Olsztyn culture
The Olsztyn Culture or West Masurian Culture ( Grupa olsztyńska in Polish ) was an archaeological cultural group of the West Baltic Culture of the Late Iron Age from the 5th to 7th centuries in northeastern Poland .
Distribution area
Traces of the Olsztyn culture can be found in the western part of the Masurian Lake District , west of the Vistula and north of the Narew . It is named after a central site near Olsztyn ( Allenstein ). Important sites are the Tumiany cemetery near Olsztyn and Kielary .
In the west it follows (in a small area) the Germanic Wielbark culture , which migrated to the south in the 5th century , and in the rest of the area it follows the west Baltic Bogaczewo culture (4th - 2nd century BC).
The Baltic tribe of the Galindians , mentioned in the 2nd century, settled in the area of the Olsztyn culture , therefore an identity with the Olsztyn culture is generally assumed.
Burials
They were buried in communal grave fields. Urns with round or square window-like openings are characteristic.
In men's graves z. T. Horse skeletons (see Dollkeim culture ).
economy
Objects mainly made of iron, but also bronze or silver were found in graves.
Outstanding is a buckle made of silver and studded with garnets from the Kosewo burial ground near Mrągowo .
Trade relations apparently existed u. a. also to Germanic cultures.
literature
- Wilhelm Gaerten: The prehistory of East Prussia , Königsberg 1929
- Janusz K. Kozłowski: Encyklopedia historiczna świata , Vol. 1 Prehistoria , Kraków 1999