Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

National Institute of Archaeology and Museum

STUDIA
PRAEHISTORICA

13

STUDIA PRAEHISTORICA 13/2010

2010

ISSN 0204-9880
Studia Praehistorica, 13, 2010 i

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

National Institute of Archaeology and Museum

STUDIA

PRAEHISTORICA

13

2010
ii

Studia Praehistorica ISSN 0204-9880

1-2 1978 8 1986

3 1980 9 1988
4 1980 10 1990
5-6 1981 11-12 1992
7 1984 13 2010

Редакционна колегия

Васил Николов - главен редактор

Мария Гюрова - зам.-главен редактор

Крум Бъчваров - секретар
Членове: Николай Сираков, Явор Бояджиев, Стефан Александров

Георги Иванов - технически редактор

Editorial Board

Vassil Nikolov, Editor-in-Chief

Maria Gurova, Vice Editor-in-Chief

Krum Bacvarov, Secretary
Members: Nikolay Sirakov, Yavor Boyadzhiev, Stefan Alexandrov

Georgi Ivanov, Production editor

© 2010, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum - BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria

2 Saborna St. BG-1000 Sofia

e-mail: naim@naim.bg
Studia Praehistorica, 13, 2010 iii

† Георги И. Георгиев
1917 – 1988

† Гореслава Н. Лисыцина
1929 – 1983

† Валерий С. Титов
1932 – 1990

† Румен Катинчаров
1934 – 2005

† Николай Д. Праслов
1937 – 2009

† Александър Бонев
1939 – 2002
iv
Studia Praehistorica, 13, 2010 v

Editorial

Studia Praehistorica was launched in late 1970s by Georgi I. Georgiev and Niko-
lay Ya. Merpert as a joint Bulgarian-Soviet highly specialized journal of prehistory. The
rationale behind its creation is even stronger today in recognizing the role of the present-
day Bulgarian territory in the prehistoric development of Southeast Europe, the Eastern
Mediterranean and Northwest Asia Minor. The founders of the series underline that “the
lands of present-day Bulgaria were the center of a developed prehistoric civilization that
has played an important role in the cultural development of prehistoric Europe”, which
required the creation of a specialized journal as an international forum for the publication
of new observations, interpretations and discussions.
Twelve volumes in nine paperback books were published from 1978 to 1992. The
double volume 1-2 (1978) of Studia Praehistorica hosted the papers of the international
symposium devoted to the first results of the increasingly well-known Chalcolithic Var-
na cemetery. The last, also double, volume 11-12 (1992) was the publication of another
international symposium, this time devoted to the role of the Black Sea in the prehistory
of Europe. The entire series of Studia Praehistorica has facilitated the publication of many
studies that have not lost their research validity and are frequently cited. After the poli-
tical and economic changes in the end of the 1980s and the succeeding change of priori-
ties, Studia Praehistorica ceased publication. In 2005, the executive body of the National
Institute of Archaeology and Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences decided to
continue the publishing of Studia Praehistorica as an international journal. However, due
to a complex of reasons, the publication of the current volume 13 was delayed.
The territorial scope of Studia Praehistorica’s publications will mostly cover the
previously defined areas of Southeast Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and Western
Anatolia. Studia Praehistorica will be published annually and each single volume will in-
clude studies, articles and reviews in English, German and French.

This volume of Studia Praehistorica is dedicated to the memory

of the six deceased members of the first Editorial Board (1978–1992):
Georgi I. Georgiev, Goreslava N. Lisitsina, Valeriy S. Titov, Rumen Katincharov,
Nikolay D. Praslov and Alexandar Bonev.

