DOI: 10.33547/ODA-SAH.12.Kaz.11
Birytualne cmentarzysko ze schyłku młodszego okresu przedrzymskiego i okresu rzymskiego ze stanowiska 12 w Kazimierzy Wielkiej (A biritual cemetery from the final stage of the younger pre-Roman period and the Roman period from site 12 in Kazimierza Wielka)
by Joanna Zagórska-Telega 
In: Marcin M. Przybyła, Anita Szczepanek, Joanna Zagórska-Telega (eds) 2024. Kazimierza Wielka, stanowisko 12. Od neolitycznej osady do cmentarzyska z okresu wpływów rzymskich (Ocalone Dziedzictwo Archeologiczne 12), pp. 153–271. Pękowice – Kraków: Wydawnictwo Profil-Archeo.
The biritual cemetery in Kazimierza Wielka (Kazimierski district, Świętokrzyskie Province) at site 12 was discovered during excavations that have been carried out by the Pryncypat Marcin Przybyła company since 2022. During three seasons of research, an area of nearly 40 ares was examined. The excavations resulted in the discovery of 24 inhumation graves, four cremation burials, and 12 groove-type features of the Kryspinów type.
Catalogue. The catalogue includes the characterization of 40 features with numbers assigned during fieldwork, dated to the final stage of the younger pre-Roman Period and Roman Period, descriptions of the type of the feature, as well as anthropological and archaeozoological analyses. The inventory contains descriptions of archaeological material that include, whenever possible, affiliations consistent with the applicable typological systems. In each case, the numbers assigned in the catalogue correspond to the numbers presented on the plates.
Analysis. Ceramic vessels are the most numerous group of artifacts discovered at the cemetery in Kazimierza Wielka. They occurred in both inhumation and cremation burials and pottery fragments were also discovered in groove-type features. Fragments of handmade, secondary burnt fine or medium-walled ceramics excavated in groove-type features and cremation grave 154 are dated to the A3 phase of the younger pre-Roman Period. The largest series of pottery (fragments of approximately 20 vessels) has been discovered in the groove-type features These are mainly fragments of mugs of types I.1 and I.2, and type III bowls, according to T. Dąbrowska. Only one sherd discovered in the groove-type feature 151, presumably comes from a painted vessel executed with the use of a throwing wheel. The best-preserved pottery comes from inhumation graves dating back to the early Roman period. These features provided 25 completely preserved vessels or large pottery fragments enabling the vessel form reconstructions. In most cases, these are vessels with black smooth surfaces made of well-prepared clay without any admixture visible, belonging to situlae (group VIII) or vases (group IX, X, XI, and XII), according to A. Lasota-Kuś. In some cases, there were also mugs (type XIII and XVI), a goblet (type XV), and a bowl (type XVIII). An unusual vessel is a large globular jug with a knee-shaped handle with a canal. The cremation graves most often contained only small burnt fragments of vessels. Only from Feature 131 comes an unburnt situla used as an urn. Dress accessories and ornaments constitute a significant part of found artefacts. 12 brooches made of copper alloys come from inhumation burials (Features 13, 15, 22, 98, 141, 161). Typically, a pair of brooches of the same type was discovered in grave pits. They belong to the forms AII38-39a, AIII53, AIV68a, and AIV68b, similar to the type AIV74/75 of variant 2 of the trumpet-shaped brooches, and AVI158. In burials 15 and 138, there were elements of the belt in the form of a bronze fitting similar to the 3rd or 4th variant of type 1 of group I, according to R. Madyda-Legutko and the iron belt hanger of type 2, according to R. Madyda-Legutko. A bar bracelet has been discovered in grave 13, whereas a pair of shield-headed bracelets of the Pomeranian type of variant Ia, according to T. Wójcik has
been found in grave 15. Collars composed of beads and pendants made of various materials come from
three inhumation burials (Features 13, 15, 161) and one cremation burial (Feature 131). Glass beads of
types 6, 10, 126-128, 129, 130, 158, 162-163, 362, 366, according to M. Tempelmann-Mączyńska have
been discovered in graves 15, 131 (glass alloys from beads), and 161. In features 15 and 131, there were
also melon-shaped beads of type 171, made of the so-called Egyptian faience. The collars found in burials
15 and 161 included simple amber beads of type 388-389, whereas grave 13 contained a set of amber
specimens made on a 438-439 type lathe. All pendants have been found in grave 161. These are encircled
pendant of type IIIA, according to K. Stanek, and bucket-shaped pendants of types I–III, according
to P. Kaczanowski. The collar discovered in this grave includes an ornament made from the pedestal of
a glass vessel, a bronze artifact, probably a miniature item (chisel?), and a stone pendant. Three miniature
shields have also been discovered in Features 15 and 131. From the western arm of the groove-type feature 39 comes a bronze pin similar to the group IV, according to B. Beckmann. In three burials (Features 20, 127, 131), there were metal elements of wooden boxes. These are lock fittings of type 1 or 2 and a key of type A, according to A. Kokowski and belonging to the Siemianice type, according to K. Czarnecka, as well as side fittings and handles. The cemetery in Kazimierza Wielka also yielded a series of small tools such as bronze needle (Feature 46) and spindle whorls (Features 15, 22, 131, 144), considered to be markers of women’s burials, as well as a fire-striking set including an iron fire striker with a horn setting of Scandinavian or awl-shape type and fire-striking stone (Feature 14), and other items such as knives (Features 5, 131, 151), and a tool interpreted as an awl, burin, punch or perforator (Feature 18),
typical of men’s burials. Only one cremation grave (Feature 154) contained elements of weaponry in the form of a double-edge sword (type 9/10?), the scabbard of type VIII, the spearhead of type 4, and the shield boss of type 12 (?), according to T. Bochnak. In this grave, there were also bow shears and a knife (?). A damaged shield boss, probably of type 12, has also been discovered in groove-type feature 39.
