Abstract. Introduction. Previous excavations and findings. Zusammenfassung

Transcription

1 Archaeological Sites in Forests Strategies for their Protection Miloslav Chytráček, Ondřej Chvojka, Markus Egg, Jan John, Radka Kozáková, Roman Křivánek, René Kyselý, Jan Michálek and Petra Stránská A Disturbed Late Hallstatt Period Princely Grave with a Two-wheeled Chariot and Bronze Vessels in Sedlina Forest near Rovná in South Bohemia: a Preliminary Report Abstract Disturbances of prehistoric tumulus graves and other archaeological sites are commonly registered today in the forested areas of Southern Bohemia. A Late Hallstatt period princely burial mound in Sedlina Forest near Rovná (dist. Strakonice) with a diameter of at least 25 m was illegally damaged in 2009 by unknown treasure hunters. They dug out a unique assemblage of five bronze vessels, later obtained by the Southern Bohemian Museum in České Budějovice. The paper focuses on preliminary results of a rescue and preventive excavation project, supported by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Grave Monuments of the Social Elite in the Iron Age. Documentation and Conservation of Disappearing Monuments in Southern Bohemia) based on collaboration with the Southern Bohemian Museum, the University of Southern Bohemia and with Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz. The complete archaeological excavation in the years 2012 and 2013 enabled the documentation of the grave good distribution within the rectangular grave chamber and produced valuable information about the context of the bronze vessels. Modern archaeological techniques involving a number of natural scientific fields (geophysical survey, petrographic study, photogrammetric documentation, pollen analysis, chemical analysis of food remains, phosphate analysis, osteological and anthropological analysis, radiocarbon dating) enabled a remarkable reconstruction of the magnificent grave furnishings spread over the burial chamber. The question of how to limit further loss and secure sim ilarly important archaeological monuments remains un - answered. There are many archaeological sites that are still hidden in forests and are currently exposed to thoughtless damage. Unfortunately, current legislation does not represent an effective means of defence against treasure hunters equipped with metal detectors. Preventive rescue excavation of endangered sites cannot be considered the optimal solution for the situation; however, at present this is often the only effective method for preventing further destruction of selected sites in forest environments. Zusammenfassung Störungen an prähistorischen Grabhügeln und anderen archäologischen Denkmälern sind in den Wäldern Südböh- mens häufig festzustellen so auch an einem hallstattzeitlichen Fürstengrab im Wald Sedlina. Raubgräber richteten hier 2009 erheblichen Schaden an. Daraufhin wurde eine präventive Rettungsgrabung durchgeführt. Die Autoren bezeichnen diese als keineswegs befriedigende Lösung, sehen aber gegenwärtig vor dem Hintergrund einer unzureichenden rechtlichen Handhabe gegenüber Raubgräbern wenig andere Möglichkeiten zum Schutz vergleichbarer Denkmäler im Wald. Introduction Disturbances of prehistoric tumulus graves are commonly registered today in the forested areas of Southern Bohemia. A Late Hallstatt period burial mound in Sedlina Forest near Rovná, which had not previously been excavated, was illegally damaged in Unknown treasure hunters dug out a unique assemblage of five bronze vessels from the large tumulus 1 with a diameter of at least 25 m. The damaged bronze vessels were later obtained by the South Bohemian Museum in České Budějovice. Our team decided to respond to this situation as part of a rescue excavation project 1 by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Grave Monuments of the Social Elite in the Iron Age. Documentation and Conservation of Disappearing Monuments in Southern Bohemia) based on collaboration with the South Bohemian Museum, the University of Southern Bohemia and the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz. The complete archaeological excavation in the years 2012 and 2013 enabled the documentation of the grave good distribution within the rectangular grave chamber and produced valuable information about the context of the bronze vessels. Previous excavations and findings First Hallstatt burial mounds in Sedlina Forest were discovered in 1860, when the leveling of terrain for an uncompleted forester s lodge disturbed a tumulus situated west of the recently excavated tumulus 1. According to the preserved reports, two hollow rings made of bronze were found inside. 2 A skull, hand bones, lower jaw fragments and pottery vessels were found, but are now lost. The recently excavated tumulus 1 was partially disrupted in Only finds of a burnt 83

