Search results

1

Cmentarzysko kultury przeworskiej z młodszego okresu przedrzymskiego w Suchodole, pow. sochaczewski

100%

Maciałowicz A.

Wiadomości Archeologiczne

|

2006

|

vol. LVIII

|

issue 58

283-369

EN

The locality Suchodół (comm. Iłów, distr. Sochaczew, woj. mazowieckie) lies on the left bank of the Vistula river. Site 1 occupies a small elevation among the fields in the eastern part of the village (Fig. 1). In 1964 the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw received information that urned graves and pits containing a burnt layer were being discovered in the area of Suchodół. The next year the site was excavated by H. Różańska, followed in 1980–1983 by A. J. Tomaszewski. Of 170 features documented at the site Przeworsk Culture was represented by 144 graves and assorted features, Pomeranian Culture by 8 burials. Bronze Age occupation was evidenced by 10 pits and finally, 8 obscure features produced contained no finds at all (Fig. 2). Excavation results from Suchodół were published to a limited extent with only the first season of investigation recorded in a longer report, the later seasons described in short notes; all Bronze Age finds and a small number of Przeworsk Culture finds were published (H. Różańska 1968; 1970; A. J. Tomaszewski 1981; 1982; 1983; 1984; 1997; A. Maciałowicz 2004). Przeworsk Culture features clustered in a narrow strip of ground ca 75 m in length, at the foot of a small elevation (Fig. 3). There were 140 cremation graves or cenotaphs and 4 hearths (?) found in SW area of the cemetery (nos. 4, 19, 22, 31). Typically the graves contained a very small quantity of very finely fragmented bones; only the somewhat better preserved material from graves 5 and 6 was analysed and found to be adult burials (grave 6 containing also fine bones from probably a juvenile individual). Most features were pit graves but graves 20 and 164 bear some resemblance to urned burials: each contained a pottery mug which, subsequent to deposition in the pit, was filled with cremated matter which was also spread around the vessel. The typical grave inventory consisted of potsherds from 1 to 7 vessels; 19 graves additionally contained an isolated iron brooch, intact or in fragments (grave 8 produced a pair). An exceptional item, discovered next to pottery vessels in grave 139, was a clay spindlewhorl. Mugs, definitely the most frequent vessel form, occurred in almost every grave. Relatively often (unlike other vessel types) at least one mug in each grave survived intact or largely intact, suggesting indicating significance of these items during the funerary rite. In some graves (nos. 17, 27, 40, 82, 83, 147) the mug rested in a position – upright or inverted – suggesting intentional arrangement; in two graves (nos. 20, 164) the mug was used as a quasi-urn. In 31 graves (25%) pottery was represented by a single vessel, nearly always a mug. These graves clustered mainly in the NE part of the cemetery (Fig. 8). Feature 23, containing a mug and bowl, and feature 119a, which produced a cracked mug, did not contain any trace of bone and have been interpreted as symbolic graves (cenotaphs). The decided majority of vessels are forms typical for the first ceramic phase in Przeworsk Culture; vessels with rims diagnostic of a later style are very infrequent (eg 2/3, 7/1.2, 166/1). More rare vessel forms included a bowl with a drooping handle (98/2), and a bowl with conical sides and a nearly punctiform base (59/2). Their presence may be liked with the so-called Bastarni Route (A. Maciałowicz 2004). Grave 63 produced a large mug (?) of a form typical for Przeworsk Culture vessels but decorated with comb-hatched ornament (63/1). A small number of similarly ornamented but – usually – much larger vessels recorded in Przeworsk Culture assemblages are interpreted as imitations of Celtic pottery, mainly graphite situlae (T. Dąbrowska 1988, p. 129–130, map 15:4). The mug from Suchodół, despite its different form, is most probably an expression of southern influence, presumably from Małopolska. A miniature footed cup (120/4) and a bowl of similar form (2/3), are forms which by their distribution testify to exchange between different communities of Przeworsk Culture settled on the middle Vistula (Z. Woźniak 1994, p. 134; T. Dąbrowska 1997, p. 103; 2001, p. 31–32). The main brooch form is type H (11 specimens), considered a female ornament (cf eg R. Hachmann 1961, p. 80, note 339; Th. Völling 1995, p. 162), although in Przeworsk Culture such specimens have occurred also in juvenile burials. Other brooch forms include types C and K, and a specimen similar to type F repaired during antiquity recovered from grave 37 (Fig. 5a). The