Analiza bioarcheologiczna szczątków ludzkich ze stanowisk 3, 5 i 13 w Kazimierzy Wielkiej, woj. świętokrzyskie / Bioarchaeological analysis of human remains from sites 3, 5 and 13 in Kazimierza Wielka,
Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship
by Anita Szczepanek 
DOI: 10.33547/ODA-SAH.13.Kaz.10
In: Małgorzata Byrska-Fudali, Radosław Czerniak, Paweł Jarosz (eds) 2024. Archeologia na obwodnicy Kazimierzy Wielkiej: od śladów wczesnych rolników po starszą epokę brązu w dolinie Nidzicy (Ocalone Dziedzictwo Archeologiczne 13), pp. 307–320. Pękowice – Kraków: Wydawnictwo Profil-Archeo.
Human remains from sites 3, 5, and 13 in Kazimierza Wielka were anthropologically analysed, as detailed
in Table 1. The study includes skeletons discovered in 15 features and in a destroyed section of site 3. Single burials associated with Neolithic and Early Bronze Age cultures predominated. Among the Trzciniec culture features, six individuals were identified in feature 92 (site 5) and two individuals in feature 21 (site 3). The Neolithic and Early Bronze Age remains predominantly consisted of adults, showing marked sexual
dimorphism. The difference in body height between males and females was approximately 10 cm, indicating favourable living conditions for these populations. Few pathologies were observed, with degenerative vertebral changes noted primarily in the oldest individuals. Male skeletons exhibited strongly developed muscle attachment sites on the upper limb bones, indicative of activities involving frequent lifting or carrying of heavy objects. Cranial analyses revealed proportions typical of the period, with skulls classified as dolichocephalic (long) or mesocephalic (intermediate) based on the cephalic index. Feature 92, associated with the Trzciniec culture, contained the remains of children aged 2–14 years. This aligns with the funerary practices of the Trzciniec culture, which included collective burials used over extended periods or as final deposition sites for remains that underwent prior ritual treatments. Two
skulls of children from the Trzciniec culture features exhibited cribra orbitalia, visible as perforations in the orbital roofs. This condition is a nonspecific stress marker associated with nutritional deficiencies, particularly of iron and vitamins B9 and B12, as well as infections or parasitic diseases. Stable isotope analyses revealed dietary patterns. δ13C values indicated a predominantly C3 plant-based diet, while elevated δ15N values suggested substantial consumption of animal protein, regardless of cultural affiliation or burial. Strontium isotope analysis highlighted varying degrees of mobility among individuals.
For instance, a female associated with the Malice culture (feature 72) and a male of the Bell Beaker culture (feature 28) appear to have originated from the Pińczów Hummock area. Similarly, a male from the
Trzciniec culture (feature 21, individual 1) was born locally but likely spent his adolescence in the Pińczów
Hummock, a region of intensive Trzciniec culture occupation. Two representatives of the Corded Ware
culture (features 19 and 49) were locally born but spent their adolescence in areas with more radiogenic strontium signatures, though the precise area remain undetermined. Possible regions include the Rzeszów Forecarpathian Foothills, Lublin Upland, and Małopolska Upland. A female from the Funnel Beaker culture (feature 8) came from an area with slightly higher 87Sr/86Sr values, while a highly mobile male of the same culture (feature 62) likely originated in the Pińczów Hummock area but spent his adolescence in a more radiogenic region of unknown location. These analyses demonstrate a high degree of mobility among Neolithic and Bronze Age communities, reflecting zones of intracultural exchange.