Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15291/misc.2745
Burial Rituals at the Necropolis of Velika Mrdakovica
Toni Brajković
orcid.org/0000-0002-2303-6933
; Muzej Grada Šibenika
Abstract
Continually used for burials between the 8th-7th centuries BC and early 3rd century AD, the necropolis at Velika Mrdakovica in the vicinity of Zaton (near Šibenik) is one of the best researched sites of this type in Liburnia. Some 130 incineration burials – mostly Roman – were discovered during the 1969 – 1974 archaeological campaigns, while recent excavations yielded 15 more. This exceptionally large number of Roman-period graves dated to the period between the 1st century AD and, roughly, early 3rd century AD is a representative sample that can help us reconstruct, or at least attempt to reconstruct, what has always been uppermost in experts’ mind – the burial ritual. As we lack written sources that would serve as first-hand testimony about the details of one of the most important and most sacred rituals in the lives of the Liburni – the burial ritual – we will try to reconstruct it with the help of material evidence: the grave goods and the way they were used for the purpose. Some issues arising from the interpretation of – mostly – luxurious ceramic material have been discussed in scientific papers and professional articles since the 1970s, only offhandedly dealing with the main subject of this paper. Based on the observations from earlier and – particularly – recent archaeological excavations, we will try to discuss in some detail the theses about certain elements of the burial ritual, while also giving a detailed description of the funeral process carried out by the Liburni of Velika Mrdakovica.
Keywords
Velika Mrdakovica; Liburni; necropolis; burial ritual; grave goods
Hrčak ID:
213825
URI
Publication date:
23.12.2018.
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