latter is an exceptional form, although a similar specimen is known also from the cemetery of Oksywie Culture at Pruszcz Gdański, distr. Pruszcz Gdański (pow. gdański) site 4, grave 41 (Fig. 5b; D. Bohnsack 1938, p. 12, fig. 4:1). Type F brooches are known in Poland mainly from assemblages of Oksywie Culture; a limited number is also recorded in SW zone of Przeworsk Culture neighbouring the Gubin Group of Jastorf Culture, whose population probably acted as intermediaries in passing this brooch form on to Silesia and south Wielkopolska (Fig. 6). As the gravefield at Suchodół lies at some distance from the territory of Gubin Group settlement the brooch from grave 37 more probably documents the existence of exchange with Oksywie Culture people residing on the lower Vistula. Another exceptional form is a brooch of late La Tène construction from grave 122 (Fig. 7a) which combines a number of traits proper to different brooch forms but lacks closer analogies. The specimen shows some similarity to brooches reminiscent of type Kostrzewski fig. 17 (Fig. 7b–d), known from cemeteries of Oksywie Culture at Podwiesk and Bystrzec. The arable layer close to grave 40 produced a stray iron point, most probably an arrowhead (Fig. 4a). Its association with the gravefield is not certain but nevertheless quite likely, given that a few similar specimens are recorded at other Przeworsk Culture sites (R. Mycielska, Z. Woźniak 1988, p. 69, pl. XCVII/A1; G. Martyniak, R. Pastwiński, S. Pazda 1997, p. 13, pl. XXII:12) The cemetery at Suchodół is dated by the presence of brooch forms discussed earlier strictly to phase A2 of the Late Pre-Roman Period. This dating is not inconsistent with pottery forms present in grave assemblages. Site planigraphy (Fig. 9) does not make for phasing the cemetery; neither does it confirm the different chronological confines proposed in literature for type H and K brooches (Z. Woźniak 1994, p. 130; T. Dąbrowska 2001, p. 31). The gravefield at Suchodół is the only funerary complex of its size investigated comprehensively in this part of Przeworsk Culture territory. It is made exceptional by a highly unusual distribution of graves, densely clustering within a narrow strip of ground, and funerary practice, widely different from standards known from other cemeteries of Przeworsk Culture. In contrast to typical Przeworsk Culture gravefields which are rich in grave goods, particularly, weapons (in male burials), grave inventories at Suchodół are extremely poor, none of the 140 assemblages contained weapons (the only arrowhead discovered at the site is a stray find) whereas tools and ornaments are represented by isolated specimens. Pottery occurred in equally low frequencies and mugs are the dominant form. Some of the latter apparently had some special significance during the burial ceremony, as indicated by their typically intact condition and way of placing within the pit. Graves furnished with just a mug and, occasionally, a single metal object, so common at Suchodół, are known from other Przeworsk Culture cemeteries but there they are a minority. In the rare cases where a better condition of bone remains made anthropological analysis possible they were usually identified as remains of children (cf footnote 20). The poor degree of preservation itself of bone remains (ie, substantial degree of fragmentation) and small quantity tends to be associated by anthropologists with burials of juveniles (cf footnote 27). It would appear therefore that most graves at Suchodół are of juvenile burials. Anthropological analysis confirmed that grave 6, adult burial, also contained child’s bones. Two cemeteries most comparable to Suchodół are Gledzianówek (site 3), distr. Łęczyca (A. Nadolski 1951), and Bodzanowo, distr. Aleksandrów Kujawski (B. Zielonka 1958). At Bodzanowo, in particular, cremation graves had a similar close-knit arrangement within a narrow strip of ground. Poor level of preservation of the bone material from both Gledzianówek and Bodzanowo precluded anthropological analysis but judging by the form of graves most of them presumably are mainly juvenile burials, perhaps with a small percentage of adult graves. The cemetery at Gledzianówek (site 3) is remarkable in that it lies close to a parallel and more ‘typical’ Przeworsk Culture cemetery (site 1) with rich grave inventories. It is possible that the more ‘poorly’ furnished cemeteries were sites used specifically for burying a special group of individuals, eg, people of lower social and economic status. Another as interesting question concerns the origins of these special type of gravefield in the region of Kujawy and in the area between the Vistula and its tributary the Bzura.

