TRADE CONTACTS OF ROMAN DACIA
Mateusz Żmudziński
Knowledge about trade contacts in Roman Dacia
is possible thanks to the foreign-made objects
which are discovered on this ancient territory dur-
ing archaeological digs. Among others, these are
enamelled and terra sigillata potteries, oil lamps,
jewels, art works and amphorae. Part of the am-
phorae could have been delivered to the military
camps as annonae militaris. But we know for sure
that, like in other provinces, there was a trade of
some groups of products which did not leave ar-
chaeological traces. It is the case of glass products
from Britannia which are often mentioned in writ-
ten sources but seldom found, even fragmentarily
(Cool 2003, 139-143). Apart from these objects,
many inscriptions have been found on the Da-
cian territory that indicate the presence of foreign
merchants from other regions of the empire. The
flourishing Dacian cities little by little became at-
tractive economic centres, but also production
centres for goods exported to other provinces or
countries outside the empire. Such Dacian prod-
ucts have been found in neighbouring countries.
The development of local production also led to
a decrease of the imports of goods which could
be produced in Dacia (cf. Lipovan 1982-1983,
227-232). This explains why traders who wanted
to develop their businesses turned to products
which could not have been made in Dacia. The
provincial elites who were becoming wealthier
and the army officers represented a large group
of clients for luxury goods. The Romanised local
people living in the cities also was eager to buy
Mediterranean food products. It seems therefore
that the mere law of supply and demand deter-
mined the market (Temin 2001, 169-181).
Among the goods imported at first to the territory
of the newly founded province, many oil lamps
have been discovered. Part of them came togeth-
er with the invading legions, but a large amount
obviously were imported by traders. These are
sometimes volute oil lamps, but definitely more
often so-called “firm lamps” which were produced
in Italy and in the Western provinces. In this sec-
Tyragetia, s.n., vol. III [XVIII], nr. 1, 2009, 285-292.
ond group, part of the lamps wear the mark of
their producers: Fortis, Armeni, Ianuari, Cassi,
Flavi, Strobili, Crescens, Lucius, Atimeti, Titus
(Băluţa 1977, 209-227; Băluţa 1986, 441-446,
Gudea 1989, 447-448; Gudea 1996, 333/2). Their
later local imitations are very difficult to distin-
guish from the original models and testify of the
elimination of imports by a local production (Cf.
Roman 2006, 545-553).
The next group of imported goods are luxury table
dishes. Among them enamelled pottery should be
mentioned first. Usually, they were thin-shelled
and covered with a yellow-green coloured enamel
(Gudea 1989, 446, 858/1-3; Benea 2004, 203-
217). They were imported in little quantities from
so far unidentified workshops most probably situ-
ated in Western Europe. The terra sigillata pot-
teries were much more numerous. They can be
dated with precision and show well the directions
of imports. As an important fact, D. Gabler who
has been studying the distribution of sigillates in
the different Roman provinces could establish that
most probably, there existed two large markets for
this sector of trade, and maybe for other sectors
too. The first one was Gallo-Germanic, and the
second was the Danubian market. This searcher
observed that producers usually sold their arte-
facts on only one of these markets (Gabler 1985,
3-29). Products from the Pfaffenhofen workshops
can be mentioned as a typical example: products
from Dicanus’s workshop alone have been found
in the region of Lower Danube, where Helenius’s
products were completely absent. As for the ter-
ra sigillata items discovered on the territory of
Roman Dacia, the best knows are the ones from
the Northern regions of the province (Chirlă
et al. 1972, 123; Isac 2001, 79-97; 98-112, 113-
129). Among the imported smooth sigillates and
stamped potteries, a large majority of them come
from central Gaul (50% of the items), and the rest
of identified origin show as follows: 1% from Italy
(the earliest ones); 6% from Southern Gaul; 5%
from Eastern Gaul and Germany; and more pre-
285
 II. Materiale şi cercetări