June 2010 The Editorial Board

vi

CONTENT

1 Marion Lichardus-Itten
Die frühneolithische Siedlung von Kovačevo
und ihre methodischen Herausforderungen 1
2 Valeska Becker
Anthropomorphe Plastiken Westbulgariens und ihre Stellung
im südosteuropäischen Frühneolithikum 23
3 Dessislava Andreeva
Proto-Karanovo ІІІ culture in Thrace: Karanovo І-ІІІ variant 41
4 Vassil Nikolov
Periodisierung und Kulturdifferenzierung
der postfrühneolithischen Schichtungen
in neolithischen Siedlungen in Thrakien 97
5 Krum Bacvarov, Ventsislav Bozhilov, Elka Anastasova
The prehistoric site at Harmanli, southeast Bulgaria 135
6 Maria Gurova
Chipped-stone assemblage from the prehistoric site
at Harmanli 169
7 Yavor Boyadzhiev
Orientation of the dead during the later Neolithic
and early Chalcolithic in the Lower Danube 197
8 István Zalai-Gaál
Die Gefäßbestattungen der Lengyel-Kultur
und ihre Beziehungen zum südosteuropäischen
Neolithikum 215
9 Ralf Gleser
Ein gynäkomorphes Gefäß der Cernavodă III-Kultur
von Drama (Südostbulgarien) 243
Studia Praehistorica, 13, 2010 vii

10 Vera Balabina, Tatyana Mishina, Ilgar Mamedov,

Yuri Lebedev, Alexey Kurnosov
Early Bronze Age infant burials from Tell Yunatsite:
Ancient-DNA sex identification and analysis of ritual patterns 267
11 Stefan Alexandrov
Prehistoric barrow graves with extended inhumations
between the Danube and the Balkan Range 277
12 Martin Hristov
Early Bronze Age ritual structures and cemetery at Dabene,
near Karlovo (preliminary report) 293
13 Vassil Nikolov
Early Bronze Age sanctuary at Tell Kazanlak 319
14 Tanya Hristova, Svetlana Venelinova
A bronze objects hoard from the fund of the Shumen
Regional Museum of History 339
15 Krum Bacvarov, Valeska Becker
Book review: D.W. Bailey. Prehistoric Figurines 351
viii

Authors List
Elka Anastasova, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum of the Bulgarian Academy
of Sciences, Sofia • elka_anastasova@abv.bg
Dessislava Andreeva, Iskra Museum of History, Kazanlak • dessisslava_@abv.bg
Stefan Alexandrov, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum of the Bulgarian Academy
of Sciences, Sofia • stefanalexandrov@abv.bg
Krum Bacvarov, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum of the Bulgarian Academy
of Sciences, Sofia • krum.bacvarov@gmail.com
Vera Balabina, Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
• balabina@mail.ru
Valeska Becker, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster • valeskabecker@hotmail.com
Yavor Boyadzhiev, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum of the Bulgarian Academy
of Sciences, Sofia • yavordb@abv.bg
Ventsislav Bozhilov, Sofia • ventsi.bozhilov@gmail.com
Ralf Gleser, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster • rgles_01@uni-muenster.de
Maria Gurova, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum of the Bulgarian Academy
of Sciences, Sofia • gurovam@yahoo.fr
Martin Hristov, National Museum of History, Sofia • martohristov@yahoo.com
Tanya Hristova, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum of the Bulgarian Academy
of Sciences, Sofia • tnaidenova@abv.bg
Alexey Kurnosov, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian
Academy of Sciences, Moscow • kuralexus@rambler.ru
Yuri Lebedev, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Acade-
my of Sciences, Moscow • lebedev_yb@mx.ibch.ru
Marion Lichardus-Itten, Université Paris 1 – Panthéon-Sorbonne • lichardus@saarmail.de
Ilgar Mamedov, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian
Academy of Sciences, Moscow • Imamedov@mx.ibch.ru
Tatyana Mishina, Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
• tnmishina@mail.ru
Vassil Nikolov, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum of the Bulgarian Academy
of Sciences, Sofia • vassil.nikolov@abv.bg
István Zalai-Gaál, Institute of Archaeology of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest
• zgi@archeo.mta.hu
Studia Praehistorica, 13, 2010, 277-292

