Mesolithic grave of Coswig (Anhalt)

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The Mesolithic grave of Coswig (Anhalt) is the only known cremation of the Mesolithic in Germany so far . The grave was discovered in 2001 on the Buroer Feld, near the Elbe in Coswig (Anhalt) , Wittenberg district , Saxony-Anhalt, on the edge of a Late Bronze Age burial ground . The grave contained only 30 grams of human bones, which suggests that only part of the body was buried. There were no additionsdiscovered why a rough chronological classification was initially not possible. Since the burial differed significantly in appearance from the neighboring Bronze Age graves, radiocarbon dating was carried out. Two samples taken showed an age of 7900 ± 50 BP and 7920 ± 45 BP, respectively. It is therefore a very significant find, since only 13 other Mesolithic cremations are known from all over Europe . Mesolithic settlement remains were discovered only 60–300 m away from the grave, but no time correspondence could be established between the two sites.

literature

  • Judith M. Grünberg : The Mesolithic burials of the Middle Elbe-Saale region. In: Judith M. Grünberg et al. (Ed.): Mesolithic burials - Rites, symbols and social organization of early postglacial communities. International Conference Halle (Saale), Germany, 18th-21st September 2013 (= conferences of the State Museum for Prehistory Halle. Volume 13 / I). State Office for Monument Preservation and Archeology Saxony-Anhalt, Halle (Saale) 2016, ISBN 978-3-944507-43-9 , pp. 257–290 ( online ).
  • Mario Küßner , Torsten Schunke : A Mesolithic cremation burial and a hazelnut roasting site in Coswig, Wittenberg District, Central Germany. In: Judith M. Grünberg et al. (Ed.): Mesolithic burials - Rites, symbols and social organization of early postglacial communities. International Conference Halle (Saale), Germany, 18th-21st September 2013 (= conferences of the State Museum for Prehistory Halle. Volume 13 / I). State Office for Monument Preservation and Archeology Saxony-Anhalt, Halle (Saale) 2016, ISBN 978-3-944507-43-9 , pp. 345–357 ( online ).
  • Torsten Schunke: First Mesolithic cremation grave. In: Archeology in Germany. Issue 4/2004, p. 57 ( online ).

Coordinates: 51 ° 52 ′ 53 "  N , 12 ° 25 ′ 34.7"  E

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