2 Miloslav Chytráček et al. Fig. 1: Iron Age and undated prehistoric sites in the area of Sedlina Forest. 1, 2 large tumulus 1 and 2 (Rovná cadastre); 3 other burial mounds and cremation grave (Rovná cadastre); 4 large Ha D2/3-Lt A settlement (Radomyšl cadastre). 5 Ha D settlement (Rovná cadastre) (by the authors) ash layer, bone fragments, a small undecorated bronze bowl with slanting walls (bottom diameter 10 cm, height 2.5 cm) and pottery vessels were mentioned in publications. 3 In the years 1927 and 1928, the amateur archaeologist B. Dubský explored Sedlina Forest in detail. 4 His test trench in tumulus 1 revealed layers of a stone mantle and scattered shards of Hallstatt period pottery. Dubský correctly concluded that the monument was an Iron Age burial mound and not a megalithic structure, as had previously and mistakenly been assumed by A. Č. Ludikar and J. N. Woldřich. In the western part of the forest, Dubský subsequently excavated a small burial mound with a diameter of 5 m, including a cremation burial, two pottery vessels (amphora and bowl) and a fragment of a bronze bracelet. Finally, B. Dubský excavated two more flat cremation graves embedded in a limestone ridge in the same area. One of these was bordered by stones and contained burnt bones, an iron knife and fragments of an amphora, the other also burnt bones, a smaller amphora and iron fragments. B. Dubský 5 dated all the excavated finds to the Late Hallstatt period. All of the finds are lost unfortunately; only the two hollow bronze rings mentioned above are preserved in the collections of the National Museum in Prague. Preventive rescue excavation The barrow cemetery at Rovná consists of two large burial mounds (Fig. 1, 1.2) situated in the north-eastern corner of Sedlina Forest and small burial mounds and flat cremation graves. Two small cremation graves in small pits (Fig. 1, 3) from the Late Hallstatt period were excavated in 1927 and 1928 by B. Dubský m from the princely tumulus 1. Tumulus 1 is situated 800 m away from the contemporary Ha D2/3-Lt A settlement site (Fig. 1, 4). The settlement is situated on a gentle hillock within sight of the princely burial mounds. A combined geophysical survey helped identify the shape and size of the monument (Fig. 2). The edge of tumulus 1 with a diameter of approximately 25 m touches the neighbouring tumulus 2. The results of geo-electric resistivity measurements have demonstrated in particular that both embankments of the strikingly large mounds have rather unusual square ground plans (Fig. 2). The same results also show differences in the distribution of the stone rubble of the original embankment of the burial mounds and (possibly) also in the state of subsurface preservation of both sites. 7 84

3 A Disturbed Late Hallstatt Period Princely Grave From the results of magnetometric measurements only numerous small high-magnetic anomalies scattered over the ruins of both tumuli could be distinguished (Fig. 2). These anomalies could possibly indicate various metal remains. Relics of bronze or iron artefacts (as well as recent iron) and some stones with magnetic minerals were then uncovered during the excavation of tumulus 1. The results of geo- electric resistivity measurements helped distinguish the probable shape and dimensions of the surveyed tumuli 1 and 2 (or the present subsurface ruins of the original burial mounds). Tumulus 1 was built of large stone blocks and remained preserved to a height of only cm. According to a petrographic study, the stone that was used came from the surrounding vicinity and occurs at a maximum distance of several hundred meters; the material was obtained by collecting loose blocks. The excavation area was divided into seven sectors (Fig. 3) and excavated using cm-thick artificial layers. The layers were documented photogrammetrically; each find was catalogued and its position measured geodetically. Soil samples for wet sieving, flotation and pollen analysis were taken from all documented levels, especially from the bottom of the burial chamber. The excavation in 2012 mainly took place in the sectors containing the burial chamber. In 2009, during illegal plundering, the eastern part of the chamber was damaged in an area of 2 1 m. The looters tried to obtain several bronze vessels placed along the eastern wall of the chamber (Fig. 4). The wood-lined burial chamber had an almost square ground plan with dimensions of 6,2 6,1 m. The imprints of crossed pieces of timber, which were found in its corners, are indicative of how the chamber was constructed. During the archaeological excavation in 2012, it was possible to identify the bottom imprints of these bronze vessels and to document them (Fig. 5). for disturbed ground in the vicinity of human settlements. Abundantly represented are cereals, especially rye. Concerning the contamination of pollen spectra, the most interesting results are pollen types that occurred relatively frequently (no isolated finds) but with significantly different percentages among analysed samples. Such cases can most likely indicate pollen connected with the burial in the Hallstatt Period. In the analysed samples there were two such pollen types juniper and rye. Pollen of juniper and rye occurred in nearly all bronze vessels (both outside and inside), but were distributed markedly unevenly among samples. The highest count of juniper pollen was found in the sample from inside cist 1. Branches of juniper could have been put in the burial chamber for ritual or symbolic reasons. Cultivation of rye in Southern Bohemia during the Hallstatt Period is disputable, because actual archaeobotanical results only show a minor proportion of rye among cereals of this time in the Czech Republic. 8 Our results nevertheless suggest that rye could Bronze vessels The two ribbed cists (Series 2 after B. Stjernquist), a bowl with a beaded rim (type Hundersingen), a Rhenish situla (type Rhenish-Tessin) and cauldron (Herbertingen variant) are currently being restored and documented at the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum in Mainz (Fig. 6). Before the transport to Mainz a loamy crust on the surfaces of all bronze vessels was sampled for pollen analyses and to identify potential proteins from food remains. Two samples were taken from each vessel outside and inside. A contamination of pollen spectra is clearly indicated by the find of a neophytic taxon Ambrosia in the samples from the inner surface of the cauldron and cist 1. The bronze vessels very probably got into contact with material that had been washed to the bottom of the burial chamber. The looting of the tomb is a serious candidate as a source for the contamination of the pollen spectrum as well. The resulting pollen spectrum therefore represents a mixture of pollen from different periods. Pine and spruce are dominant among woody plants. Other pollen types present in all samples include numerous ruderal species typical Fig. 2: Rovná (Strakonice district) tumulus 1 and 2. According to results of magnetometric and geo-electric resistivity survey (R. K rivánek), the excavated tumulus 1 was more damaged in the past, whereas the unexcavated tumulus 2 seems to be less damaged with more concentrated stone constructions and more concentrated metal (by the authors) 85

