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Torčec – Cirkvišče, archaeological research 2011

Siniša Krznar orcid.org/0000-0001-6709-4193 ; Institute of Archaeology, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

During the period between 3rd and 15th of October 2011 the Institute of Archaeology in Zagreb conducted archaeological research on the site Torčec - Cirkvišče which was explored in 2002 and 2009. Quadrants J 10 and J 11 were open in order to find the remains of the church of St Stephen the King. The main goal of the research was achieved with the discovery of the robber trench of the northern church wall in the quadrant J 10. In addition to the robber trench of the wall, 37 newly discovered graves were explored as well as the graves which could not have been fully excavated in the 2009 campaign since they penetrated the eastern profile of the probe. Most of the burials originate from the Modern Ages, and only few graves could be dated to the late Middle Ages. Skeletons in all graves were found lying on their backs in the outstretched position, and oriented east - west, with their heads facing west. Grave 83, with the skeleton laid face down, differs from the common practice at this graveyard. So far it cannot be determined if this type of burial was motivated by superstition, or was it the fear of vampires, or maybe the deceased was turned face down merely by accident. Possibly the anthropological analysis of the deceased would reveal more.

Keywords

Torčec; cemetery; Late Middle Ages; Modern Ages; church

Hrčak ID:

106367

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/106367

Publication date:

12.6.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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