THE ABSOLUTE CHRONOLOGY OF COLLECTIVE BURIALS FROM THE 2ND MILLENNIUM BC IN EAST CENTRAL EUROPE
Open Access
- 28 January 2021
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Radiocarbon
- Vol. 63 (2), 669-692
- https://doi.org/10.1017/rdc.2020.139
Abstract
This article discusses the absolute chronology of collective burials of the Trzciniec Cultural Circle communities of the Middle Bronze Age in East Central Europe. Based on Bayesian modeling of 91 accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) dates from 18 cemeteries, the practice of collective burying of individuals was linked to a period of 400–640 (95.4%) years, between 1830–1690 (95.4%) and 1320–1160 (95.4%) BC. Collective burials in mounds with both cremation and inhumation rites were found earliest in the upland zone regardless of grave structure type (mounded or flat). Bayesian modeling of 14C determinations suggests that this practice was being transmitted generally from the southeast to the northwest direction. Bayesian modeling of the dates from the largest cemetery in Żerniki Górne, Lesser Poland Upland, confirmed the duration of use of the necropolis as ca. 140–310 (95.4%) years. Further results show the partial contemporaneity of burials and allow formulation of a spatial and temporal development model of the necropolis. Based on the investigation, some graves were used over just a couple of years and others over nearly 200, with up to 30 individuals found in a single grave.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Earliest Evidence of Neolithic Collective Burials from Eastern Iberia: Radiocarbon Dating at the Archaeological Site of Les Llometes (Alicante, Spain)Radiocarbon, 2016
- The chronology of megalithic funerary practices: a Bayesian approach to Grave 11 At El Barranquete necropolis (Almería, Spain)Journal of Archaeological Science, 2014
- Upending a ‘Totality’: Re-evaluating Corded Ware Variability in Late Neolithic EuropeProceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 2014
- Carbon Exchanges between Bone Apatite and Fuels during Cremation: Impact on Radiocarbon DatesRadiocarbon, 2014
- IntCal13 and Marine13 Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curves 0–50,000 Years cal BPRadiocarbon, 2013
- Preliminary evidence for medieval Polish diet from carbon and nitrogen stable isotopesJournal of Archaeological Science, 2010
- Low-energy 14C AMS in Poznań Radiocarbon Laboratory, PolandNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 2004
- Bone Collagen Quality Indicators for Palaeodietary and Radiocarbon MeasurementsJournal of Archaeological Science, 1999
- Gräber mit Totenhäusern auf frühbronzezeitlichen Gräberfeldern in der Slowakei (Beitrag zu Kulturverbindungen zwischen Mittel-, West- und Osteuropa)Praehistorische Zeitschrift, 1999
- New Method of Collagen Extraction for Radiocarbon DatingNature, 1971