Barwienie zwłok i szczątków zmarłych w epoce żelaza
Dyeing human corpses and remains in Iron Age.

Summary/Abstract: Dyeing dead human bodies had its tradition dating back to Paleolith and Mesolith. This ritual was also quite popular at the turn of Neolith and Bronze Age, especially on the steppe territories surrounding Black Sea. Using red or white color for dyeing corpses was also used by many cultures at the beginning of Iron Age. We can also find examples of such traditions among Celtic tribes in Western Europe and among scythic cultures. In Poland, we can find red stones in the graves of Pomeranian culture. The symbolic usage of red color during funeral rites was probably connected with belief of rebirth of human soul after death.

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