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Weights of fragments belonging to different skeletal regions within each of the excavation layers in the analysed features (compiled by E. Jaskulska).
Source publication
A sample of six cremated graves from the Lusatian Culture cemetery from Podlesie, site 5, has been subjected to a spatial analysis aimed at recognising anatomical provenance of bone fragments within the layers of the urn burial. Even though individual features have shown damage ranging from slight to severe, most of the burials have shown an indica...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... no. The amount of anatomically recognised fragments for each of the features analysed is presented in Fig. 7.a-f. Though most of the burials have been described as damaged, some indication of order can be observed. In most of the urns, the topmost layers consist primarily of skull fragments, and this position is statistically significant as confirmed by Chi 2 test (Chi 2 = 43.968, df = 16, p < 0.001), so it is not coincidental. To interpret ...
Context 2
... pyre site, the lowest layers should show the predominance of lower limb bones, and the results of the statistical analysis confirm the validity of this observation (Chi 2 = 28.635, df = 16, p = 0.027). Such a situation is clearly visible in the features nos 2 and 8, but the features nos 3 and 10 also show an inclination for a similar distribution (Fig. 7.a-e). The lesser amount of fragments recovered from the feature no. 5, with low RAI value, makes the observation less valid (Tab. 3, Fig. ...
Context 3
... from both regions should be located in similar layers, most likely in-between skull and lower limb fragments. In the case of the feature no. 10, where the amount of torso and upper limb fragments was highest, the latter is distributed similarly to a lower limb through the lower layers, while an upper limb was found mostly in the middle of the urn (Fig. 7.e). The absence of any visible pattern in the spatial distribution of the fragments within the feature no. 12 is quite evident (Fig. 7.f ). Each skeletal region is represented throughout all the layers in similar amounts, which could probably be interpreted as an indication of a lack of methodical gathering of the cremated remains from ...
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... no. 10, where the amount of torso and upper limb fragments was highest, the latter is distributed similarly to a lower limb through the lower layers, while an upper limb was found mostly in the middle of the urn (Fig. 7.e). The absence of any visible pattern in the spatial distribution of the fragments within the feature no. 12 is quite evident (Fig. 7.f ). Each skeletal region is represented throughout all the layers in similar amounts, which could probably be interpreted as an indication of a lack of methodical gathering of the cremated remains from the pyre site unless the observation is a result of post inhumation damage, which in the case of the feature no. 12 was reported as ...
Context 5
... of the most obvious could be the state of preservation, as the feature is described as coming from the mostly destroyed part of the cemetery, and the state of the find has not allowed for the documentation of the grave structures. 17 This assumption seems to be implausible as other analysed features present a similar level of damage, and even the neighbouring feature no. 10 differs in its layers' morphological composition (Figs 4, 7.e-f ). ...
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... very interesting case is presented by the feature no. 3, which is described as heavily-damaged (Tab. 1) and is documented also in Fig. 5.a. Contrary to expectations, the spatial analysis of the remains shows some order between the layers (Fig. 7.b). This observation has been explained by Paweł Dziechciarz, who confirmed the destruction of the urn but indicated that the urn's fill remained largely intact, forming a visible in situ shape of the ceramic vessel. 18 The present analysis seems to confirm the value of the proposed method in providing quantitative data describing the ...
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Citations
Interactions with the Roman Empire presumably enhanced social differentiation and caused the emergence of an elite class among Gothic communities in present-day northern Poland (Pomerania) in the first centuries AD. Arguably, the process is documented archaeologically by the presence of exceptional burials, richly furnished with imported artefacts. Such features were discovered at the Wielbark culture cemetery in Czarnówko, however, due to poor preservation neither their infills nor the interred human remains have previously been fully examined. We studied (by means of osteological, Sr isotope, anthracological and soil analyses) a newly-found, well-preserved cremation grave in order to assess (1) the biological profile, geographical origin and mobility of the buried individual, (2) details of the multi-stage funerary practice, and (3) the formation of the grave-pit infill. Most probably, the grave belonged to a senilis woman who was born and spent her final years in Pomerania, seemingly living in good health. Except for outstanding grave goods, her funeral reassembled other Wielbark culture cremation interments: the body was burned shortly after death on a birch-wood pyre, together with single artefacts, at high temperatures, with good oxygen supply, until the calcination of bones. The burned remains were separated from the pyre debris and randomly deposited in the urn. The vessel was placed at the bottom of a pit and covered with sand containing charcoals. Subsequently, the grave was re-opened and backfilled once again. This singular cremation burial reflects the idea of “eliteness” in the local Gothic community – Roman-influenced but rooted in Wielbark culture traditions. However, to address the issue of social stratification comprehensively, similar research focused on graves of “common people” is required.