Prehistoric barrow graves

with extended inhumations between
the Danube and the Balkan Range

Stefan Alexandrov

Barrow graves have always been of great interest for the scholars investigating the
problems of cultural development, trade, migrations and even ethnic affiliation of the
Bronze Age communities in Southeastern Europe. Based on their importance, many att-
empts have been made to classify and determine their chronology and cultural attribution
even in vast regions such as those between Dniester and Danube (Häusler 1976; Яровой
1985, 2000; Rassamakin 2004a, b) or in smaller regions such as Moldavia, North Bulgaria
etc. (Дергачев 1986; Панайотов 1989; Николова 2000; Burtănescu 2002). Most of the-
se attempts are largely based on the position of the skeleton or its parts in the grave. Every
classification includes as a particular group the extended body position. However, there
are many controversial interpretations of the stratigraphic and chronological position of
these graves as well as of their cultural attribution which is the reason to try to identify
here their basic characteristics in a relatively small region such as the area between the
Danube and the Balkan Range.

Barrow graves with extended inhumations: Basic groups

The seventeen already known barrow graves with extended inhumations between
the Danube and the Balkan Range could be divided into the following groups:
I. Extended inhumations in four-sided pits without external constructions. Accor-
ding to the position of the hands additional subdivision of the graves could be made:
I.1. Extended inhumations in four-sided pits, hands alongside the body.
- Chilia Veche, barrow No. 2, grave No. 2. The body is in rectangular pit with round-
ed corners, no signs of pit covering. The extended inhumation with hands alongside the
body is north-south oriented. There are no traces of red ochre. Inventory: a ceramic vessel
near the skull and a bone spindle whorl above the vessel (Vasiliu 1995, 58).
- Anadolkioi, barrow No. 1, grave No. 1. The feature is four-sided pit with no data
for covering. It contains extended inhumation with hands alongside the body, north-
278 Stefan Alexandrov

south oriented. Inventory: one flint (blade?) (Schuchhardt, Traeger 1919, 151-152).
- Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 3, grave No. 2. The body is in rectangular pit with an
organic sheet over the floor and a cover of wooden planks. It is an extended (?) inhuma-
tion of a child. The left leg is bent and the arms are alongside the body. The orientation is
west-east. There is red ochre over the bones. Inventory: a hammer-axe in the right hand, a
shell near the left hand (Китов и др. 1991, 65, Pl.40).
II.2. Extended inhumations in four-sided pits. One of the arms is bent at the elbow
with the hand towards the head; the other arm is near the body or with a palm at the
pelvic area.
- Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 2, grave No. 4. The four-sided pit with no traces of any
covering contains an extended inhumation. The right arm is alongside the body, the left
hand is at the shoulder. The orientation is northwest-southeast. There is red ochre over
the upper part of the legs, the pelvis, the torso and the left hand. A piece of red ochre is
found at 15 cm to the left of the skull. Inventory: a gold pendant to the left of the skull,
a necklace of silver beads beneath the skull and vessel sherds to the southwest of the skull
(Китов и др. 1991, 56-57, Pl. 33).
- Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 2, grave No. 13. The four-sided pit with no traces of
any covering contains an extended inhumation. The left hand is at the chest, the right
hand is near the shoulder. The orientation is west-east. No signs of red ochre, no inventory
(Китов и др. 1991, 57, Pl. 34).
II. Extended inhumations in four-sided pits marked by stone enclosures.
- Frecăţei, barrow No. 2, grave No. 1. Four-sided pit, 2.10 x 1.45 m. The pit shape
has been marked by big stones. There is no data for pit covering or covering of the floor.
The extended inhumation is east-west orientated. The right arm is alongside the body, the
left one is at the abdomen. No signs of red ochre over the bones but there is a middle sized
stone over the femur. A stone enclosure with a height of 0.70-0.80 m and a diameter of 14
m surrounds the grave (Vasiliu 2004, 12).
- Polsko Kosovo, barrow No. 1, grave No. 1. Four-sided pit with upper dimensions
2.05 x 1.60 m. The pit narrows in depth and at the bottom it is long and narrow, 1.90 x
0.70/0.80 m. There is no pit covering but the pit floor had been covered with red ochre.
The extended inhumation is with hands alongside the body and east-west orientation.
There is red ochre over the bones but no inventory. A stone enclosure 9 m in diameter
surrounds the grave (Станчев 2002, 520).
III. Extended inhumations in oval pits without external constructions.
- Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 3, grave No. 6. The oval pit is covered with transverse
wooden planks but there are no signs of pit floor covering. The extended inhumation has
no skull. The hands are alongside the body which is oriented southwest-northeast. There are
remains of red ochre over the shoulders, the left elbow and the tibia. A piece of red ochre
was also found beneath the rigth shoulder. No inventory (Китов и др. 1991, 68-69, Pl. 45).
- Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 3, grave No. 7. The oval pit is covered with transverse
Rehistoric barrow graves with extended inhumations between the Danube... 279