4 Miloslav Chytráček et al. Fig. 3: Rovná (Strakonice district) tumulus 1. A first documented layer. B second documented layer with traces of illegal plundering in 2009 (by the authors) Fig. 4: Rovná (Strakonice district) tumulus 1, sector 2. A third documented layer with traces of illegal plundering. B fourth documented layer with traces of illegal plundering (by the authors) have been the most important local cereal. The discrepancy can have two reasons 1) recent archaeobotanical data comes almost exclusively from climatically different Central Bohemia; 2) our results reflect contamination. Larger amounts of micro-charcoal are characteristic for the outer surfaces of the bronze vessels. Especially striking was their number in samples from the surface of the cauldron and the situla. We can deduce that both these vessels were used for cooking on an open fire or were burned during the burial ritual. The occurrence of meal from grain (mainly rye) is very probable for all larger bronze vessels. Chemical analysis has proven the existence of gluten, which indicates a meal from grain, mainly in the probe test from the cauldron and cist no. 2. The detection of food remains was mainly based on protein tests on the inner and outer surfaces of the bronze vessels. Gluten was documented in various amounts in the tests on the inside of the bowl and the cauldron and as well from the inside of the cauldron and cists no. 1 and 2, pointing to the presence of grain components of food. Correspondingly, casein was found inside the cauldron and cist 2, indicating the presence of milk in all cases, however, only in small amounts. Additional tests on goat immunoglobulin of the IgG-class show that the milk was from this animal. Tests on beta-lactoglobulin, which is present in cow and sheep milk, were negative. In the tests on the bowl, situla and cauldron, ovomucoid was found in various quantities, proving the presence of bird eggs. Proteins of poultry meat appeared in the rest of the bronze vessels. Proteins of pork were proven in most of the tests on the bronze vessels, except 86

