Cimitirul din epoca bronzului de la Câmpina (jud. Prahova)
The Bronze Age cemetery from Câmpina (Prahova county)

Summary/Abstract: County Museum of History and Archaeology Prahova has conducted archaeological research since 2008 inside the St. Nicholas parish precinct, Slobozia district of the city of Câmpina. The site identified here is placed on a high terrace at the confluence of rivers Doftana and Prahova, in the sub-Carpathian hills at an altitude of 500 m, near the Carpathian Mountains. After the archaeological research conducted in 2008-2010 in the south of the parsonage over 30 graves dating from the Bronze Age were discovered. Regarding the funeral rites both inhumation and cremation are present, the first prevailing. It is remarkable the diversity and complexity of rituals present in this prehistoric cemetery. Inhumation graves have rectangular pits with rounded corners. Pit depth is about 40-50 cm for inhumation tombs. For cremation tombs the bones were placed in small pits lined with stones, over which a small mound was made. Cremation burials were identified at 30-50 cm deep, while inhumation graves at 60-90 cm. Above the interred individual a mound of stone and/or soil was arranged, exceeding in size the dimensions of the pits. These mounds were visible and marked the graves. Some graves, both inhumation and cremation, were plated on the sides and bottom hole with rocks. In the case of cremation graves, the bones were placed, after they were collected from the pyre, in an urn (container) or fitted directly into the pit. The pieces of bone found in the inventory of such tombs show traces of secondary burning, which indicates that they burned together with the deceased. The buried deceased were laid down crouched on the right or left side, rarely on the back, their arms were taken to the front. They were oriented approximately east-west, head east or west. There are also two skeletons with the head oriented to the north. The grave inventory consisted of vessels, but also pieces of jewelry made of bone, bronze, amber, glassy paste, clay. The richest in terms of inventory are graves 2, 6, 7, 11, 14, 20, 27. There are graves with a pot or two, but also three cremation graves that have four pots and remains from other vessels. Most of the deceased had deposited in the area of the head (towards the face or neck) decorated or undecorated pottery. The most frequently encountered form is the cup with one or two raised handles. Bowls, amphorae and jugs are also present. Some of the pots from cremation graves were placed upside down. Ornaments occur relatively frequently in the inventory of graves. There are small parts, made neatly. On the left arm of the deceased in the tomb 26, who belonged to a child, is a small bronze bracelet. In a grave (M5) a bronze earring was found in the area of the right ear, two bronze earrings in tomb 20. In the same tomb were found three „pearls” of clay and four of green or white, translucent glassy paste. A small wand of bone was discovered in an amforoidal dish which was placed in a cremation grave (M27).

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