2

Osada z młodszego okresu przedrzymskiego i okresu rzymskiego w Strzyżowie, pow. hrubieszowski, w świetle badań z lat 1935-1937 i 1939

100%

Prochowicz R.

Wiadomości Archeologiczne

|

2006

|

vol. LVIII

|

issue 58

265-281

EN

The first discoveries near the sugar-mill at Strzyżów (distr. Hrubieszów) were made in 1923. During several seasons of excavation (1935–37, 1939, 1952, 1958, 1961–63) the complex of sites at this location (Fig. 1) produced an exceptionally large quantity of materials, dating from the Neolithic through to the Medieval period, in the form of several score kilograms of ceramics as well as around a hundred metal, bone, antler and stone objects. The materials held at present by the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw (PMA) and the Lublin Dept. of the National Centre for Historical Monument Studies and Documentation, was never analysed or published in full. The present article is concerned only with materials from the pre-1939 research by Zofia Podkowińska, now in keeping of the Iron Age Department, PMA. Pottery finds from pit 2 and a part of stray ceramics have been dated to phase A2 of the Late Pre-Roman Period and classified as type ‘Werbkowice’. The following vessel forms are represented: type I (Figs. 4:7, 5:15, 6:3), II (Fig. 6:5.7), IV (Figs. 4:2.9, 5:4.9, 6:8), V.1 (Fig. 3:1.2), V.3 (Fig. 5:1. 5.11), V.6 (Fig. 5:18) and VI (Figs. 5:6, 6:1) acc. to the classification system developed for pottery from Werbkowice-Kotorów (T. Liana, T. Piętka-Dąbrowska 1962, p. 157–158; T. Dąbrowska, T. Liana 1963, p. 56–58). The site close to the sugar-mill at Strzyżów also produced fragments of Przeworsk Culture pottery from the Late Pre-Roman Period (Fig. 4:5) and Early Roman Period (Figs. 2:1, 3:7, 4:1.8). Also identified – for the first time with regard to the materials from Strzyżów – was the presence of Wielbark Culture finds from the Late Roman Period (Fig. 3:3.5). One of the more notable Wielbark finds is an incomplete bowl, type VIA (Fig. 2:6), which is ornamented above shoulder with an wide engraved band of ornament of at least three groups of patterns alternating with ‘separator’ motifs (Fig. 2:6a).

3

Cmentarzysko kultury przeworskiej w miej scowości Całowanie, gm. Karczew, woj. mazowieckie, st. XXVI

84%

Iwanicki P.