This article presents the results of a preliminary bioarchaeological study of 10 funerary urns containing human burned remains from the Los Tamarindos urn-field cemetery dated to the Postclassic period. I was able to determine the basic biological profile data. In addition, I determined the fragmentation rate as well as the thermal alternation of bones from funerary urns from Los Tamarindos, which allowed me to propose the first observations about the Pretarascan cremation burial practices in this region. The low weight of bones indicates that burials should be determined as partial burials; however, they contain fragments of bones from each anatomical region. The structure of the bones and the chromatic discoloration caused by the thermal alternation indicate that temperature during the cremation did not exceed 900°C, given that the cremains did not exhibit the recrystallization structure, which is interpreted as a characteristic feature of the high maximum temperature of a funerary pyre during the cremation.
In recent years, the use of a set of sieves became a crucial part of the methodology in studies of burned human bone from archeological and forensic contexts. A set of three sieves (10 mm, 5 mm, 2 mm) is widely used in studies of burned human remains, particularly those from the British Isles, in order to determine bone fragmentation, following methodology proposed by Jacqueline McKinley (1993). Usually, mesh opening sizes are reported in methods; however, their shape is rarely mentioned. This study aims to analyze the potential impact of the sieve mesh opening shape on the results achieved. It was tested by sieving the human burned bones from ten cremation burials from two Polish archeological sites by using two sets of sieves (10 mm, 5 mm, 2 mm). The first had round openings, while these of the second were square. Furthermore, the intra-observer and inter-observer errors were computed to assess the significance of differences between the tested sets of sieves. The analysis of values obtained by using a distinct set of sieves revealed noticeable differences. Specifically, when comparing the results of sieving through square versus round mesh openings, the paired t-test yielded lower p-values than intra-observer error measurement. This finding suggests that the observed differentiation between two sets of sieves is less likely to be a result of random chance. However, it is important to note that the inter-observer error also showed statistically significant differences. This indicates that the sieving techniques may vary between observers, potentially impacting the results obtained. The diagonal of square mesh openings is proposed as the most probable factor causing differentiation. However, it should also be considered that the differences in the distribution of mesh openings and total sieving surfaces between square and round openings might also alter the results. In addition, the sieving surface has higher values for sieves with square mesh openings, which follows the pattern of a higher diagonal of mesh openings for square sieves. In conclusion, the shape of the mesh openings and their distribution on the surface of the sieves might have a significant impact on the results concerning burned bone fragmentation. Consequently, information about the shape of mesh openings should be included in the “Materials and methods” section, along with the specifications of the apparatus and the dimensions, as well as the diameter of the mesh openings.
In recent years, the set of calibrated sieves became a crucial part of the methodology in the study of human cremains both in archaeology and forensic contexts. Especially in the studies over burned human remains from the British Isles, the standardized set of three calibrated sieves (>10mm, >5mm, >2mm) are used. This ubiquity is an effect of the methodology proposed by Jacqueline McKinley (1993; 1994). In terms of analytical transparency, the diameters of the mesh openings are commonly reported (not clear). However, the description of their shape is almost always omitted. The impact of the shape has been tested by repeating a series of sieving of archaeological human cremains by two sets of calibrated sieves. The first set had round-shaped openings, while the second had a quadrate. In addition, the intra-observer error was calculated to observe the significance of the differences between the tested sets of sieves. The results demonstrate statistically significant differences, which were visibly more statistically significant (p - value and t-value) compared to the intra-observer error. The diagonal of square-shaped mesh openings has been proposed as the most probable factor causing differentiation. In conclusion, the shape of mesh openings might have a significant impact on the results obtained in the studies using the calibrated sieves in the analytical protocol. Due to that, crucial information about the shape of mesh openings should be included in the methods sections along with the specification of the apparatus and diameter of mesh openings.
This paper presents the trilobate arrowhead of Sarmatian origin found in 2014 in Podlesie, Oleśnica district, site 6 by the expedition of the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Warsaw, conducted under the guidance of Artur Grabarek. It was found in a Przeworsk culture grave (feature 109) together with weapons, tools, pottery and costume elements (i.a. brooch Almgren 236c). It is dated to the beginning of Phase B1, i.e. much earlier than the chronology of such arrowheads from the territory of Poland assumed earlier. Similar items from the Przeworsk culture and the Bogaczewo culture are mentioned. The find is discussed within the context of Germanic-Sarmatian contacts at the turn of the eras and slightly later.
