Inhumation burials are a rare phenomenon in Central Europe in the pre-Roman and Roman Iron Age when cremation predominates. This raises questions about the origin of the practice and the identity of those persons treated differently from the rest of the population, including their possible status as migrants. This study analyzes the enamel from a noncremated adult male individual from Czelin, together with cremated long bone fragments from six urn graves recovered from the same cemetery, using strontium isotopes to test the hypothesis of a possible nonlocal origin. Czelin is a cemetery associated with the Lubuska Group dating to the pre-Roman and Roman Iron Age, located on the Oder River, a potential route for long-distance travel. Results show a difference between the ratios obtained for the enamel (0.7125) and the cremated bones (0.7106-0.7117), highlighting the difference between the childhood of the inhumed individual and the adulthood of the cremated ones. The latter fall within the range of bioavailable strontium for the vicinity of the site (0.7099-0.7122). However, the great variability of Sr isotope ratios in the wider region (0.7098-0.7165) means that the possibility that the inhumed individual was local cannot be excluded. Isotopic analyses provide insights into potential migration patterns, but the limited number of samples and regional isotopic variability complicate interpretations. The presence of inhumation practices in Jutland, Bornholm, and Silesia suggests a broader eschatological shift. However, cultural interpretation is inherently challenging, as burial rituals often reflect distorted images of societal beliefs.

This study presents multidisciplinary analyses conducted in Bagicz, Poland, focusing on one of the most famous archaeological finds from the Roman Iron Age-a burial in a wooden log coffin belonging to the so-called "Princess of Bagicz." This female skeleton, which fell from a cliff in 1898, has been the subject of over a century of research. Using interdisciplinary methods, including dendrochronology, isotopic analysis and archaeological assessment, this study provides new insights into the life, diet and burial practices of the individual. Three different methods-archaeological dating, radiocarbon analysis and dendrochronology-were employed to establish a more precise chronology.

Abstract Background The development of complex urban societies in Mesopotamia fundamentally shaped human history, yet the genetic dynamics underlying this process remain poorly understood. Here, we sequence DNA from 17 individuals spanning the Bronze and Iron Ages at Bakr Awa, one of northeastern Iraq's largest ancient settlements located at the border between Mesopotamia and Iran. Results Genome-wide analyses reveal substantial genetic heterogeneity during the Bronze Age, characterized by influences of Anatolian, Levantine, and Caucasus/Yamnaya-related ancestries on the local background – complementing archaeological and textual reconstructions of a diverse ethnolinguistic presence at Bakr Awa. This Bronze Age ancestry heterogeneity marks a notable shift from the local Pre-Pottery Neolithic composition – represented by previously published samples from Bestansur, which possess a close affinity to Neolithic central Zagros-related ancestry. The integration of ancient DNA with stable-isotope analysis of 12 individuals reveals multigenerational dynamics and identifies the Zagros Mountains as the most parsimonious recent origin for one of the Bronze Age individuals with Caucasus/Yamnaya-related ancestry. Following the Late Bronze Age site abandonment, reoccupation during the Iron Age involves integrating the preceding Bronze Age divergent ancestries rather than a process of population replacement. Conclusions Our findings reveal that heterogeneous ancestries characterize Bronze Age population structure at Bakr Awa, directly mirroring the diverse cultural landscape observed in historical and archaeological sources. Because the subsequent Iron Age transition integrated, rather than replaced, these divergent ancestries, we demonstrate that cultural transitions need not entail large-scale ancestry transformations. Together, these findings capture Mesopotamia's role as a "melting pot" of ancient Near Eastern ethnolinguistic groups.

Abstract Medieval cemeteries with graves in stone settings from Mazovia (central-eastern Poland) have been a mystery for central European archaeology since the mid-19 th century. Attempts to verify the claim about the domestic or foreign origin of their users, made by standard methods, have so far proved unsatisfactory. To resolve this issue, the authors proposed an interdisciplinary approach. Archaeogenomic and stable isotopes analyses were performed to establish where these populations came from, how mobile they were, and to determine their nutritional standards. Anthropological research was used to assess the physical shape of representative populations and to indicate similarities and differences in their living conditions. Finally, the task of archaeologists was to isolate the main cultural features allowing for chronological diversification of cemeteries and to point graves from their initial phases in order to define the origins of their distinctive stone structures. To clarify these issues, radiocarbon dating of human bones using the AMS method was of key importance. In the article selected results of the project in the comparative perspective of the two representative cemeteries are presented.