5 A Disturbed Late Hallstatt Period Princely Grave Fig. 5: Rovná (Strakonice district) tumulus 1, sector 2. A D: traces of illegal plundering of eastern part of the chamber in 2009 over an area of 2 1 m. C imprint of base of cist 2; D imprint of base of cist 1 and probable imprint of the base of the cauldron (by the authors) for the situla. Meat was not present at all in one test on the inside of the cauldron, and perhaps it is possible to speculate on a dish without meat, for example a grain gruel thickened with eggs and a little bit of goat milk. Other finds Thanks to the open area excavation of tumulus 1, it was possible to document the spatial arrangement of grave goods from the Ha D3 phase, which were discovered in the central part of the burial chamber, and a later La Tène period intrusion, which disturbed an inhumation grave near the south-western wall of the chamber (Fig. 7). A very large food supply near the bronze vessels can be assumed from the size of a large phosphate anomaly in the eastern part of the chamber. This anomaly is connected to the most interesting osteological find from Rovná parts of a calf with portions carrying a large mass of meat. The position of the bones on the ground shows that individual isolated parts of the body of the calf (namely the proximal parts of all four legs and parts of the thorax, specifically some ribs from both sides) were buried in a way such as to create the impression of the body lying on its back, which could have had a symbolic meaning. The original dismembering is not supported by the existence of visible cut marks but is obvious from the complete absence of all vertebrae, the head and distal parts of all legs. Phosphate analysis indicates that an immense amount of soft tissue was disposed of here, suggesting that not only the stripped bones of the calf were deposited. From its position on the bottom of the undisturbed eastern part of the burial chamber, it is obvious that the described calf find formed part of the Hallstatt burial. Some bones of a young pig (or pigs) were found in the southern part of the chamber in the upper layers and may be later than the Hallstatt burial (possibly a Late La Tène intrusion?). On the other hand, bones of sheep or goats were also present in the undisturbed bottom part of the burial chamber and represent the remains of Hallstatt meat sacrifices. Only one horse bone fragment was found during the excavation. As it came from outside the chamber, it was not necessarily related to the burial; it cannot be ruled out that it was a later intrusion. Slightly higher phosphate values at the south-western chamber wall correspond to human bone finds, however, these were already fragmented and most of them in a secondary position. A minimum of phosphor at the position of the skeleton grave can plausibly be explained by a strong 87

6 Miloslav Chytráček et al. Fig. 6: Rovná (Strakonice district) tumulus 1. Bronze cist 1 before conservation (Photo: Römisch-Germanisches Zentral museum Mainz, René Müller) disturbance of this part of the chamber in the Late La Tène period. The deceased could also have been placed in a wagon bed, destroyed by later La Tène period disturbance. This can be supported by finds of bronze sheathing in the wagon box and the discovery of an iron linchpin. Finds of a horse harness, jewellery and clothes were also made here in a secondary position. A large amount of Lt C/D pottery already occurred in the first documented layer and then in all following layers. In the context of later pottery from the Late La Tène period in all documented layers, fragments of human and animal bones came to light. It cannot be ruled out that the human and animal bones found together with La Tène pottery on the first to fourth layers are linked to a Late La Tène intrusion. However, there is no definite proof, and the results of the radiocarbon dating are not available yet. At that time the stone filling of the mound was disturbed in many positions, although it probably had nothing to do with looting. The reopening of the chamber is perhaps connected to ritual behaviour, most probably to a funeral rite (however, the robbery of the burial chamber as early as the Early Iron Age cannot be ruled out). The remains of at least three different individuals were identified in the whole complex of human bones from all five documented layers. The remains of a newborn and fragments of two other humans were found in the first and second layer. A larger amount of fragments of Lt C/D pottery and human bones occurred in the third documented layer, most probably belonging to one or more adult individuals. Most of the human bones were located away from the Lt C/D shards found in the fourth layer, including the remains of two individuals a robust adult, probably a male over 30 years old, and a younger adult. Some fragments of human bones, obviously from the robust man from the fourth layer, also appeared in the last (fifth) layer along with La Tène pottery. The fragments of human bones came from all parts of the human body, but the remains of long limb bones predominated. Their anatomical relationship has not been limited to one or two contiguous documentation levels. 88

7 A Disturbed Late Hallstatt Period Princely Grave Fig. 7: Rovná (Strakonice district) tumulus 1. Fifth documented layer with grave chamber. f. 1 trace of illegal plundering in 2009; f. 11 traces of the strong disturbance of this part of the chamber in the Late La Tène period (by the authors) The northern part of the grave chamber (Fig. 7) was not disturbed by any later intrusion. In the north-western corner there was a small two-wheeled chariot and, next to it, a bronze fibula with a decorated foot. The wheel spokes of the chariot were decorated with bronze sheets attached with small bronze nails. The original decoration of the chariot body remained preserved in the form of rectangular or square plates. These antler inlays, which lay on the ground arranged in four lines perpendicular to each other, correspond to the rectangular ground plan of the body of the chariot. Its wooden structure was reinforced by six 15 cm-long iron bars, the central part of which was in all cases equipped with a grooved antler sleeve. These bars were possibly a kind of post forming a rail along the circumference of the body of the chariot. Most plates were decorated with engraved patterns always consisting of four or five concentric circles and an indentation in the middle. Larger plates are corrugated with complex geometric ornamentation. The discovery of such a chariot with antler inlays is quite unique no parallels from the Iron Age are currently known. Conclusion The original embankment of tumulus 1 was lowered to cm, probably in the course of the 19th century, however, the obviously most painful encroachment was an illicit dig in 2009 focused on a unique set of five bronze vessels. Only by tremendous chance was this act detected in An international project subsequently organized a proper excavation of the hitherto unknown tumulus to prevent further looting and the irretrievable loss of valuable information. Despite its severe damage in the past, the burial mound at Rovná produced a surprising wealth of important findings. Modern archaeological techniques involving a number of natural scientific fields (geophysical survey, petrographic study, photogrammetric documentation, pollen analysis, chemical analysis of food remains, phosphate analysis, osteological and anthropological analysis, radiocarbon dating) enabled a remarkable reconstruction of the magnificent grave furnishings spread over the burial chamber. 89

