A mass grave and other contexts containing human remains discovered in the Hallstatt-period site at Tărtăria – Podu Tărtăriei vest (Alba County)
A mass grave and other contexts containing human remains discovered in the Hallstatt-period site at Tărtăria – Podu Tărtăriei vest (Alba County)

Summary/Abstract: The First Iron Age (Hallstatt period) in Transylvania, as well as in the territory of nowadays Romania, is less understood from the perspective of the funerary phenomena. The main reason is determined by the rarity, in some cases (areas) even the absence of investigated graves from approx. the 12th c. to the 8th/7th c. BCE. The necropolises of this period are located mainly at the periphery of the geographic space bordered by the Carpathians and Lower Danube. A new funerary find made in 2012 at Tărtăria – Podu Tărtăriei vest brought new evidence in regard to this topic. Within a very specific type of site, a mass grave was uncovered – six skeletons laid in various positions and orientations, as well as a human skull. Other parts of human skeletons were uncovered in the southern delimitation ditch of the site, as well as in one of the pits (6 archaeological contexts in total, with fragments from 9 individuals). The unusual character of the site is also suggested by the discovery of two ditches marking the southern and eastern limits of the site, and two bronze hoards (comprising 400 bronze and iron objects, dated to the Ha C1 period – the Bâlvăneşti-Vinţ series, 8th c. BCE), as well as by a large quantity of Basarabi-type pottery (numerous complete vessels) and metal objects. The grave goods related to the six skeletons and the skull consisted of three small cups, characteristic to the Basarabi ceramic style, as well as certain small (adornment) objects made of bronze and iron. As mentioned, five other archaeological contexts were also investigated, containing parts of human skeletons associated with Basarabi-type pottery. In the current stage of the research on the site it is rather difficult to conclude on the purpose and meaning of such a burial and deposits. Nevertheless, this discovery provides new elements for analysing and understanding the funerary phenomena along the First Iron Age in Transylvania, especially for the so-called Middle Hallstatt period (the Basarabi culture).

• Details
• Contents