The period preceding early state formation in Iran (i.e., Early Iron Age) is frequently associated with the prevalence of mobile pastoralists. The analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of human and animal collagen from Qareh Tepe (c. 1200-750 cal. bc) in Qazvin Plain was performed to understand local subsistence strategy and especially to distinguish between mobile herding and stationary farming, which is crucial in understanding pathways leading to the centralization of power in that time. In total, 53 human dentin samples and 30 animal bone and dentin samples were analyzed. The comparative data come from four other Iranian sites of variable chronology: Sagzabad, Zagheh, Tepe Pardis, and Tepe Hissar. Standard methods of collagen extraction and isotope ratio mass spectrometry were applied. People from Qareh Tepe were characterized by very high delta N-15 values, clearly higher than at all other sites. There was a significant difference between the sexes, with males having more negative delta C-13 values. In combined faunal data from the Qazvin Plain, suids composed a separate group, whereas all the herbivores showed a clear correlation between delta N-15 and delta C-13 values. Elevated nitrogen isotopic values in humans from Qareh Tepe may be explained by a high level of manuring with animal dung, forced by an increased population size in the limited space of the alluvial fan. The research reveals that, at the dawn of the Median state, the Central Plateau of Iran was most likely not inhabited by nomadic pastoralists but rather by agropastoral communities that knew how to make the best use of limited environmental resources.

This study investigates human diet and mobility to understand the socio-economic organisation of a Late Roman community in Liguria, a transitional region between Italy and Gaul, during the 3rd–5th century CE. By combining archaeological, historical, osteological, and isotopic data with novel Bayesian modelling of multi-isotope data (collagen δ13C, δ15N, bioapatite 87Sr/86Sr) from human and animal skeletal remains, as well as modern plant samples, we provide new insights into this hitherto under-researched region. Our findings suggest the community followed a C3-based diet, heavily reliant on plant resources and carbohydrates, supplemented by animal protein, likely from omnivorous pigs. This characteristically Roman diet contrasts with ancient written sources that claimed Ligurians had a “barbarian” diet and lifestyle. We also identified significant sex-based dietary differences, with men consuming more animal-derived protein than women, reflecting traditional Graeco-Roman societal ideals. Although the overall dietary pattern aligns with Roman norms, there is no isotopic evidence of long-distance migration or consumption of significant amounts of imported food. This indicates that the community may have been more localist, prioritising locally available resources over long-distance imports, which is unexpected given the prevalent idea of a large-scale interconnected food network within the Roman Empire.

Recent archaeological research at the early medieval site complex in Ciepłe, Pomerania, has uncovered unexpected evidence of events from the 1620s. Although the area has long been known for its three strongholds, the discovery of seventeenth-century fortification remains came as a surprise. Historical accounts and previous studies had documented the presence of human remains and medieval artifacts, but the recent excavation in 2023–24 provided new insights. The identification of musket balls, a bullet mold, and archival Swedish maps confirmed the existence of a Schweden Schanze – earthworks – on the remnants of an early medieval stronghold. Additionally, human remains belonging to six individuals, along with several loose bones were uncovered in the context of earthworks. Initially assumed to be early medieval, radiocarbon dating disproved this hypothesis, linking them instead to the early seventeenth century. Given the historical context, the most plausible interpretation associates these burials with the Battle of Gniew (1626), a key conflict between Polish and Swedish forces. These findings offer new perspectives on the historical use of the site and the broader military history of the region.

New research at Ciep & lstrok;e, a unique early-medieval centre in northern Poland, reveals a Piast-era complex with three strongholds, elite chamber graves and far-reaching connections. Founded in the late tenth century AD, Ciep & lstrok;e challenges traditional models of Pomeranian integration, offering fresh perspectives on early medieval state formation, frontier strategy and cross-cultural interactions.

In 2022, a project was initiated to investigate the cemetery at Nowy Chorów, northern Poland, with Orzeszkowo-type (rectangular) burial mounds. During the excavations, both inhumation and cremation graves were uncovered, along with elements of elite grave goods and evidence of the reopening of the graves.

