Matylda GIERSZEWSKA-NOSZCZYŃSKA
(University of Goettingen, Forschungsstelle Kaiserpfalz Ingelheim, Germany)
Keywords: GIS, spatial analyses, the Early Middle Ages, burial archaeology
Abstract:
The early medieval row graveyard of Ingelheim was situated in the south-eastern part of the current municipal area of the city.
The first graves of the cemetery were discovered accidentally during construction work. Archaeological excavations were carried out in this place in 1978-1979 and 1990 by the local cultural heritage institution (Archäologische Denkmalpflege, currently Direktion Landesarchäologie Mainz). Evaluations of the graves and the artefacts were published by Gudula Zeller.
The presentation focuses on spatial analyses of the row graveyard on different levels – from the macro- to the micro-scale.
A number of variables, e. g.: location, topography of the site and distances to other early medieval find spots in Ingelheim were taken into account when examining the spatial correspondence between them.
Subsequently, comparative analyses of selected archaeological finds and their spatial distribution were included in the investigation in order to pinpoint the chronology of the site. Dimension, orientation and stone construction of the unique grave were evaluated and collated with the dating to distinguish a possible correlation between the interments. The study is an attempt to differentiate between particular sections and the chronological sequence within the graveyard.
The entire presented process was performed with the use of ArcGIS 10.2. Furthermore, CrossView (an application for geological purposes) was adopted for the archaeology.
The outcomes of this supplementary research are strictly affected and limited by the preservation of archaeological features and finds. Approximately 15 per cent of the entire graveyard was explored and of that about 80 per cent of the burials were destroyed.
Nevertheless, the results indicate significant changes within the graveyard that are expressed by dimensions of the graves, stone constructions and orientation of the rows. Spatial patterns in the distribution of archaeological finds allowed to distinguish between specific sections and zones of the graveyard.