DOI: 10.33547/terra.fertilis19
Dame mit Gerätschaften. Ein bemerkenswertes Grab des 5. Jahrhunderts n.Chr. von Dąbie bei Bytów in Ostpommern
by Jan Schuster 
and Paweł Szczepanik
in Terra fertilis, terra deserta. Exploitation of marginal zones, edited by M. J. Przybyła, J. Rodzińska-Nowak and M. Wojenka, Neue Studien zur Sachsenforschung 15, Braunschweig – Kraków: Braunschweigische Landesmuseum, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Profil-Archeo, pp. 327-333.
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Abstract: The article presents and analyses an exceptional 5th-century AD grave (feature 492) discovered at Dąbie near Bytów in Pomerania, northern Poland. The burial, associated with the Wielbark Culture, contained a rich and unusual assemblage of grave goods, including a set of dress accessories (fibulae, an agraffe, and bead jewellery), iron implements, and remains of a wooden or bark vessel sealed with resin.
Typological analysis of the artefacts, particularly the fibulae and the agraffe, indicates strong Scandinavian connections, suggesting that the buried individual—most likely a woman—originated from southern Scandinavia. The presence of objects typical of Scandinavian material culture, such as the resin-sealed vessel and specific clothing elements, supports the hypothesis of direct migration rather than mere cultural influence.
Particular attention is given to an unusual iron object approximately 70 cm long, interpreted either as a utilitarian tool or, more plausibly, as a ritual or symbolic implement comparable to so-called “magic staffs” known from later Scandinavian contexts. Its association with the burial, along with other grave goods, suggests that the deceased held a special social status, potentially linked to ritual or magical practices.
The arrangement of the grave goods, including their placement outside the typical body position, further indicates a complex funerary rite, possibly involving the deposition of clothing and equipment as a bundle rather than worn by the deceased. Overall, the find contributes significantly to the understanding of Migration Period cultural interactions in the southern Baltic region, highlighting the role of Scandinavian mobility and the presence of individuals of northern origin in Pomerania.