The Early Middle Ages saw a rise in social stratification within the early Polish state, with various symbols used by different social groups to signal their status. One potential symbol of status was diet. However, previous studies have been inconclusive in determining the role of diet as a marker of social status. This study aims to examine dietary variations in an elite, medieval (12th-13th c.) cemetery at St. Paul's Church in Kalisz-Zawodzie. For this purpose, 40 samples of human and animal remains underwent analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in bone collagen. Sufficient collagen was found in 34 samples (27 human and 7 animal samples). A comparison between adults (n = 17; delta 13 C:-20.6 to-18.7%o; delta 15 N: 8.7 to 12.6%o) and post-weaning children (n = 10; delta 13 C:-20.7 to-19.1%o; delta 15 N: 8.4 to 10.2%o) revealed a significant difference in delta 15 N values (p = 0.021), indicating distinct diets between these groups. The differences between subadults and adults appear to be an effect of dietary variation among adults. Some adults consumed significant amounts of food items of high delta 15 N (proteins of omnivores or fish). Among those food items, larger fish, characterized by higher delta 15 N values, were previously indicated as a luxury good. In this context, the role of diet in expressing social status is discussed.

Stone circles of the Wielbark culture, such as those found in Grzybnica, have long fascinated researchers, who debate their function and significance. The aim of the presented study is to determine the origins and subsistence strategies of the population buried near the stone circles in Grzybnica, which may help highlight the role of these sites within Wielbark communities. For analysis, human remains from the cemetery in Grzybnica, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, were utilized. Radiocarbon dating of five samples, stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen in two samples, and strontium isotope analysis in 20 cremated human remains and 12 plant samples were conducted. Radiocarbon dating confirmed the earlier dating of the site to the period between approximately 80 and 260 CE. Dietary studies indicated that the individuals buried here regularly consumed millet (mean delta C-13 = -17.8) and animal protein (mean delta N-15 = 9.5). This diet corresponds with the variability described for the Wielbark culture site in Rogowo. The strontium isotope analysis revealed significant variation between the river valley (0.7157-0.7264) and the adjacent upland (0.7109-0.7138). The isotopic values in humans were homogeneous, ranging from 0.7113 to 0.7130, indicating no outliers that might suggest the presence of migrants. The variability observed in humans corresponds with the values observed on the upland. The results suggest that the group of individuals buried in Grzybnica was a small community that sourced their food from the upland. It is possible that this community was involved in the care of the stone circles, and the circles themselves may have been places of gatherings for local communities. However, it should be noted that only about 20 % of the graves found at the site were analyzed. The lack of migrants may be due to the low mobility of this group or methodological limitations related to the post-glacial nature of the geological substrate. Alternatively, it could also be due to the limitations associated with studying cremated remains, which allow for the reconstruction of events from only about 10 years prior.

Elites played a pivotal role in the formation of post-Roman Europe on both macro- and microlevels during the Early Medieval period. History and archaeology have long focused on their description and identification based on written sources or through their archaeological record. We provide a different perspective on this topic by integrating paleogenomic, archaeological, and isotopic data to gain insights into the role of one such elite group in a Langobard period community near Collegno, Italy dated to the 6-8th centuries CE. Our analysis of 28 newly sequenced genomes together with 24 previously published ones combined with isotope (Sr, C, N) measurements revealed that this community was established by and organized around a network of biologically and socially related individuals likely composed of multiple elite families that over time developed into a single extended pedigree. The community also included individuals with diverse genetic ancestries, maintaining its diversity by integrating newcomers and groups in later stages of its existence. This study highlights how shifts in political power and migration impacted the formation and development of a small rural community within a key region of the former Western Roman Empire after its dissolution and the emergence of a new kingdom. Furthermore, it suggests that Early Medieval elites had the capacity to incorporate individuals from varied backgrounds and that these elites were the result of (political) agency rather than belonging to biologically homogeneous groups.

Although caves have been used for funerary purposes almost since the dawn of time, there is very little evidence of such use in Central European Barbaricum. This paper presents newly obtained results from the Cracow Upland (southern Poland) concerning multiple skeletal remains that apparently share a similar third-fifth centuries AD chronology, corresponding to the Late Roman and Early Migration Periods. Multiple analyses have been per-formed to supplement archaeological data, including radiocarbon dating, osteoarchaeological analysis, ancient DNA research and isotopic analysis. The complex picture points towards unusual burial practices, which generally spanned from the third to the fifth centuries AD and involved a broad demographic, with no indication of selection based on an individual's biological profile. Isotopic analysis has also indicated the individuals' heterogeneity with regard to diet and local versus nonlocal origin. The results point towards the previously unrecognized unique role of caves in the Przeworsk culture, then present in southern Poland.

