BURIALS WITH BUCKETS AT THE OSTRIV THE 11th CENTURY CEMETERY IN THE MIDDLE DNIPRO REGION
Abstract: The article focuses on the analysis of the wooden buckets used in human burials of the Ostriv cemetery studied in 2017–2020. The discovery of dominant culture-defining artefacts, such as penannular and ring brooches, zoomorphic bracelets, and spiral neck-rings, suggest that this ancient population may be originated from the coastal part of the East Baltic region, including Sambian Peninsula, historical Curonia and Semigallia and the results of anthropological and paleogenetic studies reinforce this theory. One… Show more
Search citation statements
Paper Sections
Citation Types
Year Published
Publication Types
Relationship
Authors
Journals
Cited by 2 publications
References 6 publications
The article is devoted to the research of two types of brooches from the Ostriv burial ground in Porossia (Middle Dnipro River region). The morphological characteristics of the objects, the type and chronological attribution and the accompanying archaeological context are considered. In general, seven penannular brooches with connected star-shaped terminals and four ring brooches with ribbed bows were discovered during the first seven years of research at the Ostriv burial ground. All the brooches were recorded in female burials, except two items found in the cultural layer and one brooch with a controversial archaeological context. Together, they make up 23 % of all the clasps found at the territory of the cemetery or 27 % of the brooches discovered in the burial complexes of the necropolis. These types of ancient pins now make up 52 % of women’s burials with brooches. Penannular brooches with connected star-shaped terminals can be divided into two subtypes — larger ones with seven transverse ribs and surface coating with white metal, and slightly smaller ones with six ribs. The damaged brooch from the burial no. 100 stands out for its massiveness and could contain eight or nine decorative ribs, but the item is fragmented, which does not allow clarifying its specific features. Brooches with ribbed bows can also be divided into two subtypes: two items are larger and have twelve decorative ribs on their surface, and two more specimens are slightly smaller and contain seven transverse ribs on the front side. Among the latter two variants can be distinguished — with a concave semicircular and a simple semicircular section of the case. Significantly, the penannular brooch with connected star-shaped terminals and the brooch with ribbed bows with a surface coating of white metal were found in rich burials with neck-rings of the Totenkrone type. Therefore, it is possible to emphasise the probable connection between the objects, the production of which was more time-consuming, with the social position of the deceased during their lifetime, and probably with the chronological factor. Furthermore, only these two types of fibulae among all the categories of jewellery and clothing elements discovered at this necropolis now reliably testify to the long-term habitation and high-quality repair of the objects. In addition, the general features of the repair do not differ from technological receptions within the mother regions of migrants. In conclusion, penannular brooches with connected star-shaped terminals and brooches with ribbed bows had been widespread in the Baltic region during the 11th—12th centuries. However, they were most typical for the population of the South-East Baltic, the medieval Prussians, from whose area they spread among other Baltic, Finnish and Scandinavian people due to trade connections and/or resettlement of groups or individuals within the region (migration of warriors, marriages, etc.). Finally, these types of brooches in the absolute majority of cases are found in the burials of men, mainly in two-tiered cremation burials with a horse and weapons in burial complexes on the territory of the Sambi Peninsula and its adjacent territories. Sometimes such items occur in women’s and children’s burials outside the Prussian area, but they are still more numerous in men’s complexes. Such a contrast of the Ostriv burial ground with synchronous Baltic burial sites seems very interesting, however, conducting a detailed comparative study of the costumes of representatives of the Baltic enclave in Porossia and the female population of the Sambia Peninsula is extremely problematic. The reason is almost absent separated women burials of the 8—13th centuries in the range of the Prussians, because of their dependent social position in this tribe. Thus, it is still impossible to establish whether the materials of the Ostriv burial ground reflect (at least partially) the traditions of medieval Prussian women’s clothing, or whether the composition of the costume underwent significant changes due to migration. The location of these types of brooches in burial complexes in most cases indicates their direct use in a costume to fasten outer clothing — woollen cloaks or capes. However, other provisions are also recorded, which may be related to this population’s peculiarities of burial practices.
