Baltic Migrants in the Middle Dnipro Region: A Comparative Study of the Late Viking Age Archaeological Complex of Ostriv, Ukraine

Abstract

THE LATE VIKING-AGE CEMETERY OF OSTRIV, located approximately 80 km south of Kyiv in the region along the Ros’ River, was discovered by the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine team in 2017. By 2020, 67 inhumation graves had been excavated in an area of 1400 sq m. Most of the artefacts from Ostriv are uncommon in Ukraine, but frequently found in the East Baltic region. This suggests a complex multi-ethnic population, presumably consisting of Baltic region migrants and local Slavs, and represents the easternmost example of its kind. Ostriv is a vivid example of how research on complex, multi-ethnic ancient populations benefits from multidisciplinary international collaborations. This article provides the first synthesis of the archaeological artefacts and burial rites from Ostriv, informed by the results of 14C-dating, stable isotopes, aDNA, physical anthropology and nondestructive metal analyses. It represents an important contribution to the renewed interest in early medieval migration, ethnic complexity and cultural encounters.