«SPECIAL» BURIALS AT THE BURIAL GROUND VOITENKI OF LATE ROMAN PERIOD: THE SOCIAL ASPECT

Abstract

At the Chernyakhiv / Sвntana de Mureş culture grave fileds, some burials differ from «typical» ones of the peculiarities of the structure of the burial construction, the position of the skeleton and inventory elements, the presence of unique and rare items, and can be designated as «special». According to the investigations from 2005—2021, 16 complexes as «special» burials of the grave filed can be classified: 10 inhumations (Gr. 13, 23, 60, 62, 68, 72, 183, 211, 231, 235) and 6 cremations (Gr. 20, 22, 69, 114, 144, 156). Some of these graves have been published (60, 62, 69, 72, 114, 144, 211, 231). In the «living culture», there were probably more such «special graves» because in the «dead culture» and in the «rediscovered culture», the selection of inhumations is significantly larger than in cremation burials.
 These graves contain the following «special» features: 1) an element of a burial structure; 2) the number of buried; 3) inventory items; 4) the position of items; 5) an ornament on a vessels. The grave goods are divided into groups of sacrum (symbolic role) and profanum (functional role). In the social assessment of a «special» grave, it is essential which group the «special» feature belongs to, sacrum or profanum? Some signs can be simultaneously attributed to two groups: they have a functional and sacred / symbolic meaning. We conclude that in graves 13, 20, 69, 144, 183, and 231, «special» signs testify to the buried status. Grave 69 probably marks not only the high status of the buried but also belongs to a migrant. In grave 22 and 156 — about occupations and belonging to a professional group. Grave 114 is associated with the group, but a migrant was probably also buried in it. In graves 23, 68, 211, and 235, «special» signs are of an «ideological» nature and probably indicate that the buried belong to a cult group. In grave 60, a «special» sign with the state of the body at death is associated; in graves 62 and 72, it marks a group or status. The combination of «special» features allows us to classify the grave 183 as «special». However, the presence of only one «special» feature in different ways can be assessed: it can be insignificant and very important, decisive. «Special» burials do not occupy a separate area on the burial ground. They are found in many parts of its area.