8 Miloslav Chytráček et al. The question of how to limit further loss and secure similarly important archaeological monuments remains un - answered. There are many archaeological sites that are still hidden in forests and are currently exposed to thoughtless damage. Unfortunately, current legislation does not represent an effective means of defence against treasure hunters equipped with metal detectors. Preventive rescue excavation of endangered sites cannot be considered as the optimal solution for the situation; however, at present this is often the only effective method for preventing further destruction of selected sites in forest environments. Notes 1 A similar case of rescue excavation recently took place in Sweden, where a copper cauldron was dug out by treasure hunters from a Roman period grave in 2004 (HOLMQVIST 2011). 2 MILTNER , p. 44; VOCEL 1868, p. 41, Fig. 28; PÍČ 1900, p. 158, Pl. XXX: LUDIKAR 1874; WOLDŘICH 1874, p. 198, 201, Fig DUBSKÝ , p DUBSKÝ 1949, p. 186, , DUBSKÝ 1932, p KŘIVÁNEK DRESLEROVÁ/KOČÁR This work was supported by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, project no. M Literature DRESLEROVÁ/KOČÁR 2013 DRESLEROVÁ, DAGMAR/KOČÁR, PETR: Trends in cereal cultivation in the Czech Republic from the Neolithic to the Migration period (5500 B. C. A. D. 580), in: Vegetation History and Archaeo botany 22 (2013), p DUBSKÝ DUBSKÝ, BEDŘICH: Hallstattské mohyly na Sedlině u Rovné Tumuli de Hallstatt à Sedlina prés de Rovná, region de Strakonice, in: Památky archeologické 36 ( ), p DUBSKÝ 1932 DUBSKÝ, BEDŘICH: La Tène jižních Čech, Strakonice 1932 DUBSKÝ 1949 DUBSKÝ, BEDŘICH: Pravěk jižních Čech, Blatná 1949 HOLMQVIST 2011 HOLMQVIST, MAGNUS: Ein früher Westlandkessel aus Lunde im südlichen Nordschweden, in: Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 41/3 (2011), p KŘIVÁNEK 2014 KŘIVÁNEK, ROMAN: Archeogeofyzikální průzkumy Archeologického ústavu AV ČR Praha v jižních Čechách v letech Archaegeophysical surveys of the Institute of Archaeology in Prague in Southern Bohemia, , in: Archeologie v jižních Čechách 27 (2014), p LUDIKAR 1874 LUDIKAR, AUGUST ČESLAV: Dopisy ze dne a F. X. Benešovi, Archiv Národního muzea v Praze, fondy F. X. Beneš a Archeologický sbor, 1874 LUDIKAR LUDIKAR, AUGUST ČESLAV: Starožitnosti Střelohoštické, in: Památky archeologické 10 ( ), p MILTNER MILTNER, JAN BOHUSLAV: Zpráva o některých, v letech v okolí Píseckém nalezených starožitnostech, in: Památky archeologické 5 ( ), p PÍČ 1900 PÍČ, JOSEF LADISLAV: Starožitnosti země České. Díl I, sv. 2. Pokolení kamenných mohyl, Praha 1900 VOCEL 1868 VOCEL, JAN ERAZIM: Pravěk země České, Praha 1868 WOLDŘICH 1874 WOLDŘICH, JAN NEPOMUK: Verschlackte Steinwälle und andere vorgeschichtliche Bauten in der Gegend von Strakonice, in: Mittheilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft Wien 3 (1874), p