The Late Migration Period Cemetery at Drnholec (Břeclav district, Czech Republic)
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Památky archeologické |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.35686/PA2022.3 |
| Keywords | Migration Period; Langobards; Lombards; Drnholec; graveyard; radiocarbon dating |
| Description | The authors present a small grave yard of the Late Migration Period in Drnholec – Pod sýpkou (Břeclav district, Czech Republic). Seven graves were recovered in 2016 and 2017. The grave goods were identified, by typological analysis, as Langobardian/Lombardian. The authors argue that even a small cemetery with a limited number of graves can bring important new data and open strategic questions, challenging traditional interpretations. The paper aims to present the results of excavation in the light of archaeological, anthropological and zooarchaeological perspectives. Archaeological analysis is focused on presenting the grave units and the cemetery as a contextual unit. Stylistic and typological analysis of grave goods, radiocarbon dates and probability modeling were used to establish the chronology of the cemetery. Anthropological examination provided osteological and palaeopathological analyses of human remains. Dental microwear tooth cementum annulation analysis served to provide diet reconstruction and detailed age determination. Zooarchaeological analysis was mainly driven by the find of a mule skeleton. In addition to skeletal expertise, Nitrogen and Carbon isotopes analyses were also applied. The authors set out their thoughts, based on material and bibliographical study, on the problem of classifying and understanding the cultural and ethnic identity of the Migration Period populations, and more in generally. |