Interpretacja zwyczaju chowania ludzkich ciał w bagnach we wczesnym okresie żelaza na terenie Barbaricum

• Authors: Dubasiewicz Małgorzata

Title variants

EN

Bog bodies in the early iron age in barbaricum: an interpretation of the custom of their burial

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The practice of placing human remains in bogs, occurring in north-western Europe, despite numerous studies, leaves many questions. This article aims to offer an interpretation of bog finds in the context of the system of values existing in the Celtic and Germanic communities of the Iron Age. The archaeological research on the bog bodies focused on the analysis of causes of death (hanging, cut of throat, strangulation and drowning) and physical features distinguishing the individual from the society (congenital and acquired dysfunctions) are supported, amongst others, by ancient sources. Consequently, placing human bodies in bogs is explained primarily as a practice associated with sacrifices to the gods, punishing criminals, or the result of divination. This approach has served me as a reference point for deliberations on the warrior ethos present in these communities. Such a characterization of bog bodies corresponds to, proposed by R. Girard, sacrificial selection signs, indicating the characteristics attributable to excluded individuals. Thus, the ‘bog people’ can be examples of people on the margins of society. The ritual practices in question I also consider in the context G. Dumézil’s trifunctional hypothesis (tripartite division of social groups, identification of three chief gods). Owing to detailing this scheme with correlation between the type of offence, punishments and sacrifices to the higher forces for violation of certain elements of the divine or social order (observations of D. J. Ward), the shape of the pattern of culture becomes perceptible. Finally, placing the issue of bog bodies in the broad context of the heroic era, I treat the tribes in question as a representation of warrior ethos communities. In light of the aforementioned findings, the practices of placing bodies in bogs I treat as a field for possible reconstruction of the system of values existing amongst the Celtic and Germanic tribes. Thus, the characteristics of individuals who lost their lives in bogs I interpret as an inversion of the warrior ethos characterization.

• Publisher: Muzeum Archeologiczne w Gdańsku
• Journal: Pomorania Antiqua
• Year: 2016
• Volume: Tom XXV
• Pages: s. 29-48

Contributors

author

Dubasiewicz Małgorzata

• Wydział Historyczny, Uniwersytet Gdański, ul. Wita Stwosza 55, 80-308 Gdańsk