Claudia RADU1 | Vlad Andrei LĂZĂRESCU2
(1Molecular Biology Center, ICI-BNS, Babeș-Bolyai University | 2Institute of Archaeology and History of Art, Romanian Academy, Cluj-Napoca branch; Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Keywords: bioarchaeology, beheading, Migration period, aDNA, SEM

Abstract:
We present an unusual case of a circular pit discovered near Târgu-Mures (Romania) and filled in several layers containing metal objects, carbonized seeds, animal and human bones, along with wood, adobe and burned clay. We performed an extended study including the interpretation of the archaeological features, but also osteological and paleopathological observations, aDNA investigations, stable isotope analysis, SEM imaging, and C14 dating for the human remains. Although the dating inferred from the artefacts found in the pit suggest a chronology between the 4th and 5th centuries AD which associates this complex with the Early Migrations Period, C14 dating on the other hand provided a dating which places the findings in a period when the territory was still part of the Roman province of Dacia. Furthermore, the anthropological analysis revealed that the individual is a male with an age at death between 20 and 34 years of age. Apart from the identification of indicators for the life quality and health status of this individual, the analysis also revealed the presence of a perimortem trauma sustained at the level of the 4th cervical vertebra with a very sharp object. This resulted in the decapitation of the individual, as suggested by the way in which it was discovered in the pit (the head together with the first vertebrae were displayed away from the rest of the axial skeleton). Additionally, the results from SEM, stable isotopes and aDNA analyses were also used in order to propose hypotheses for the functionality of this archaeological context. We therefore discuss not only these hypotheses but also the meaning of these findings from an archaeological, cultural and ethnic perspective.

Co-authors: Ioana RUSU / Beatrice KELEMEN / Lucian BARBU-TUDORAN / Coralia CRIȘAN