Ethnobotanical and faunistic aspects in the archaeological interpretation of the 17th and 18th century coffin burials in the Basilica of the Holy Trinity in Strzelno (Kuyavia, Poland)

Abstract

Botanical analyses of samples taken from four coffin burials dated to the 17th and 18th centuries, located inside the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, at the Norbertine convent in Strzelno, in Kuyavia, revealed presence of thirteen plant taxa and numerous remains of Fannia canicularis pupae found among the plant remains. The practical and decorative properties of these plants,as well as their traditional symbolic meaning and application in the burial customs, have been discussed. The study provided new information on local funeral customs and allowed for the indication of the approximate timing of each of the examined burials, significantly enriching the data obtained by archaeologists.