EN
The village Dąbek lies some 10 km south of Mława, in the valley of a small stream called Dunajczyk. Site 29, situated on a prominent elevation raised 146 m amsl (Fig. 1), was discovered by accident in 1994. Rescue excavations carried out in November 1996 and August 1997 by the museum in Mława (Muzeum Ziemi Zawkrzeńskiej) helped to uncover 30 features (Fig. 3). Twenty of these are Przeworsk culture cremation graves from the Early Roman Period. Pit outlines were mostly circular or oval, with a diameter of 30–70 cm, basin-like cross-section and depth of 15–40 cm. Grave fill was typically black, dark brown-black and dark brown-grey. Six graves (1?, 12, 20, 23, 25, 26) were urned and contained pyre remains. In two cases (10, 13) a concentration of burnt bone fragments rested within clean sand suggesting by its compact arrangement original deposition inside an organic container. Eight graves (3?, 4?, 14, 18?, 19, 21, 22, 27) were pit burials, the bones and remains of the pyre scattered within the grave pit. Five other graves were destroyed. Finally, nine features were pits of undetermined function. Most graves held a single burial, just three contained the remains of more than one individual (12, 20 and 23). Of 20 or so identifiable individuals 7 were children, 8 were women and 5 were men (see Appendix). In five graves human bones were mixed with fragments of burnt bird bones, mostly chicken, but also mallard (Table 1). Four assemblages registered the presence of other animal bones – cattle, sheep/goat, perhaps pig (Table 2). One grave (23) originally may have been marked on the surface by one (two?) stone stele. Pit graves tended to be less well furnished than urned burials. Most graves only held pottery deposits. The number of vessels in urned graves ranged between 1 and 8 pieces (including the urn), in pit graves it was never higher than 5 pieces. Grave 12 poroduced an exceptional small pottery bowl ornamented with eleven vertical ribs (Fig. 7/12:3), apparently an imitation of E.181–184 glass cups imported from the Roman Empire. A rare form is represented by a small goblet-like vessel found in grave 20 (Fig. 11/20:9). The pottery from Dąbek is ornamented by engraved, pricked, impressed and plastic designs forming menders, zigzag, chervrons etc. The richest ornament is seen on a bowl from grave 23 (Fig. 13/23:3). Grave 19 produced fragments of a vessel tempered with an organic admixture (Fig. 10/19:1). Grave 20 yielded an remarkable brooch, similar to group V, series 7th forms, but without the crest on the head (Fig. 11/20:5). It may be a variant, encountered both in the Przeworsk and the Wielbark area, in which the chord is coiled around the base of the bow, in imitation of a crest (in the specimen from Dąbek both the spring and the chord are missing). Wielbark culture tradition is recalled by a bronze strap-end type J.V, from grave 26, a relatively delicate and short form (Fig. 14/26:2). Grave 13 produced fragments of a bronze unprofiled bracelet (Fig. 8/13:4) – object typical for Przeworsk sites east of the Vistula river. Grave inventories recovered at Dąbek did not contain weapons which is consistent with the situation noted at other Early Roman gravefields registered at Dąbek itself as well as at Modła and Stupsk. The materials from Dąbek, site 29, are relatively compact chronologically. The oldest graves originate from phase B1 (18, 22, 24?, 26) the youngest are datable to the younger segment of phase B2 (13, 21). Given that only a small fragment of the site was investigated this cannot reflect the actual time of duration of the cemetery which probably continued in use to before the end of phase B2, similarly as other cemeteries of the Przeworsk people in the area of the so-called Nidzica group. The Przeworsk culture necropole at Dąbek, site 29 is analogical to cemeteries of the Eastern Zone of this culture. Absence of weaponry among the grave goods and distinctive pottery forms and styles are local features which set apart the local settlement of Mława and Nidzica regions from the rest of the Przeworsk culture area. At the same time it should be noted that Dąbek, site 29, did not produce more elaborate stone structures, such as are recorded at cemeteries of the so-called Nidzica group. The cemetery at Dąbek, site 29, was in use parallel to another burial ground, at site 5, which continued from phase A1 until the Early Roman Period. During the Late Roman Period it was taken over by Wielbark culture people. Traces of Przeworsk occupation during phases B1-B2 have been registered also at the cemetery at Dąbek, site 6. Unfortunately as yet no Przeworsk culture settlement has been identified in the vicinity of Dąbek itself.