cisely 20% from Rheizabern; 11% from Western- Rome, and then farther to Aquilea and through
dorf; and 3% from Pannonia (Isac et al. 1979; Isac the Danube should not be excluded either.
2001, 130-154; Rusu-Bolineṭ, 2004, 712-734). In
Beside pottery, various food products also were
Apulum, it has been established that 20% of the
imported to Dacia. The discovered amphorae
sigillates were imported from Rheinzabern, and
testify of wine, olive oil and fish sauce imports.
for comparison, 7% from Westerndorf. In Tibis-
Amphorae fragments are well known in neigh-
cum in the Banat, that is in the Southern part of
bouring Pannonia. Items found in this region are
the province, on the contrary, the part of products
of different types, among others Dr. 6 and simi-
from Westerndorf was much greater (up to 55%)
lar types from Northern Italy, and were used to
(Isac 1981), (e.g. COMITIALIS). The products
transport oil and wine (Kelemen 1987, 3-45). Ar-
from Westerndorf are found almost exclusively in
chaeological digs have discovered Mediterranean
the near neighbourhood of the Danube, and only
amphorae (Pompei XXV) used for the export of
occasionally in the North, which is actually lim-
fruit, Spanish (Dr. 7-11) for fish sauces, Spanish
ited to the centre of Dacia because these products
or Italian (Dr. 38) for wine and aromatised wines,
practically did not reach the far Northern border
(Dr. 12) for different fish sauces from Betic, (Dr.
of the province. In the Southern regions of Dacia,
20) for olive oil from the surroundings of Betic,
in addition to the already mentioned ones, pot-
(Dr. 16-17) for the transport of fish sauces and
teries from Butovo and Pavlikeni in Lower Moe-
wines from the surroundings of Betic, and some
sia are also discovered. The last imports of sigil-
of unidentified origin (Kelemen 1990, 147-193).
lates took place under the reign of the Antonine
Amphorae from Eastern provinces have been
dynasty. The great majority of the potteries came
found too. Part of them (Scorpan VII) were used
from Lezoux. They usually were produced by
to export wine, which was largely delivered to
the following workshops: IANVARIVS, SACER,
the regions of Oltenia, Muntenia and Moldavia
ATTIANVS, PAVLVS, ADVOCIVS, PATERNVS,
(Kelemen 1993, 45-73). In the neighbouring Up-
LAXTVCISSA. As for the potteries from Southern
per Moesia, archaeologists found, among others,
Gaul, they were most often produced by CINNAM-
amphorae from Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, Ae-
VS’s and ADVOCIS’s workshops. In Rheinzabern,
gean region, Anatolia, Pontus and Africa (Bjelajac
we know above all the producers REGINVS and
1996, 123). Thanks to A. Ardeţ’s long research, we
IANVARIVS (Băluţa 1982-1983). Decorated pot-
have now an extended knowledge on amphorae
tery as well as the so-called smooth sigillates were
exports to Roman Dacia (Ardeţ 2006, 13 et al.).
also sold. The discovered items are of the follow-
About 500 amphorae have been identified on
ing types: Curle 15, Drag. 15/17, 18/31, 33, 35, 42,
his research territory. They were imported from
Déch. 72, Drag. 37, 39. The transports of potteries
Italy, Dalmatia, Betic, Lusitania, Gaul, Lower
from far regions of the empire took place up to
Moesia, Thrace, and Eastern and African prov-
the middle of the 3rd Century, and then were al-
inces, that is mainly from the Aegean islands, the
most completely stopped in the times of the eco-
Near East and Northern Africa (Ardeţ 2004, 330-
nomic crisis. An example of the late import is a
341). In Italy, the Dacian population bought ol-
vase which arrived from Augusta Treverorum to
ive oil (amphorae Dressel 2-4, Dressel 6B), olives
Porolissum in the last years of the province’s exis-
(Schörgendorfer 558) and wine (Forlimpopoli)
tence (Gudea 1993). It seems that for goods deliv-
(Ardeţ 2001). It is possible that these transports
ery, including that of sigillates, the transport pos-
began before the foundation of the Dacian prov-
sibilities were one of the main factors determining
inces, and they continued up to the middle of the
the products’ shapes. In the Western provinces,
2nd Century AD. In the 2nd Century AD, olive oil
most of the items can be found along the rivers.
was imported from Dalmatia (Portorecanati).
This implies that the presence of waterways was
Garum (Dressel 7, Dressel 11), olive oil and salted
important for the distribution of these products
olives (Dressel 20), and wine from reputed vine-
(Cf. Oenbrink 1998, 146/1). It was certainly the
yards (Metagallares I) were imported from Betic.
case in Dacia too. The large amount of products
Fish sauces also were imported from Lusitania
from Lezoux and its surroundings seems to show
(Dressel 14B and Almagro 50). Wine was trans-
that they were transported through the Rhone –
ported from Gaul in amphorae (Gauloise 4 and
Rhine – Danube route. Transports through the Po
Gauloise 5). From Lower Moesia, traders in the
river, or possibly sea transport through Ostia and

