The population of the early Polish Christian cemetery in Grodowice on the basis of archaeological, anthropological, and molecular research

The aim of this study is to present a full characterization and catalogue of the graves of the early medieval inhumation necropolis that was recently found at the edge of the loess uplands in the western part of Małopolska (Lesser Poland) - specifically, in Grodowice, Kazimierza Wielka district. The second aim is to determine the matrilineal genetic structure and to present the first medieval population-level human DNA study from Małopolska. The necropolis, which was excavated in 2005-2008 at site 1, is situated in an open field on the culmination of a broad, flat hill being part of a longitudinal range of hills separating the valleys of two larger rivers - namely, the Nidzica and Młyńska. The excavations resulted in the discovery of 35 inhumation graves, partly arranged in regular rows, dating to the early medieval period. The deceased were placed mostly in regular pits with their heads to the west. Very few traces of wooden coffins were recorded. 32 skeletons were classified in anthropological analysis. They present all age classes: Infans/Juvenis (13 graves), Juvenis/Adultus (8 graves, incl. 3 females and 3 males), Adultus/Maturus (9 graves, incl. 3 females and 3 males), and Senilis (1 grave). Various pathological changes and injuries were recorded: teeth plaque, enamel hypoplasia, caries, spine and long bone degenerations, cribra orbitalia, Schmorl’s nodes. Thirteen mtDNA sequences were made which encompass almost the entire range of Western Eurasian macro-haplogroups. Artefacts were recorded in 11 graves, such as: temple rings, coins, finger rings, beads, and coins. They occurred in female, male, and child graves alike. The cemetery at Grodowice, like the majority of inhumation cemeteries in Małopolska, was probably founded in the second half or towards the end of the 10th century. Graves with coins indicate that it still functioned in the late 11th century. It cannot be ruled out that the Grodowice necropolis ceased to function as a result of the construction of churches in nearby Kazimierza Mała (probably as early as in the 11th century) and Bejsce (12th century or the first half of the 13th century)

mtDNA analysis of early-medieval human remains from the cemetery in Grodowice (Pl)

The genetic composition of the medieval populations of Central Europe, Poland in particular, has been poorly investigated to date. Although a few DNA datasets from Poland have been published recently, no large-scale ancient DNA study on medieval populations has hitherto been reported. This paper reports the study of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and presents the first population-level human DNA study from Lesser Poland by establishing mitochondrial DNA pro-files for 13 samples from the Grodowice cemetery dated to the Medieval Period (11th to mid-13th century). The medieval sequences encompass almost the entire range of Western Eurasian macro-haplogroups: H, J, U. Interestingly, there is one sample which belongs to the Asian haplogroup G. aDNA sequences were compared with a dataset of 35,203 present-day sequences of the HVR I region of mtDNA including European, Near Eastern, and Asian populations, as well as 775 ancient sequences. Analyses of population genetics were performed, including genetic distances (Fst), multidimensional scaling (MDS), principal component analysis (PCA) and shared haplotype analysis (SHA). The shared haplotype analysis (SHA) showed that the medieval population from Grodowice shares the majority of haplotypes with the medieval populations from the contact-zones of today’s Slovakia and Croatia (53.85%) as well as with Hungarian conquerors (46.15%)

An Early Medieval golden reliquary cross from Zagórzyce, Świętokrzyskie voiv. (PL)

A unique golden cross with an embossed depiction of Christ crucified and filigree border was discovered without specific context at multicultural site 1 in Zagórzyce, Kazimierza Wielka District (PL). This artifact is a most impressive example of Early Medieval box-like cross-shaped pendants - unequivocally associated with Christian symbolism - and should be considered to have been a personal reliquary container. The box-like reliquary crosses that most closely parallel the find from Zagórzyce come from discoveries generally dated to the eleventh century. The Zagórzyce reliquary probably comes from a similar period, as it uses an archaic form of Greek cross with slightly flared-out arms, which is found among pendants dated to the tenth century or earlier. It was probably produced at the end of the tenth or in the eleventh century in an area west of Poland, perhaps in the Holy Roman Empire

The newest archaeological discoveries of early medieval skeletal cemeteries from Małopolska

Celem niniejszej pracy jest analiza znalezisk grobowych pochodzących z terenu Małopolski w jej historycznych granicach datowanych na okres od połowy X do połowy XIII w. Część tych znalezisk zostało już opracowanych przez H. Zoll-Adamikową. Z badanego obszaru znane są 133 cmentarzyska, w tym również nowe, liczne materiały nie uwzględnione przez wspomnianą autorkę. Analiza zgromadzonych w pracy źródeł, wykazała, że dominującym typem cmentarzysk były płaskie nekropole szkieletowe o układzie zbliżonym do rzędowego, zakładane najczęściej w pewnym oddaleniu od budowli sakralnej. Jedynie przedstwawiciele elit i wyższego duchowieństwa chowani byli w obrębie kościółów lub w i ich najbliższym otoczeniu. Zmarli chowani byli do grobu na osi wchód-zachód, w większości w pozycji wyprostowanej na wznak, z rękami ułożonymi wzdłuż ciała. Znacznie rzadziej obserwowano inne sposoby ułożenia ciał zmarłych. Większość grobów pozbawiona była konstrukcji. Tylko w nielicznych grobach stwierdzono pozostałości trumien lub tzw. obstaw kamiennych. Sporadycznie występowały sarkofagi i konstrukcje do nich zbliżone. W wyposażeniu dominowały u kobiet i dzieci ozdoby i części stroju, rzadziej narzędzią i przedmioty codziennego użytku charakterystyczne raczej dla grobów męskich. Broń występowała bardzo rzadko i była typowym elementem wyposażenia grobów męskich w wieku Maturus. Analiza antropologiczna przeprowadzona tylko dla niewielkiej grupy stanowisk wykazała, że w grobach chowano zarówno dzieci, kobiety i mężczyzn. Cechy obrządku pogrzebowego w Małopolsce wskazują na jego powiązania z tradycją zachodnio i wschodniosłowiańską.The aim of this study is to analyse funeral founds from historical Małopolska between second half of X to XIII century. Some of this founds have already been analysed by H. Zoll-Adamikowa. Mentioned area is known for 133 cemeteries, which also contains new materials that were not taken into consideration before. Analysis shows that the most common type of cemeteries are flat, skeletal, row-like cemeteries located most often in the vicinity of church. Inside the church or somewhere in the immediate surroundings were buried only representatives of the elite and higher priesthood. The dead were buried on east-west axis with their arms outstretched down the body. Other positions of the body were observed rarely. Most of the graves were void of constructions. Coffins and other so-called gravestone constructions were observed only in some graves. Sarcophagus and similar to them construction appeared occasional. Most common funeral equipment for women and children were decorations and part of clothes. Tools and everyday use objects occurred rarely and were characteristic rather for men’s graves. Weapon occurred rarely and was typical funeral equipment for men in Maturus age. Anthropological analysis, which was conducted only for small group of sites, showed that in graves were buried both women, men and children.Atributes of funeral rite in Małopolska indicate his relation between east and west Slavic tradition