The Middle Ages in the Polish Plain saw an increase in fish consumption as it substituted meat during Lent and other meatless days, approximately one third of the year, due to religious restrictions. Demand for fish stimulated the market. Fish trade and distribution can be easily reconstructed regarding marine species; however, freshwater taxa evade such reconstructions. Modern analytical tools, such as stable isotope analysis, can distinguish freshwater fish inhabiting brackish water typical of estuaries from individuals occupying inland water reservoirs. In this study, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was conducted for fish remains excavated from mid-13th to 14th century residential complex from Wysoka Gorka at Chelm, modern Poland. Samples of 16 individuals representing nine taxa met the collagen quality criteria. Half of the individuals expressed delta C-13 values typical of marine environment: four sturgeons (Acipenser oxyrinchus), two catfishes (Silurus glanis), a pike (Esox lucius) and a bream (Abramis brama). Such values are expected for sturgeon, an anadromous fish, but not typical for freshwater taxa from the sites deep inland, like Chelm. The results are discussed whether freshwater fish are of local origin, migrated in the area of Chelm, or were item of trade, probably from the Baltic coast (approximately 450 km); however, the presence of carp (Cyprinus carpio) may indicate the basin of the Black Sea.

Abstract Cave burials are generally absent from historical periods in Europe. Consequently, the discovery of a post-medieval inhumation of a child buried with at least one bird head placed in the mouth in Tunel Wielki Cave (southern Poland) is an exceptional find. The aim of this paper is to discuss this unique burial based on multiproxy analyses conducted on the human and avian remains, including genetic and isotopic analyses as well as CT scans, radiocarbon dating, and anthropological and paleontological assessment. The results reveal the burial was that of a 10–12 year old girl of likely Fennoscandian or Baltic genetic ancestry, who died in the post-medieval period and was buried in the cave with the placement of one, and possibly two, bird heads in the mouth of the deceased. We propose that the girl is associated with Finno-Karelian troops of a Swedish garrison stationed at the adjacent Ojców Castle during King Carl Gustav’s invasion of Poland in 1655–1657.

In 1899 a log coffin was discovered on the Baltic seashore in Bagicz. Human remains were radiocarbon dated to 160 cal BC-50 cal AD, contrary to artefacts that date this burial to phase B2-B2/C1 (AD 110/120-160) of the Roman Iron Age. In this case a reservoir effect has to be taken into consideration. However, delta C-13(VP)DB values do not support the marine fish consumption. The values are low and typical of a C-3 based diet. High delta N-15(AIR) values can be interpreted as either a high animal protein intake or stress. Significant consumption of freshwater fish can result in elevated delta N-15 values with moderate delta C-13 values and in aging the radiocarbon age of the individuals. The results also raise questions about the absence of millet and marine resources in the diet. Sometimes the difference in the diet can be explained by the non-local origin of the individuals. The provenance was studied by the analysis of the oxygen and strontium isotope ratio. The measured values most likely indicate a local origin. Another issue here would be the social position of the deceased. The careful interpretation of the cliff grave against the cultural background led us to assume that it had not in fact been a single grave. At this point, both grave goods and bioarchaeological results showed that we were dealing with a typical female member of the Wielbark Culture, rather than a "princess".

This project aims to reconstruct the settlement patterns and palaeoenvironment of the Saspow Valley in the Polish Jura by combining unpublished archaeological fieldwork with results of recent excavations at 13 cave sites.

The article presents problems and prospects of palaeodemographic research on burial grounds of the Wielbark Culture exemplified with Site no 12 in Kowalewko.So far mainly mortality tables havebeen used in the research. But, as it seems, taking into consideration limitations of that method and the specificity of the input data, i.e. the graves, it is impossible to obtain trustworthy results. The article presents and analyses an alternative solution, exemplified with the burial site in Kowalewko chosen for its representativeness. For comparative reasons the results have been juxtaposed with an analysis of a Medieval skeleton burial site in Kałdus.