286
 M. Żmudziński, Trade contacts of Roman Dacia

2nd and 3rd Centuries mainly bought wine (Zeest (Dyczek 1999, 264-268). We can then consider
80, Zeest 94, Zeest 64, Zeest 92, Radulescu III a). that in the analysed period, Dacia was part of the
Dacia was an olive oil provider (Knossos 18) and large economic and trade circuit of the empire.
also sold fish products and probably fruit (Kuz- The contacts were made possible thanks to the
manov II). The islands and coasts of the Aegean Danube and other waterways connecting Dacia
Sea and the Pontus regions mainly exported olive with the Western as well as the Eastern provinces.
oil (Zeest 90, Knossos 36, Dressel 24) and wine Within the province itself, the goods were deliv-
(Zeest 84, Knossos 22, Dressel 5, Agora F65/66, ered through the tributaries of the Danube and
Kapitän II). In some cases, Ardeţ has been able a dense road network connecting the cities and
to determine more precisely that oil transports army camps. These roads also led over the prov-
came from Herakleia Pontike (Dressel 24), and ince, through bridges or river rafts, and linked the
wine from Rhodes (Rhodian), Kos (Koan), Knidos whole Dacian province with the rest of the empire
(Knidian) or Crete and Cyrena (Knossos, Beng- (Fodorean 2004).
hazi MR2/Zeest 99). Olive oil (Dressel 30) also
In addition to pottery and food products, arte-
was bought in Mauretania Caesariensis in Africa.
facts were also imported to the province despite
Oil was also shipped from the province of Africa
its well developed workshop industry. It was the
Proconsularis (amphorae Africana “Grande”, Af-
case of goods whose production would have been
ricana “Piccolo”, Benghazi MR 1). Together with
difficult in Dacia. Together with the sigillates
the oil, little quantities of olives (Benghazi MR1)
from Gaul, other objects were transported East-
were exported from this region too. So far the re-
wards, like for instance enamelled products (Be-
sults of researches on the mentioned amphorae
nea et al. 2006, 177). C. Pop considers all large
made it possible to establish that the main deliv-
imperial bronzes as such products (Pop 1978).
eries of olive oil were imported from Pontus and
All sorts of imported products were discovered
Bithynia (over 50%), wine from Asia (about 45%),
in Dacia, even Greek works of art like for exam-
fish sauces from Betic and Lusitania (about 33%
ple a statue of a centaur (Thomas 1988). Small
each), and olives from Italy and Asia (about 45%
bronze objects of different natures like amulets
each) (Ardeţ 2006, 255 et al.). Wine and olive oil
and statuettes were broadly sold (Pop 2001). The
were thus bought in similar quantities, and all the
main lot of them (about 62%) were made in the
rest of the food products imported in amphorae
Western provinces of the empire. Only some few
were rather marginal deliveries in the case of the
ones (about 7%) came from the provinces situated
analysed territory. It has been observed too that
South of Dacia, and all the rest from the Near East
in the first fifty years after the conquest of Dacia,
and North Africa. Luxury goods certainly were
imports from the Western countries were largely
major import items (Cf. Jundziłł 1991, 99). These
dominant (about 80% of the amphorae). Ardeţ
were all sorts of daily-use objects, jewels, purple
noted that after the middle of the 2nd Century, a
stained clothes, delicate fabrics, furs, spices (Cf.
tremendous change took place: Western ampho-
Mrozek 1982, 15-21; Küster 1995, 1-26), and per-
rae-imported products only represented about
fumes (Cf. Forbes 1955, 28-49). The clients were
20% then, and imports from the East increased
rich provincial elites (Peacock 1982, 153). Some
to over 74% of the deliveries. In the first half of
of these products could have been imported from
the 3rd Century, the trends of the last fifty years
specialised workshops (Jones 1974, 350-364).
of the 2nd Century strengthened. The transports
Like in the other Roman provinces, amber prod-
from the East and Africa increased, and the ones
ucts certainly were appreciated. Amber could have
from Betic and Lusitania completely ceased. No
been transported through Carnuntum or through
amphorae from the Western parts of the empire
the Eastern Carpathian Mountains (Wielowiejski
from the last period directly before the evacua-
1996, 218/1). In addition to those products, live
tion of the Dacian provinces have been found. It
animals were also sold to Dacia. Part of them (like
is obvious that in this time, trade contacts were
cattle, horses and pigs) were sold for husbandry,
maintained only with the Eastern provinces, and
which is visible thanks to analysis of the bones
more surprisingly, imports from Africa increased
discovered in the province. Others quickly ended
(Ardeţ 2006, 262-263). P. Dyczek observed the
their lives at the butcher’s or in the amphitheatre
same phenomenon with the Lower Moesia im-
arena. Another quite particular product sold on
ports, and more precisely the imports to Novae

