Schyłek eneolitu na stanowiskach 3, 5 i 13 w Kazimierzy Wielkiej, woj. świętokrzyskie / The end of the Eneolithic at sites 3, 5 and 13 in Kazimierza Wielka, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship
by Paweł Jarosz 
DOI: 10.33547/ODA-SAH.13.Kaz.6
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. 161–201. Pękowice – Kraków: Wydawnictwo Profil-Archeo.
The clusters of graves and settlement features in the form of kilns, associated with the Corded Ware culture, discovered at the sites in Kazimierza Wielka likely constituted distinct groupings. The sites in the
lower Nidzica River region are located within Zone B, on the boundary formed by the Nidzica River, separating it from Zone C, as defined by P. Włodarczak (2006). This area represents the eastern edge of the western Lesser Poland loess zone, where numerous Corded Ware culture finds have been concentrated. In Zone B, the decoration of vessels features cord impressions in both S-twisted and Z-twisted patterns, with the former predominating. In Kazimierza Wielka, impressions of S-twisted cord were observed on two vessels, while Z-twisted cord impressions were identified on an amphora. Z-twisted cord impressions dominate on vessels of this culture east of the Nidzica River. The earliest phase, according to radiocarbon dating, is represented by the remains of kilns, which date to the 26th century BC. The animal bones found at the sites indicate that cattle breeding dominated during this period, with a smaller presence of goats/sheep (Capra hircus l./Ovis aries) and pigs (Sus). Cattle bones are also known from other areas of Corded Ware settlement. Almost a complete cow skeleton, accompanied by the bones of a dog (Canis familiaris), hare (Lepus europaeus), and horse (Equus caballus), was found in a large, trapezoidal pit in Mirocin, Przeworsk District, site 27. Fragments of several individuals of this species were also found in trapezoidal feature 44 in Jankowice, Jarosław District, site 9. The kilns from Kazimierza Wielka form the largest concentration of such features in south-eastern Poland to date. Radiocarbon dating was performed for pits 17 and 71, which contained cattle bones. The result for feature 17 was 4030±35 BP (Poz-134511), which, after calibration, can be attributed with 68.3% probability to the years 2575–2476 BC. A similar result of 4030±35 BP (Poz-168867) was obtained for feature 71. This date corresponds, with 68.3% probability, to the years 2578–2476 BC. This period marks the appearance
of the earliest niche graves in the Corded Ware culture on the Małopolska Upland. These results align
with a series of dates obtained for similar features in Central Germany. So far, apart from the mentioned sites with kilns in the upper Vistula River basin, only isolated campsites have been discovered, mainly within wide river valleys, such as site 34 in Kłaj, Wieliczka District, sites 9 and 10 in Stanisławice, Bochnia District, and site 33 in Kraków-Bieżanów. These sites typically lack non-portable features, with only occasional small, shallow pits being recorded. The discovered campsites/settlements are relatively few, which is attributed both to their ephemeral character – resulting in a small number of finds – and the challenges of interpreting often accidental discoveries. The next phase involves the presence of groups of
Corded Ware people establishing separate clusters of graves at the sites in Kazimierza Wielka. Additional dates were obtained for five Corded Ware culture graves, based on bone samples. For graves
19 and 20 at site 13, dates of 3935±35 BP (Poz-168865) and 3900±35 BP (Poz-168865) were obtained,
respectively. These results correspond, with 68.3% probability, to the years 2475–2345 BC for grave 19 and 2462–2344 BC for grave 20. At site 5, a common chronological horizon was established for graves 39 and 49, with dates of 3870±35 BP (Poz-168862) and 3860±35 BP (Poz-168863), respectively. With 68.3% probability, grave 39 can be dated to the years 2454–2291 BC, while grave 49 corresponds, with 63.7% probability, to the years 2452–2236 BC. Thus far, most of the radiocarbon dates obtained for flat graves correspond to the third quarter of the third millennium BC, specifically the years 2470–2300 BC. The youngest date, 3795±35 BP (Poz-168860), was obtained for feature 23, which, after calibration, can be attributed with 68.3% probability to the years 2288–2147 BC. This is one of the youngest dates obtained for flat graves of the Corded Ware culture on the Małopolska Upland. The nearest sepulchral features of this culture within the same microregion were discovered, for example, in Kazimierza Mała and Kazimierza Wielka, site 3 (an accidental find). Other graves were uncovered in higher, typical loess hill locations, including sites in Gabułtów, and Małżyce. The burial customs, including the form of the grave and the arrangement of the deceased, align with the standards prevalent in the Kraków-Sandomierz group. The grave goods allow for the chronological placement of these features within Phase IIIB of the Corded Ware culture’s development on the western Lesser Poland loess, dating to the period 2450–2300 BC. Some grave features discovered along the Nida and Nidzica Rivers can also be linked to this phase of the Corded Ware culture’s development. When comparing the radiocarbon dates obtained for settlement features (kilns) and graves, the earlier age of the former is clearly evident. It seems that in the years 2600–2500 BC, the areas along the Nidzica River were used for economic activities, such as grazing livestock, and the utilized sites served as temporary campsites. Only later, during phase IIIB of the Corded Ware culture, did the communities begin constructing graves in these locations.