Revista Analele Banatului S.N. Arheologie-Istorie

Lavinia Grumeza

Sicrie şi amenajări funerare din lemn atestate la sarmaţii de pe teritoriul Banatului / Coffins and funerary wooden structures discovered on the Sarmatian territory of Banat

1 Ianuarie 2012

Abstract

Coffins are found in one third of Sarmatians graves in the Carpathian Basin (about 23 %), noticed by the remnants of wood or the presence of “S” or C” shaped iron clamps1 . On the territory of ancient Banat coffins or other types of wooden funerary structures, are present in five unmarked necropolises (Szeged – Szőreg, homokbánya, Kiszombor B, Vojlovica – Pančevo, Foeni, Giarmata) and two barrow necropolises (Vizejdia/ Vizesd – Puszta and maybe Dudeștii Vechi/ Óbesenyő)2 . Probably the number of coffins was higher, but due to environmental condition, robberies and incomplete documentation especially on barrow graves, the information concerning the funerary wooden structure are seriously lacking in details. Despite all of this, on the territory of ancient Banat, extremely varied wooden structures have been documented: box shaped coffi ns, possibly even burial chambers (at Vizejdia), coffi ns made out of thee trunks (closed with “S” and “C” shaped iron clamps) and funerary stretchers, on which the deceased was placed for transportation and, ultimately, buried with it3 . All this diff erent wooden arrangements refl ect various infl uences: eastern remnants, roman funerary rites, but also local traditions, all of which give us clues towards the complexity of funerary rites and the diff erences within the Sarmatians tribes settled in Banat.