Banatian DeathMetals: Radiocarbon Dating of Cremation Burials of the Setting Bronze Age and Dawning Iron Age

Abstract

The lack of radiocarbon measurements of funerary contexts is a major shortcoming of the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age of the Eastern Carpathian Basin, especially in the Banat region. The present batch of samples tries to address these drawbacks, by detailing sampling strategies, employed pre-treatment and by providing a robust and coherent dataset of radiocarbon measurements. Implications of the new radiocarbon dates is discussed from a supra-regional perspective, while keeping aspects of typo-chronology, circulation of goods, and social nuances of employment of Bronze Age bronzes in the forefront. Ten burials were selected from four Banatian burial grounds according to the occurrence of metal finds in the funerary inventories. Beyond establishing a broad frame of absolute chronology for these sites of interment, the radiocarbon data provide reliable arguments for the precise attribution of metal discoveries. In addition, the data allow us to challenge some previously stated chronological assignments.

COMPARING METHODS FOR CO2PURIFICATION OF CREMATED BONE SAMPLES

“…From the 10 selected samples two pairs, AAR-31653 and AAR-31654 and also AAR-31656 and AAR-31657, are double burials from two different burial grounds: Voiteni (groapa de împrumut lut, Romania) and Vojlovica (Rafineria nafte-nekropola II, Serbia), respectively (Bukvic ´2000;Daróczi 2015;Szentmiklosi 2021). In both instances, the remains of the two cremated individuals were placed in separate urns and the two urns were deposited in a single pit, clearly recognisable by a homogenous, undisturbed fill during the excavation (Daróczi et al 2023). Therefore, it can be expected that the 14 C ages of these samples are identical.…”

“…Therefore, it can be expected that the 14 C ages of these samples are identical. Detailed information on all 10 sampled burials has been published, in which the archaeological context and relative chronological value of their inventories has been analysed (Daróczi 2021;Daróczi et al 2022Daróczi et al , 2023.…”