Mesolithic cremations as secondary mortuary practices at Vlasac (Serbia)

Abstract

IntroductionCremation burials in the archaeological record usually come from later prehistoric periods in Europe, particularly the Bronze Age. Cremations also characterise the later mortuary record of many parts of the Roman Empire in the 3 rd century AD. Yet, in some regions of Europe, cremations as a form of mortuary practice date back to the Mesolithic. Among other cases, cremations have been found at Oirschot V in the Netherlands (Arts 1987), Franchthi Cave in Greece (Cullen 1995) and in the Mesolithic levels of several sites in the Danube Gorges of the north-central Balkans (see Radovanovi≤ 1996.187-219;Srejovi≤ and Letica 1978). In the latter region, most recently, new excavations at the site of Vlasac in the Upper Gorge of the Danube (Bori≤ 2006;Bori≤ et al. 2008) revealed several new cremation pits with burned human bones. These instances indicate mortuary rituals focused on secondary burning of defleshed human bones as part of a particular mortuary behaviour of Late Mesolithic-Early Neolithic (c. 7500-5900 calBC) settlers in this region. This paper presents evidence that demonstrates the conclusion that still flesh-covered and intact human bodies were not burned and left in these locations in situ, and that we are dealing with a specific, previously unrecognised form of secondary mortuary practice, which In this paper, we first present the archaeological contexts with burned human remains found in the course of new excavations at Vlasac (2006Vlasac ( -2007. Second, we focus on the material from the old excavations of the site (Srejovi≤ and Letica 1978.18-27) by combining physical anthropology inferences with previously unpublished details of particular archaeological contexts. One should keep in mind that the 1970 and 1971 campaigns were salvage excavations conducted at an accelerated pace over a large area with excavation standards different to those common today. Hence, the observations made in the course of the new excavations at Vlasac serve as valuable guidelines on how to treat comparable instances from previous excavations at the site. In the final instance, these sets of data are compared in an attempt to reconstruct recurring patterns in the evidence and to suggest a range of possible meanings associated with Mesolithic cremations and secondary mortuary practices in general. ABSTRACT -In the course of recent excavations of the Mesolithic-Neolithic site of Vlasac, new light has been shed on the mortuary practices and ritualistic behaviour of the Danube Gorges foragers on the basis of human remains with evidence of diverse treatments of dead human bodies. While the majority of burials from the site were found as articulated and some as disarticulated inhumations, there were also several cremation burials. The aim of this paper is to present the analyses of these burned remains, which were excavated in the course of 2006-2007 field seasons in the Danube Gorges. Some of the cremation pits contained calcified human bones, with charcoal and fragments of broken and burned projectile points. These co...

8500-year-old Late Mesolithic garment embroidery from Vlasac (Serbia): Technological, use-wear and residue analyses

“…BC, but the intensity of occupation, judging by the number of radiometric dates, was greatest from the mid-8th millennium cal. BC (Bori c, 2011;Bori c et al, 2008Bori c et al, , 2009). This Late Mesolithic occupation/use of the site covers the period z7400e6200 cal.…”

“…The first excavations at the site were made in 1970e1971 as part of a rescue project (Srejovi c and Letica, 1978). New excavations at Vlasac were begun in 2006 and the investigations of the site are ongoing (Bori c, 2006(Bori c, , 2007a(Bori c, , 2011Bori c et al, 2008Bori c et al, , 2009). The resumed work at Vlasac has covered an area of 326 m 2 , investigating a 63 m stretch of the new riverbank section created after 1971 in the likely peripheral, southernmost part of the site (Fig.…”

“…2) in the course of 2007 field season. Different from most other burials found in this burial zone (see Bori c, 2010;Bori c et al, 2008Bori c et al, , 2009, this individual was placed in extended supine position with NEeSW orientation at the edge of the burial concentration and was not overlapped by later interments. A stone slab was found atop the lower portion of the legs, below the knees (Fig.…”

The Living and The Dead, Memory and Transition: Bayesian Modelling of Mesolithic and Neolithic Deposits from Vlasac, the Danube Gorges

“…New excavations at Vlasac were undertaken between 2006–9, prompted by reports of washed out bones from destroyed burials and other finds in the vicinity of the previous excavation (Borić 2006; 2007; Borić et al . 2008; 2009; 2014). This work covered an area of 326 m 2 , investigating a 63 m stretch of the new riverbank section created after 1971 (Fig.…”

“…Continuities with typical Late Mesolithic practices are manifest in the presence of cyprinid (carp) pharyngeal teeth beads, specific Late Mesolithic burial positions – with burials extended supine, oriented parallel to the Danube, and with secondary burial practices that involved the cremation of human remains (Borić et al . 2008; 2009; 2014). Estimating the temporal duration of particular practices and the timing of key changes is of critical importance for our understanding of the processes which were associated with the introduction of Neolithic material culture, and the role of memory, and Mesolithic practices and traditions.…”