Elements of prestige in the Iron Age graves from the West Morava Valley, Serbia
Elements of prestige in the Iron Age graves from the West Morava Valley, Serbia

Summary/Abstract: The region of the river West Morava, with some well examined burials from the Iron Age, proved to be of great significance for the study of elements of prestige in the grave inventory. Investigated graves dating from the transitional period testify to specific funerary practice – flat necropolises, incineration with urns and frequently ceramic vessels as grave inventory, but not to prestige. In contrast to these burial customs, during the Hallstatt period mounds were spread all over this territory, but their number prevails in the western parts of the region. Regarding grave inventory, it was possible to distinguish three grave types - graves with ceramics and bronze jewelry, warrior graves and graves with rich and luxury goods that presumably belong to the tribal aristocracy. Opulence and abundance of such objects prevail again at the western part of the West Morava valley. The graves from Mojsinje and Mrčajevci, where typical inventory is represented by iron spears, knives and other pieces of warrior equipment, can be considered the so called warrior graves. On the other hand, there are extremely rich graves, usually under tumuli with huge grave constructions (Pilatovići, Atenica). Their grave inventory includes silver; gold and amber objects made in local workshops, as well as imported objects - Greek and Italic vessels and jewelry, even a scarab from Pilatovići. The extraordinary inventory certainly belonged to some eminent members of the society, such as tribal leaders or other members of aristocracy. It is certain that those objects were very valuable and expensive in contemporary circumstances, testifying about wealth and high rank of the tribal leaders.

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