The Prague Castle collections hold a precious series of fabrics from the tomb of St. Wenceslas († 935). The remains of the prince were transferred to Prague Castle from Stará Boleslav several years after his death, and were interred in the south apse of St. Vitus Rotunda. For centuries, the grave remained in the same place. In the Middle Ages an above-ground tomb and altar were constructed, later modified several times. The remains and the grave goods, mostly fabrics, were removed from the altar and the lead tomb situated underneath the floor in 1911. In total, 18 fabrics were restored in 2002-2003, textile and technological analyses were conducted, and in 2018 and 2019 the items were newly assessed. The fabrics come from a broad period spanning the 11th/12th century and the 15th century. Most fabrics date from the 13th-14th century. The regions in which the fabrics were produced are located in all major silk-making centres of the time: north China, central Asia, the Near East, Egypt, Spain and Italy. The oldest fabric was woven with the samitum technique, the others are lampas fabrics. The fabrics without patterns are in plain or twill weave. The fabrics from the tomb of St. Wenceslas are secondary relics, i.e. objects which were in contact with the saint's remains.
Tématem příspěvku je nová analýza dostupných poznatků o hrobech K1 a K2 v lodi předrománské rotundy sv. Víta, které byly objeveny již v roce 1911 a připisovány několika přemyslovským knížatům. Provedena byla zejména revize antropologických poznatků, analýzy stabilních izotopů uhlíku (δ13C) a dusíku (δ15N), analýza DNA a radiouhlíkové datování. Získaná data nedávají dohromady konzistentní obraz. Archeologie vylučuje připsání ostatků knížeti Bořivoji I. († asi 888/889), antropologie pak knížeti Boleslavu I. († 972). Oba obory by dovolovaly připsat s určitou pravděpodobností kosterní ostatky knížeti Boleslavu II. († 999), tomu ale neodpovídá radiokarbonové datování. Navržena je možnost připsat ostatky písemně doloženému jménem neznámému synovi knížete Boleslava I., který zemřel před rokem 972. Analýza DNA z K2 připsala ostatky ženě, pravděpodobně tedy manželce osoby K1.
Prague Castle was the most important burial site of the Czech rulers and their relatives. The graves are located in the Church of the Virgin Mary, in St. George Church and Convent, and, in the greatest numbers in the St. Vitus Cathedral. Reliquary tombs of the most important Czech patron saints are also located at Prague Castle – in St. George Basilica, in St. Vitus Cathedral and in All Saints Church. We also know the graves of 12 Prague bishops that are located in the St. Vitus Cathedral. The majority of the aforementioned graves have been opened several times in the past for a variety of reasons, that caused various problems, the most serious of which involved the confusion of relics. The first systematic anthropological investigations were conducted at the beginning of the 20th century. The remains of nearly all historical personalities buried at Prague Castle were available for another anthropological study conducted in the 1960s. Currently, the research continues with modern nature science analyzes. In the past, removed grave goods did not receive proper care for the most part, mainly due to a lack of understanding as to what constituted correct procedures for handling artefacts deposited for years in the unsuitable conditions of graves and tombs. The grave goods themselves were often restored in an inappropriate manner. The restoration situation improved significantly after the establishment of restoration and conservation workshops in 2000. The opening of graves is problematic and, from an ethical point of view, should be performer only to a very limited extent. Necessary construction work is a common reason for disruption, and in this case remains should be treated with respect. And if grave goods are removed, they must be cared for in a proper manner, as these artefacts are often irreplaceable heritage whose scientific study is a legitimate pursuit. The mere lust for knowledge, often connected with efforts to generate sensation, does not entitle us to disturb the resting place of our ancestors with ill-considered interventions.
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