287
 II. Materiale şi cercetări
the Dacian marketplaces were slaves. They could
be bought by mine managers (TC VI, TCVII ) or,
for example, landowners (?) (TC XIII, TC XXV).
Germanic women fibulae discovered in the castles
(A 43, 129, 137) sometimes are interpreted as evi-
dence of slavery, as slave women could be bought
by soldiers who wanted them for wives (Cociş,
Opreanu 1998, 202-203).
When analysing categories of goods which were
imported to Roman Dacia, we must not forget of
the riches of the Carpathian forests nor the Da-
cian enormous ore deposits. It is quite probable
that ships on their way back from Dacia did not
only carry the money earned on the sale of im-
ports, but also were loaded with local products
sent for export. Different sorts of wild animals
like bisons, bears and wolves certainly could be
captured in the forests to be sent to the amphi-
theatre arenas in Italy or far provinces (Cf. from
Moesia: AE 1996, nr 1341; Wilkes 2005, 212). In
the forests, there were also many other animals
which could be hunted for fur, hides and meat. It
is very probable too that Dacia, like earlier Rhetia,
which disposed of convenient waterways, could
sell large amounts of wood to the very demanding
Roman market (Cf. Meiggs 1982, 248). Wood was
particularly demanded at the time of the enlarg-
ing of Rome under the Antonine emperors (Mei-
ggs 1982, 251 et al.). It was necessary as building
material, fuel for ceramic ovens and thermae
water heating. C. Daicoviciu’s hypothesis that
wood was exported to the Near East is likely too
(Daicoviciu 1943, 127). Farm animals and animal
products like wool, felt, raw leather and leather
products certainly were exported too. It is also
probable that salted meat was exported, as salt
itself was produced in huge quantities in Dacia
and was the object of a far trade (Cf. Saile 2000,
172-175). We can suppose that it was transported
to the local markets as well as the other provinces
through the waterways and the Danube (Glodariu
1977, 960). As neighbouring territories like, for
instance, the breeder Jazyge people’s land lacked
salt, it most probably was exported to these ter-
ritories (Cf. Opreanu 1997, 247 et al.). This trade
route certainly went through the Mureş river, and
further the Cisa river. It is also possible that part
of the salt from Dacia was transported by land
roads over the limes, like was the case in the West-
ern provinces (Saile 2000, 189). Metals, among
others iron bars, could be exported and certainly
were worth exporting. Ore mining and metallur-
288
gic production were more developed than was
necessary to satisfy the needs of the province’s in-
habitants. It is possible then that part of the pro-
duction, as it was the case with the Noricum pro-
duction (Graßl 1987-1988, 83-88), was exported
to the Barbaricum. The metallurgists’ workshops
in Gyoma (today Hungary) can be regarded as
evidence of this trade, as there are no ore deposits
in the region (Opreanu 1997, 250). Semifinished
products discovered there were most probably
imported from Dacia. The enormous amounts of
gold and silver extracted in Dacia mainly flowed
to the emperor’s and the Roman treasure. It is
difficult to say which proportion of these precious
metals reached the free market. Therefore their
trade cannot be considered on the same level
with the other kinds of trade. For the same rea-
sons, the money market cannot be commented
in this paper: however it was closely linked with
trade, it also concerned the other economic sec-
tors (Petolescu 1981; Găzdac 2002). Among the
Roman items discovered over the limes, a kind of
very characteristic fibulae with a trapezoid base,
and also precious potteries can be distinguished.
They were sold to the Jazyges, but also in other
Danubian regions. Another local luxury pottery
was also sold abroad: that is terra sigillata po-
rolissensis (TSP), which is considered usually as
an import from the Western provinces (Gudea
1989, 207-208). TSP potteries are found on the
territories of today Hungary and Slovakia (Gudea
1989, 208). Sometimes, Dacia also exported to
the Barbaricum some potteries which had been
imported first from the Western provinces (Bad-
er 1974-1975, 269-276; Gabler, Vaday 1992, 83-
160). Other artefacts exported from Dacia over
the limes were jewels. These were bracelets and
necklaces as well as some other glass-pearl jew-
els. They were produced in Porolissum and Ti-
biscum (Benea 2004b, 97 et al.). Large sets of
goods with coloured enamel decoration can also
be listed to luxury products (Benea et al. 2006,
174). Knowing the preferences of the rich Barbar-
ians, weapons, harness parts, daily-use objects,
and jewels among which fibulae were decorated
using this method. It is also most probable that
Dacia sold wine to the Barbaricum. Because of
their harsh climate, the countries situated North
of the Carpathian Mountains could not produce
