The aim of this study is to present a full characterization and catalogue of the graves of the early medieval inhumation necropolis that was recently found at the edge of the loess uplands in the ...western part of Małopolska (Lesser Poland) – specifically, in Grodowice, Kazimierza Wielka district. The second aim is to determine the matrilineal genetic structure and to present the first medieval population-level human DNA study from Małopolska. The necropolis, which was excavated in 2005-2008 at site 1, is situated in an open field on the culmination of a broad, flat hill being part of a longitudinal range of hills separating the valleys of two larger rivers – namely, the Nidzica and Młyńska. The excavations resulted in the discovery of 35 inhumation graves, partly arranged in regular rows, dating to the early medieval period. The deceased were placed mostly in regular pits with their heads to the west. Very few traces of wooden coffins were recorded. 32 skeletons were classified in anthropological analysis. They present all age classes: Infans/Juvenis (13 graves), Juvenis/Adultus (8 graves, incl. 3 females and 3 males), Adultus/Maturus (9 graves, incl. 3 females and 3 males), and Senilis (1 grave). Various pathological changes and injuries were recorded: teeth plaque, enamel hypoplasia, caries, spine and long bone degenerations, cribra orbitalia, Schmorl’s nodes. Thirteen mtDNA sequences were made which encompass almost the entire range of Western Eurasian macro-haplogroups. Artefacts were recorded in 11 graves, such as: temple rings, coins, finger rings, beads, and coins. They occurred in female, male, and child graves alike. The cemetery at Grodowice, like the majority of inhumation cemeteries in Małopolska, was probably founded in the second half or towards the end of the 10th century. Graves with coins indicate that it still functioned in the late 11th century. It cannot be ruled out that the Grodowice necropolis ceased to function as a result of the construction of churches in nearby Kazimierza Mała (probably as early as in the 11th century) and Bejsce (12th century or the first half of the 13th century).
The cemetery of Neckarsulm in southwestern Germany was discovered in 2001 and contained the inhumation graves of 50 individuals in 32 graves. The cemetery was in use for about 50 years during the ...Late Bronze Age (Urnfield culture, Hallstatt A1 period). The individuals who could confidently be identified were almost exclusively adult males. The majority of the skeletal remains exhibit specialized facets that most likely resulting from horseback riding. Several characteristics make this cemetery very unusual: The inhumations in contrast to normal cremation in this time period, the large number of multiple burials, the uniform sex and age of the deceased. There is no information concerning the cause of death of the individuals from the cemetery. Isotopic analysis was used for diet and mobility investigation. Diet for these individuals was relatively homogeneous and included both terrestrial and freshwater species. Tooth enamel from 37 individuals was analysed for strontium and oxygen isotopes. Almost one-third of the individuals in the sample exhibited non-local strontium isotope ratios and likely came from different areas in southwest Germany.
Im Jahre 1978 wurde auf dem Gelände der Schule von Albeşti (Ferihaz, Firighaz ; deutsch : Weissenkirch, Weißkirch ; ung. : Fehéregyháza, Fejéregyháza, Magyar‐ Fehéregyháza, Fejéregyháza) ein ...Körpergrab gestört. Als Folge wurden hier im Jahre 1979 zwei Schnitte angelegt. Dabei wurden, neben dem gestörten Grab (Grab 1), noch weitere drei, allerdings beigabenlose Gräber geborgen. Mit Ausnahme des W– O orientierten und von Grab 3 überlagerten Grabes 4, waren alle anderen Gräber N– S orientiert. Im N– S orientierten Grab 1, wurde im Kopfbereich ein scheibengedrehter und neben dem linken Oberschenkel ein handgearbeiteter Topf beigelegt. Die Orientierung der Gräber, zusammen mit dem typologischen Netz der beigelegten Töpfe gestatten die Einordnung der Gräber in das 4. Jahrhundert und die Zuweisung der Funde der Sântana de Mureş‐ Černjachov Kultur.
In 1978, an inhumation grave was discovered by chance in the school yard of the village of Albeşti, Mureş County. Consequently, in 1979, two test pits were excavated here. On this occasion, in addition to the disturbed grave no. 1, three more graves were discovered (Figs. 2– 4). With the exception of grave no. 4, oriented West‐ East and disturbed by grave no 3, all other graves were oriented North‐ South. In grave no. 1, oriented North‐ South, a wheel made pot was placed near the head, and a hand‐ made pot was found next to the left femur. The grave orientation together with the network of typological analogies of the two pots allow the dating of the four graves from Albeşti in the 4th century and their framing in the Sântana de Mureş‐ Černjachov culture.
Baltag George, Harhoiu Radu. Sondajul din anul 1979 de la Albeşti – Şcoală, judeţul Mureş / The 1979 test pits at Albeşti – Şcoală, Mureş County. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°14 2018. pp. 237-248.
