Necropolis on Bor lake: New reports on Bronze age burial
Abstract
This article deals with the social and anthropological aspects of burial
rituals during the Middle Bronze Age in Timočka Krajina. Decades of
systematic research of necropolises and reconnaissance in the basin of the
Crni Timok proved an increase in number of sites around ore - rich areas of
the east Kučaj mountains as well as around Romuliana site and the fertile
valleys of Džanovo polje (Map. 1). The quantitative increase in settlements
was reflected by the emergence of large necropolises, only three of which
have been systematically explored; those in Trnjani, Magura and Bor Lake
(Fig. 1; Plan 1). Analysis of geographical features of many settlements and
their position in relation to natural resources helped define two
communities, one of which carried out mining and metallurgical activities,
while the other group engaged in the production of food. Both groups lived in
the immediate vicinity and mutual dependence, functioning within a developed
...market for copper production. During the exploration of the necropolis near
Bor Lake in 1997, the remains of burnt skeletons were collected from burial
structures 2/97 and 13/97 (Fig. 2; Plans 2 and 3). Anthropological analysis
of the cremated remains of the deceased showed that high temperatures were
used during the cremation process, which we assume could have only been
achieved in metallurgical furnaces. This is confirmed by the fact that the
skeletal fragments contain traces of melted metal, as well as finds of bronze
slag inside urns and grave structures in the necropolis in Trnjani (Figs. 3
and 4; Tables 1-4). Burial ritual of this kind was not proved by systematic
archaeological research of necropolises in the basin of Crni Timok, although
anthropological data collected from necropolises linked to metallurgical
settlements may indicate some guidelines in the ritual cremation of prominent
members of these communities.
Source:
Starinar, 2011, 61, 141-153Publisher:
- Arheološki institut, Beograd
Funding / projects:
- info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MESTD/Basic Research (BR or ON)/177020/RS// (RS-177020)
- info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MESTD/Basic Research (BR or ON)/177007/RS// (RS-177007)