In grave 154, there was also a bronze vessel of type E18a imported from the Roman Empire, used as an urn.
Funeral rite. Burials discovered at the cemetery in Kazimierza Wielka are mostly inhumation graves (Features 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 30, 32, 45, 46, 98, 140, 141, 142, 144, 145, 161). Typically, the deceased were buried with their legs bent, most often with their heads facing south, on their right side. Feature 11 deviated from these rules, where an individual was placed in a small circular pit. Only in the case of Feature 46, traces of a wooden trunk or coffin have been observed. Most of the inhumation burials are individual graves. Predominantly, these were women’s burials, as indicated by both the equipment and the results of anthropological analysis. Only Feature 14 contained a man’s burial. In several cases, bones from two or three individuals have been discovered in one feature (Feature 12, 22, 141, 144). Single bones of other deceased or cremation burials deposited in inhumation graves could have been placed there accidentally. It is also possible that the remains of other deceased were placed in earlier graves intentionally. At the cemetery, there are traces of secondary opening of inhumation graves, relocating some of the equipment items, and the removal of selected bones. The reasons for such practices can be both ritual and simply robbery. It should be emphasized that inhumation rite occurs
sporadically in the area of the Przeworsk culture. At the turn of the younger pre-Roman period and the early Roman period the influences are possible from the south, from the Middle Danube area. Cremation graves, both urn (Features 131, 154) and pit ones (Features 127, 138), are much less numerous at the cemetery. In the case of grave 154, a bronze situla of type E18a was used as an urn, whereas burial
131 was placed in a ceramic vessel. The majority of cremation graves were female burials, as evidenced by
both the equipment and results of anthropological analysis. Only in the case of grave 154, the burial of a young man equipped with weaponry has been found. At the cemetery in Kazimierza Wielka, 12 quadrangular groove-type features of the Kryspinów type have been discovered (Features 4, 39, 54, 84, 91, 107, 108, 109, 113, 136, 146, 151), however, only Features 39, 54/91, 84, 107, and 108 were well preserved. All examples had regular, almost square shapes and were oriented according to the cardinal directions. The length of the arms ranged from 420 to 940 cm. The fills of the groove-type features usually contained only single pottery sherds and burnt human bones. Only Feature 151 yielded a greater number of pottery fragments. Groove-type features of the Kryspinów type have been so far identified at 17 Przeworsk culture cemetery sites, located mainly over the upper Vistula, however, their origin and function remain unclear. Perhaps the burials were placed on the ground surface or buried shallowly in the space enclosed by the arms of the groove-type features. It is also plausible that groove-type features are a reflection of beliefs resembling those that contributed to the disappearance of the funeral rite of the La Tène culture, which is visible in the archeological sources.
Chronology of the cemetery an summary. The earliest materials discovered in the cemetery in Kazimierza Wielka should be dated to phase A3 of the younger pre-Roman period. This is how the cremation burial 154 deposited in an imported vessel of type E18a equipped with a weaponry set should be dated. The groove features of the Kryspinów type discovered in the cemetery should probably also be dated to the turn of the younger pre-Roman period and the early Roman period. The oldest inhumation graves discovered in the necropolis in Kazimierza Wielka come from phase B1b (Features 13, 22, 141). The youngest feature found in the cemetery is inhumation grave 161, dated to phase C1 or later. The unequipped, inhumation burial 11 should be dated similarly. Until recently, the area of the western Lesser Poland loess plateau and the Nida Basin, which is part of it, and where the cemetery in Kazimierza Wielka is located, was considered to be devoid of large funeral sites dating back to the younger pre-Roman and Roman periods. Recently, however, several large cemeteries have been discovered on the left bank of the Vistula, mainly in the Nidzica river basin. Materials characteristic of the Przeworsk culture were found
at these sites, but the funeral rite was unusual/distinct for this cultural unit. The beginning of use of
the sites dates back to the end of the younger pre-Roman period. The oldest features often contain Celtic imports, such as situla E18a or the sword discovered in Feature 154 in the cemetery in Kazimierza Wielka. These items arrived in the Przeworsk culture area by various routes. The most important of them was the southern, „amber” route. After the fall of the Czech and Moravian oppida in the mid-1st century BC, this route continued to function through the environment of the Puchov culture and the Tyniec group. The settlement in Jakuszowice located a short distance from Kazimierza Wielka, may have been an important trade centre at the end of the younger pre-Roman period and during the Roman period. In the cemeteries located in the Nidzica river basin, there are also groove features of the Kryspinów type and inhumation burials commonly associated with the Celtic tradition. It is noteworthy that in the earliest inhumation graves from the Lesser Poland region, there are often objects related to the oldest, Czech wave of imports, such as group A buckles with a figure-of-eight shaped frame or A45, A67, A68, A236 fibulae. It is also probable that these items came to the upper Vistula along the same trade route as earlier Celtic imports, i.e. via the Puchov culture. The occurrence of inhumation graves in areas previously occupied by the Celtic population may not be directly related to the funeral rites of the Tyniec group or the La Tène culture more broadly, but rather to areas through which long-distance communication routes ran, previously controlled by Celtic tribes. If so, then in these areas we can expect a wave of new human groups involved in trade or controlling this exchange, which is also confirmed by analyses of strontium isotopes. It is also interesting that in the inhumation graves from Kazimierza Wielka dating to the later phases of the Roman period – B2, B2/C1, C1 – there are artefacts characteristic of the eastern zone of the Przeworsk culture and even the Wielbark culture. However, there are no artefacts typical of male burials, including military items commonly found in Przeworsk culture cemeteries.