engleski

Unfortunate case of the rider from the grave 10 from Pakrac–Stari grad site

The archaeological site of “Pakrac-Stari grad” is situated in the city centre of today’s modern town of Pakrac in western Slavonia. Archaeological excavations unearthed the remains of the Hospitallers’ chapel with a rectangular sanctuary from the early 13th century, altered and fortified at the turn of the 15th to the 16th century. Archaeological excavations were conducted by The Institute of archaeology in collaboration with the Pakrac City Museum in the period from 2017 to 2020. Altogether 18 graves were excavated and, in this lecture, the results of the anthropological analysis of the skeleton from grave 10 will be presented. Grave 10 contained the remains of an adult male dated to the first half of the 15th century. Changes found on the skeleton indicate that the person was a habitual rider during their lifetime. Apart from the changes that attest to this man’s life, evidence of his death was also found. A find of an iron crossbow arrowhead in the sacrum of the deceased person with perimortem trauma located on the skull tells a story of sudden and violent death. Characteristics of the burial suggest haste that can be expected in troublesome times. Considering the geohistorical context of the area, it is probable that his death was the consequence of some kind of conflict. At the beginning of the 15th century, the first raids of the Ottoman Empire into that area, but also elsewhere, were recorded. Aside from the Ottoman invasion, this period is characterised by the battle for the Hungarian throne and the civil war between the families of Talovac and Chilli.

bioarchaeology ; Pakrac ; rider ; iron arrow head ; perimortem trauma

nije evidentirano