it themselves. It could be transported in goat-
skins or barrels, by road, through the mountain
passes.
 M. Żmudziński, Trade contacts of Roman Dacia
According to P. Haupt, the dominant form of
trade between the inhabitants of the Roman
provinces and the Barbaricum was barter (Haupt
2001, 53). But it is likely that part of the Roman
items discovered over the borders of the empire
were not sold, but looted during wars or given
(Kunow 1985, 248). As T. Kotula showed, all sorts
of invasions and attacks interfered with the trad-
ers’ activities, and sometimes even limited trade
to local markets (Kotula 1994, 136). It is interest-
ing to note that after the Marcoman wars, a long
period of trade development between Dacia and
some of its neighbours seemed to take place. It
looks as if the series of war lootings set up a fash-
ion for empire-made goods in the Barbaricum
(Cf. Opreanu 1997, 247; Wilkes 2005, 171). Simi-
lar phenomena have been observed in Germania
(Whittaker 1994, 110). For the transport of goods
from other provinces, an important element was
the developed money market which was regularly
supplied with the soldiers’ pay.
The function of customs officers is closely linked
with foreign trade. Dacia was part of the cus-
toms area of Publicum Portorii Illyrici (AE 1988,
0977). One of the most important testimonies in
this field is the customs station building which
has been discovered in Porolissum (Gudea 1996).
So far, it is the only known example of such a
building on the territory of the whole empire. But
some other customs stations have been localised
thank to inscriptions, and according to N. Gudea
(Gudea 1996, 129), they were situated in Moldo-
va Nouă (IDR III, 1,26), Dierna (IDR III, 1, 35),
Drobeta (IDR II,15), Sucidava (IDR II 188), in
the surroundings of Băie Herculane (Gudea 1996,
129-130), Pons Augusti (IDR III,1), Micia (IDR
III, 2, 102), Ampelum (IDR III, 3, 362), Alburnus
Maior (CIL III, 958, II, XXIII, XXIV) and Potais-
sia (Gudea 1996, 131). A customs office was situ-
ated in Apulum, too (Piso, Moga, 1998, 109-118.;
AE 1998, 1074, IDR III, 5, 702), and another one
was in the city of Partiscum neighbouring with
the province (Opreanu 1997, 249). We know the
names of some customs officers on the analysed
territory, among others imperial slaves (Gudea
1996, 131 et al.; AE 1988, 0977; IDR III, 5, 702;
IDR III, 1, 035).
In addition to the customs officers, trade implied
of course the activities of a whole range of differ-
ent salers. Some of them are mentioned in inscrip-
tions such as IDR III, 5, 190; IDR III, 5, 218, CIL
III, 14216. A group of Near East merchants has
been identified too. They were probably commer-
cial representatives for imports from their native
region (in Napoca: CIL III, 860; CIL III 870; in
Apulum: CIL III 7761; in Ampelum CIL III 1324).
N. Gudea also identified Dacian traders in other
provinces (Gudea 1996, 122): in Augusta Traiana
in Thrace (IGB III, 1590; IGB III, 2, 1590), in
Dalmatia (CIL III 2086), in Nedinum (CIL III
2866), Tragurum (CIL III 2679) and Achaia (IGB
XII, 125). A merchant from Aquilea (CIL V, 1047)
and two from Augusta Treverorum (IDR II, 22;
CIL III, 1214) can also be linked with Roman Da-
cia trade. D. Benea showed that Aquilea was an
important trade centre in the analysed province
because it was situated at a trade crossroad (Be-
nea 2003). Thanks to inscriptions, we know not
only, to some extend, what goods were exchanged
there, but also names of persons who traded them.
It is obvious that there also were many small trad-
ers in addition to the famous ones mentioned in
the inscriptions. But due to the lack of written evi-
dence, we only know a little part of the products
they sold.
Commercial relationships linked people from the
analysed province with the inhabitants of nearby
territories over the limes as well as inhabitants
of far regions of the empire. Trade was linked, of
course, with other economic sectors, and its de-
velopment gives evidence of the general economic
condition of the province. We can observe that af-
ter the initial period of foundation of the province,
when almost everything needed to be imported,
Roman Dacia became an intensive production
centre exporting goods to foreign markets. The
economic development of the Dacian provinces
brought about prosperity to some of their inhab-
itants, and thus contributed to the intensification
of trade exchange in order to meet the demand of
people of different degrees of wealth. The even-
tual trade slowdown can be explained by political
troubles, money devaluation, and the progressive
evacuation of the province. The main actors of
trade exchange were the army and the Roman-
ised population. The inhabitants of mountain vil-
lages, descendants of the conquered Daces, had
very limited possibilities to buy or sell products
more valuable than the ones sold on their local
marketplaces.
289
 II. Materiale şi cercetări