The article is devoted to the research of two types of brooches from the Ostriv burial ground in Porossia (Middle Dnipro River region). The morphological characteristics of the objects, the type and chronological attribution and the accompanying archaeological context are considered. In general, seven penannular brooches with connected star-shaped terminals and four ring brooches with ribbed bows were discovered during the first seven years of research at the Ostriv burial ground. All the brooches were recorded in female burials, except two items found in the cultural layer and one brooch with a controversial archaeological context. Together, they make up 23 % of all the clasps found at the territory of the cemetery or 27 % of the brooches discovered in the burial complexes of the necropolis. These types of ancient pins now make up 52 % of women’s burials with brooches. Penannular brooches with connected star-shaped terminals can be divided into two subtypes — larger ones with seven transverse ribs and surface coating with white metal, and slightly smaller ones with six ribs. The damaged brooch from the burial no. 100 stands out for its massiveness and could contain eight or nine decorative ribs, but the item is fragmented, which does not allow clarifying its specific features. Brooches with ribbed bows can also be divided into two subtypes: two items are larger and have twelve decorative ribs on their surface, and two more specimens are slightly smaller and contain seven transverse ribs on the front side. Among the latter two variants can be distinguished — with a concave semicircular and a simple semicircular section of the case. Significantly, the penannular brooch with connected star-shaped terminals and the brooch with ribbed bows with a surface coating of white metal were found in rich burials with neck-rings of the Totenkrone type. Therefore, it is possible to emphasise the probable connection between the objects, the production of which was more time-consuming, with the social position of the deceased during their lifetime, and probably with the chronological factor. Furthermore, only these two types of fibulae among all the categories of jewellery and clothing elements discovered at this necropolis now reliably testify to the long-term habitation and high-quality repair of the objects. In addition, the general features of the repair do not differ from technological receptions within the mother regions of migrants. In conclusion, penannular brooches with connected star-shaped terminals and brooches with ribbed bows had been widespread in the Baltic region during the 11th—12th centuries. However, they were most typical for the population of the South-East Baltic, the medieval Prussians, from whose area they spread among other Baltic, Finnish and Scandinavian people due to trade connections and/or resettlement of groups or individuals within the region (migration of warriors, marriages, etc.). Finally, these types of brooches in the absolute majority of cases are found in the burials of men, mainly in two-tiered cremation burials with a horse and weapons in burial complexes on the territory of the Sambi Peninsula and its adjacent territories. Sometimes such items occur in women’s and children’s burials outside the Prussian area, but they are still more numerous in men’s complexes. Such a contrast of the Ostriv burial ground with synchronous Baltic burial sites seems very interesting, however, conducting a detailed comparative study of the costumes of representatives of the Baltic enclave in Porossia and the female population of the Sambia Peninsula is extremely problematic. The reason is almost absent separated women burials of the 8—13th centuries in the range of the Prussians, because of their dependent social position in this tribe. Thus, it is still impossible to establish whether the materials of the Ostriv burial ground reflect (at least partially) the traditions of medieval Prussian women’s clothing, or whether the composition of the costume underwent significant changes due to migration. The location of these types of brooches in burial complexes in most cases indicates their direct use in a costume to fasten outer clothing — woollen cloaks or capes. However, other provisions are also recorded, which may be related to this population’s peculiarities of burial practices.
Assemblages of the Graves 70 and 71 of the Ostriv Burial Ground: To the Question of the Ethno-Cultural Components of the Necropolis
Since 2017 the Architectural-archaeological expedition of IA NASU has been exploring the Ostriv burial ground in the Ros River basin (the Middle Dnipro region). Аn area of 2257 m2 was investigated, on which 107 burials of the medieval necropolis were discovered. The materials of the burial ground show a resemblance with the Mediaeval West-Baltic groups of tribes (Curonians, Skalvians, Prussians, et al.). At the same time, some grave goods and certain features of burial rites indicate the more syncretic nature of the settlers’ culture. The discussion about the time, place and circumstances of the formation of the material assemblage and structure of ideas of this group of migrants remains open. This research evaluates the informational potential of individual burial assemblages for the possible reconstruction of the structural elements (cultural, ethnic and social) of the population buried in the Ostriv burial ground. Two female burials discovered in the spring of 2020 (nos. 70 and 71) were selected for analysis. Bodies have been placed in a shallow pit the contours of which were fixed at the level of unearthed skeletons (0.3—0.4 m). Both deceased were put in wooden coffins. The skeletons laid supine, with their heads directed to the west with a seasonal deviation to the north. The recorded features of the burial rite allow us to consider that both women were buried at the same time The deceased were connected by close family ties. The recorded funeral rite shows both common features of the necropolis and individual details which may indicate the worldview of the deceased. A similar situation is demonstrated by the grave goods — some of the discovered artifacts are traditional for the graves of the Ostriv while others were a real surprise. These materials take us to different regions of Medieval Europe: the Eastern Baltic coast, the upper Nieman basin, the Middle Dnieper area, and the early Piast state. Some of these materials have a rather limited area of distribution and a narrow chronology of use. The materials of these burials represent contacts between the Baltic and West Slavic ethnic groups in the Ros River basin after their migration / resettlement in the process of developing this region during the middle — second half of the 11th century.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
Contact Info
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Product
Resources
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.
