podunajsko region in order to hide there during the Marcomanni wars. Economic and political contacts of Germans with the Roman provinces are documented, besides other material culture, by the findings of Roman coins. Their popularity among the barbarians, including mountainous areas of the Central Slovakia, is suppoorted by older findings from Banská Bystrica-Radvaň and late Roman coins found in 1990 under Suchý Hill (two bronze coins of Constantinus I. (306/7–337) and Constantinus Gallus (351–354). The largest treasure of silver coins comes from Selčiansky hrádok, where there were found about 50. In the end of 4th century even Hrádok of Púchovská culture in Horné Pršany was additionally inhabited by the remnants of Svebi inhabitants.

The bronze sword butt of Liptov type from the surrounding of Banská Bystrica.

Iron sword with the part of the scabbard with the bell-cut mouth (detailed). Iža–Leanyvár. Middle La Tene Age. 3rd –2nd century BC.

Bronze chape of the belt with the traces of gilding. Banská Bystrica–Nemce, Kaplnka Cave (Chapel Cave). The migration of peoples, the beginning of 5th century. A significant finding is a bronze chape decorated by the engraved geometric ornament, which refers to Sarmatians or to the group of Čerňachovská culture.
Quadi calyx and buckles - Banská Bystrica–Nemce, Netopierska Cave. Migration of peoples, beginning of 5th century. A unique treasure consisting of the ceramic calyx and silver bow-shaped buckle with the extended narrow shank was found in 1926 in Netopierska Cave in Sásovský Karst. During the revision research in the cave in 1986 there were found three silver buckles, which were the part of the treasure hidden in the first two decades of 5th century in the cave. Another bow-shaped buckle with the extended narrow shank has the same stippled ornament as the buckle found in 1926. The third bow-shaped buckle has the shank tied up and the striped little thread decorated by the stippled ornament. The fourth silver bow-shaped buckle or wristlet made of the massive stick has button-like ending. The jewellery probably belonged to a rich member of the Svebi tribe and the Quadi who was looking for the refuge in the restless times in Horehronie region. Even the cave Kaplnka (Chapel) was inhabited; Ceramic jar with dot-wheeled decoration. Banská Bystrica – Municipal castle. 15th century. there were found potsherds and silver and iron buckle in the fireplace from the late Roman period. The Svebi were surviving in the mountainous parts of Horehronie until the period of the migration of peoples (until 406).

Ceramic vessel – Sliač, area Horné zeme. Great Moravia, 9th century.

The process of inhabiting by Slavic inhabitants in Zvolenská fold has been documented since the beginning of 7th century. Slavs inhabited the fertile terraces of the river Hron and their existence already in 9th century in Banská Bystrica has been confirmed by the findings in the court wing of the house n. 3 in the Square of Slovak National Uprising on the right-bank terrace of the river Hron. There we suppose the location of the oldest Slavic pre-location settlement, which was the place of origin for the medieval town.

Gothic stove tile. The finding from Banská Bystrica
– Municipal castle and the Square of Slovak National Uprising n. 1 (old townhall). Middle Age, 15th century.


1. Loving couple - man and woman in a sexual intercourse, skirting tile.	2. Meluzína, skirting tile.	3. St. George fighting with a dragon and a praying princess; on the left side of the tile there is St. Catherine with the regalia. Angular tile.