Wiadomości Archeologiczne

|

2011

|

vol. LXII

|

issue 62

83-118

EN

The village Całowanie lies in the valley of the Vistula R., on its right bank, c. 7.5 km to the north-east of the locality Góra Kalwaria, on a sandy upper terrace parallel to the river channel, separated from the west from the main current of the Vistula. Near the site of interest the upper terrace is dissected by a small stream (called Szeroka Struga) parallel to it, the main axis of prehistoric settlement in the area. One of the earliest finds from the Late Pre-Roman Period discovered close to Całowanie is an iron type M fibula, now in the museum in Bydgoszcz, dated within phases A2/A3 and A3. A series of finds datable to the same period was discovered by accident in 1948 on a small elevation rising over the Szeroka Struga stream, c. 750 m to the north-west of the village buildings of Całowanie. Chronological variation of the pottery and observable division in the grave pit suggest that originally there were two features, one (southern – dating from phase A3, which next to pottery contained a fragment of an undetermined fibula), partly damaged by the grave pit of a later burial (the northern – from phase B1, which also yielded an iron knife and rivet). The graves would have belonged to a larger as yet not investigated cemetery of Przeworsk Culture. Finds from Całowanie datable to the Early Roman Period also include two glass beads, classified as type 223b and 4b of M. Tempelmann-Mączyńska – were submitted in 1903 to the Museum of Industry and Agriculture in Warsaw by Z. Wolski (now in the State Archaeological Museum, PMA/IV/568). The latest artefact from Całowanie dated reliably to the Roman Period, a bronze tendril crossbow fibula, type A.162, dated to phase C2, was discovered in a dune next to the road linking Łukowiec and Całowanie (PMA/IV/568) and is linked with Wielbark Culture settlement. Nevertheless, all these finds do not belong to the cemetery under discussion. The finds from the Late Pre-Roman and the Roman Period are rounded out by input from the cemetery of Przeworsk Culture recorded as Całowanie site XXVI, subject of the present contribution. It lies on a small elevation descending to the valley of the Szeroka Struga stream. On its east side the site was destroyed by a dirt road running to Całowanie and by buildings of the village. The cemetery was discovered during a fieldwalking survey made in 1987 (AZP 61-69/59) and came under rescue excavation in July 1990. A total area of no more than 200 m2 was explored and 19 graves of Przeworsk Culture were identified. All the features excavated were seriously damaged by deep ploughing. Grave 1 was notable because next to pottery it contained fragments of two iron spear points (one of them decorated on the blade by notching), a shield-boss, type Bo.15, a fibula, type E acc. to Kostrzewski, and a knife. This would be a striking case of the lingering in use of a fibula form characteristic for phase A2 discovered with weapons and ceramics distinctive for the mature phase A3. At the same time, the fibula would be an interesting evidence on outside contacts, both within the Przeworsk Culture and beyond, given that this fibula form is known mainly from Lower Silesia and from the Vistula Delta. Contacts with the area of Celtic settlement is documented by forms present in graves 3 and 9 – a fragment of a cup made to imitate Celtic comb-decorated pottery in the first of these grave and fragments of a segmented belt, a form also deriving from the Celtic environment. Also attributable to the same sphere is a fragment of a Knotenring ornament, discovered in the cemetery at Całowanie as a stray find. Even so, the main group useful in dating the cemetery was pottery. A closer analysis of vessel forms and their dating helped to separate three groups of graves corresponding to different phases of use of the cemetery. To better grasp the links between individual forms a table of co-occurrence of specific ceramic forms in closed grave assemblages was developed. Group I includes graves 6, 10, 15, and 19. They mostly contained vessels with thickened and visibly facetted rims, types I.1.1.b, II.2.b, IV.1.b and III.5. There was also a handful of forms with less prominently facetted rims, types I.1.1.c, I.2.c and IV.1.c, characteristic for the next phase. This group of graves was marked by a co-occurrence of vessels typical for ceramic phases I and II in Przeworsk culture, which helped to synchronize them with phase A2/A3. Group II includes graves 1, 3 and 18. They contained no vessels other than forms with a thickened randomly facetted rim and a broad upper body. Leading forms in this group are type II.2.c. bowls and cups of type I.1.1.c, I.2.c and I.4.1 mentioned earlier. Novel forms included a few bowls of type B.1.1. Based on typological attributes of the pottery and non-ceramic finds from grave 1, typical for the late phase of the Late Pre-Roman Period (the type Bo.15 shield-boss and the spear point with a blade decorated by notching) graves in this group may be synchronized with phase A3. Group II includes graves 11 and 17. Vessels discovered in them have a sharply angular body and an everted rim. These are vases type A.3 and bowls type A.1 and B.1.1. Also classifiable to group III is grave 13 which yielded a bowl, type B.1.1, somewhat degenerated of form. Vessels type A.1 and A.3 are noted in the eastern area of the Przeworsk culture during the Early Roman Period and are a characteristic form during this period. Their presence in Group III graves helps synchronize the group with phase B1 and possibly, the onset of phase B2. Analysis helps to establish the relative dating of the cemetery at Całowanie site XXVI as phases A2/A3–B1. Despite the relatively modest quantity of archaeological material the results presented here document a rhythm of development similar as in other Przeworsk cemeteries in the Mazowsze region. There is also evidence of the lingering of vessel forms assigned to ceramic phase II as well as some delay in the adoption of Early Roman models. The finds from Całowanie also document outside exchange of this part of Przeworsk Culture and change in its culture connections attributable to the depopulation of areas in Lower Silesia and northwestern Wielkopolska.

Refine search results

3 Wiadomości Archeologiczne

1 Iwanicki P.

1 Maciałowicz A.

1 Prochowicz R.

1 2011

2 2006

Cmentarzysko kultury przeworskiej z młodszego okresu przedrzymskiego w Suchodole, pow. sochaczewski

Osada z młodszego okresu przedrzymskiego i okresu rzymskiego w Strzyżowie, pow. hrubieszowski, w świetle badań z lat 1935-1937 i 1939

Cmentarzysko kultury przeworskiej w miej scowości Całowanie, gm. Karczew, woj. mazowieckie, st. XXVI