În anul 2011, Muzeul Judeţean de Istorie şi Arheologie Prahova a efectuat o serie de cercetări arheologice preventive într-un areal concentrat în jurul oraşului Ploieşti. Au fost abordaţi şase tumuli ...reperaţi anterior pe raza localităţilor Ariceştii-Rahtivani (2), Păuleşti (3) şi Strejnicu (1). Au fost descoperite morminte de inhumaţie (principale şi secundare), cu defuncţi aşezaţi chircit în decubit dorsal sau lateral, cu picioarele strânse căzute sau aşezate lateral. Inventarele erau sărăcăcioase. Mormintele pot fi atribuite epocii bronzului, respectiv orizontului înmormântărilor Jamnaja. Alături de aceste morminte au fost identificate şi două complexe funerare, descoperite la Păuleşti şi Strejnicu, ce pot fi atribuite populaţiilor de călăreţi datând de la începutul mileniului II d. Hr. Mormântul de la Păuleşti, alături de decedatul depus în decubit dorsal cu capul la V, cu braţele pe lângă corp şi picioarele întinse, conţinea părţi din scheletul unui cal (craniul şi extremităţile picioarelor), o zăbală, două vârfuri de săgeţi, o verigă, precum şi un obiect de fier a cărui funcţionalitate nu poate fi precizată din cauza stării de conservare. Mormântul de la Strejnicu (probabil un cenotaf) conţinea doar craniul şi extremităţile picioarelor unui cal, o zăbală, un vârf de săgeată şi un obiect de fier a cărui funcţionalitate nu poate fi precizată din cauza stării de conservare.
In 2011 the Museum for History and Archaeology of Prahova County conducted a series of rescue archaeological works in the area surrounding the city of Ploieşti. As a result, six tumuli (detected prior to this excavation at Ariceştii-Rahtivani (2), Păuleşti (3) and Strejnicu (1) were investigated. Inhumation graves were uncovered (both principal and secondary ones) with the individuals lying crouched on dorsal or lateral decubitus positions, having their legs constricted, fallen or lying laterally. Few grave goods were present. The burials were dated to the Bronze Age, probably the Jamnaja funerary horizon. Two other funerary complexes discovered at Păuleşti and Strejnicu were attributed to horsemen populations from the beginning of the IInd millenium AD. The grave from Păuleşti contained, alongside the human remains remains, parts of a horse skeleton. The human skeleton was lying on the back, head towards the west, arms along the body, legs stretched. The horse parts comprised the skull and the extremities of the legs, found together with a horse bit, two arrowheads, a ring and an iron object (whose functionality could not be determined because of its precarious state of conservation). The tomb from Strejnicu (probably a cenotaph) contained only the skull and leg extremities from a horse, together with a horse bit, an arrowhead and another iron object whose functionality could not be determined for the same reason as above.
Frînculeasa Alin, Preda Bianca, Negrea Octav, Soficaru Andrei, Dumitraşcu Valentin, Frînculeasa Mădălina. Complexe funerare de la începutul mileniului al II-lea, descoperite recent în judeţul Prahova / Funerary complexes from the beginning of the IInd millennium recently uncovered in Prahova County. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), N°8 2012. pp. 139-163.
An archaeological evaluation undertaken on behalf of Holy Trinity Church Parish Office at Holy Trinity Church, Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire (NGR SP 2010 5428). The investigations ...comprised three trenches; two outside the south wall of the south aisle adjacent to the buttresses, and the third outside the south-east corner of the chancel. The former were excavated to determine the density and depth of burials; the latter was focussed solely on identifying the alignment and depth of existing drainage pipes. Ten inhumations were identified within Trench 1 and seventeen within Trench 2. Of these eighteen were recorded and excavated for osteological assessment along with almost 1,000 fragments of disarticulated bone. In addition a small number of grave cuts were recorded, which were not fully excavated. Within Trench 1 a sequence of eight layers of burial were identified. Within Trench 2 there was a sequence of seven burials. Three of the earliest burials within the trenches were determined to predate the construction of the buttresses on the south side of the church in the early 14th century (c 1312-22), which provides a secure terminus post quem. A number of the upper burials were found to contain traces of decayed coffin wood with degraded metal coffin furniture (tin plates and iron handles), which are of probable Victorian date.
Grobovi u naseljima 9. i 10. stoljeća su rijedak način ukopa. Analiza grobnih nalaza ukazala je na sve elemente pogrebnog ritusa. Međutim, tek kad se u rašččambu uključe i povijesni izvori, moguće je ...razlučiti razloge pokapanja unutar naselja koji se povezuju s iznimnim društvenim položajem pokojnika. Te su individue mogli steći poseban položaj prekršivši zakon, a smrt ih je spriječila da isprave svoju grešku. Sličan drugorazredni društveni status mogli su dobiti i pojedinci koji su umrli neuobičajenom smrću ili u nejasnim okolnostima. Takav način ukopa nije odraz krize, nego označava jačanje pravne svijesti među članovima velikomoravskog društva.