As promised a few years ago on the occasion of the publication of the Kuczbork-Osada site (2018), it gives me great pleasure to present you with another, fourth in total, book on the subject of the Borderland and, at the same time, the second monograph in the series, this time concerning site V at Brudnice — the site where much, not to say everything, started. “Finally,” many of you will no doubt think. After all, individual material concerning the Brudnice cemetery has been presented on various occasions. “Already,” I will say to that. Let us not forget that the last shovel was driven into the ground at the site in 2019, and the last grave with Przeworsk culture contents was only discovered in 2017. Many of you will also feel unsatisfied with the publication of only the Przeworsk culture part of the cemetery. However, this is due to the fact that the book presents the results of many specialist analyses, including ones which have not been previously carried out for Przeworsk culture sites and which have significantly affected the cost of preparing the publication. Yet, it seems that such an approach should become standard in the 21st century. As it is, the publication boasts, among others, analyses of fatty acids and biomarkers from the vessels’ walls and analyses of strontium residues from the cremated material. Thanks to such studies, we obtain completely new information on both the everyday life and interpersonal contacts of the then inhabitants of northern Mazovia. Nevertheless, I also hope that we will soon be able to see the second volume of the Brudnice monograph, presenting the next two stages of use of this extraordinary cemetery. The first involves the Wielbark culture occupation in the late Roman period, the second concerns the re–use of the site during the Migration period.
Author(s): Andrzej Szela
Series: Światowit Supplement Series P: Prehistory and Middle Ages, 23
Publisher: Faculty of Archaeology University of Warsaw
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 306
City: Warsaw
Introduction 11
Location and state of preservation of the site 11
Catalogue 19
Analysis of archaeological material 71
Dress accessories and decorations 71
Brooches 71
Copper–alloy pins 75
Antler pins 76
S–shaped clasps 77
Pendants 77
Clay knobs of type Bernaschivka 78
Beads 78
Bracelets 79
Finger–rings 79
Belt elements 79
Belt hooks 79
Belt buckles 80
Strap–ends 82
Belt mounts 83
Tools and items of everyday use 84
Combs 84
Needles 84
Awls 84
Fire strikers 85
Fire–flints 85
Crescent–shaped knife 85
Whetstone 85
Metal and bone handles 85
Spindle whorls 85
Keys and casket elements 86
Casket lock fittings 86
Casket fittings 86
Shells 86
Rings loop rivets 87
Unidentified object 87
Pottery 89
Group A 89
Group B 91
Group D 93
Group E 94
Unusual forms 95
Funerary rite at the Brudnice cemetery 97
Stone structures 100
Function of vessels placed in graves 103
Results of strontium analysis and their interpretation 105
Chronology of the Przeworsk culture part of the Brudnice cemetery 107
Bibliography 111
Appendices:
Appendix I: Paweł Gan / Archaeometric analyses of non–ferrous artefacts from Brudnice site V, Żuromin County 119
Appendix II: Joanna Kałużna-Czaplińska, Andźelika Rosiak, Andrzej Szela / Analysis of organic residues preserved in the walls of earthenware vessels from site V in the village of Brudnice, Żuromin County 125
Appendix III: Maciej Pawlikowski / Results of mineralogical raw material and technological analyses of the pottery from the Brudnice site V, Żuromin County 135
Appendix IV: Monika Dzierlińska / Human remains from the Przeworsk culture graves at the Brudnice cemetery, site V, Żuromin County 143
Plates 173
Photographs 267