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 II. Materiale şi cercetări

Contactele comerciale ale Daciei Romane

Rezumat
În articol sunt prezentate categoriile principale de produse importate şi exportate din Dacia Romană, precum şi
inscripţiile, care menţionează negustorii şi ofiţerii vamali din această provincie. Printre produsele importate sunt
amintite lămpile cu ulei, vasele terra sigillata, produsele de lux, amforele cu diferite produse şi animalele. Se re-
marcă că cea mai mare parte a uleiului de măsline era adus din Pontus şi Bithynia, vinurile din Asia, garum din
Betic şi Lusitania, iar măslinele din Italia şi Asia. La început importurile principale veneau din provinciile de vest,
iar în perioada târzie – din cele de est şi din Africa. O parte a produselor erau, desigur, aduse ca annona milita-
ris. În ceea ce priveşte exporturile, produsele principale erau sarea, metalele, lemnul, vasele locale terra sigillata
(TSP), produsele emailate, bijuteriile şi alte obiecte din sticlă şi perle. Relaţiile comerciale erau întreţinute atât cu
populaţiile învecinate hotarelor imperiului, cât şi cu provinciile imperiale din Vestul îndepărtat, Africa şi din Ori-
entul Apropiat. Principalele căi comerciale se întindeau de-a lungul Dunării şi a afluenţilor ei, însă exista şi o reţea
internă de drumuri.

Торговые контакты Римской Дакии

Резюме
В статье представлены основные категории импорта экспорта Римской Дакии, а так же надписи, упоми-
нающие торговцев и таможенных служителей из этой провинции. Среди импортируемых товаров выде-
ляются масляные светильники, terra sigillata, предметы роскоши, амфоры с различными продуктами и
животные. Например, оливковое масло привозили из Понта и Битинии, вина – из Азии, оливки – из Ита-
лии и Азии. Первоначально товары импортировались из западных провинций, позже – из восточных и из
Африки. Экспортировали из провинции: соль, металлы, древесину, эмалированные предметы, бижутерию
и другие предметы из стекла и драгоценных камней. Торговые связи поддерживались как народами, про-
живающими у границ империи, так и с римскими провинциями с запада, из Африки и Ближнего Востока.
Основные торговые пути проходили вдоль Дуная и его притоков, но в то же время существовали внутрен-
ние дороги, по которым перевозились эти товары.

03.04.2009

Dr. Mateusz Żmudziński, Institut of History Wrocław University, Szewska 49, PL-50-131 Wrocław, Poland, e-mail:
mateusz@hist.uni.wroc.pl

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