wooden planks but there are no signs of pit floor covering. An organic sheet was found
beneath the skeleton. The extended inhumation is with hands alongside the body and
is southwest-northeast oriented. There is red ochre over the bones. Inventory: 22 silver
beads at the upper part of the torso, a silver pendant beneath the skull, 3 vessel sherds
beneath the skeleton (Китов и др. 1991, 72-73, Pl. 46).
IV. Extended inhumations with no data for pits and no external constructions.
- Zeglartsi-Orlyak, barrow No. 2, grave No. 1. An extended inhumation, north-
south oriented. The right hand is at the torso, while the left hand is near the shoulder; the
legs are crossed. There is red ochre over the skull, torso, pelvis and around the torso. The
inventory constists of one flint (blade?) near the right leg (Панайотов 1989, 125-127, pl.
116, 118).
- Riltzi, barrow No. 2 (264), grave No. 3. An extended inhumation, south-north
oriented. The hands are at the pelvis. There is red ochre over the skull and torso. Pieces of
red ochre were found between the left hand and torso. No inventory1.
- Kalugeritsa, barrow No. 3, grave No. 3. An extended inhumation, northwest-
southeast oriented. The hands are alongside the body. There are no traces of red ochre or
inventory (Миков 1936, 4).
- Kalugeritsa, barrow No. 7, grave No. 3. An extended inhumation, west-east ori-
ented. The right arm is near the body, the left one is at the abdomen. There are no traces
of red ochre or inventory (Миков 1936, 7).
- Madara, barrow No. 1, grave No. 2. An extended inhumation, west-east oriented.
The skull is at the right shoulder. The legs are crossed. There are no traces of red ochre or
inventory (Миков 1934, 430, обр. 288).
- Madara, barrow No. 3, grave No. 1. An extended inhumation, southwest-north-
east oriented. There are no traces of red ochre or inventory (Миков 1934, 431).
- Madara, barrow No. 3, grave No. 2. An extended inhumation, northeast-south-
west oriented. There are no traces of red ochre or inventory but some stones were found
at the right side of the skeleton (Миков 1934, 432).
- Madara, barrow No. 4, grave No. 3. An extended inhumation, east-west oriented.
The hands are at the abdomen. There are no traces of red ochre or inventory (Миков
1934, 436).
Stratigraphic data
I.1. Extended inhumations in four-sided pits, hands alongside the body (Anadolkioi
1/1, Chilia veche 2/2, Goran-Slatina 3/2). The Anadolkioi 1/1 grave is the primary burial
according to the publication; however, the barrow had not been completely investigated.
If the depth of the pit is considered (5 m), the grave could be related to periods later than

  Excavation directed by the author.

1
280 Stefan Alexandrov

Bronze Age, as well. The Chilia veche 2/2 grave is later than grave No. 6 (supine position
with flexed legs, arms alongside the body), and earlier than grave No. 3 (crouched on the
left side in oval pit) (Vasiliu 1995, 58-59). The Goran-Slatina 3/2 grave is, according to
its depth and position in the barrow, later than grave No. 9 (with a stone enclosure), and
graves Nos. 6 and 7 (extended in oval pits). The position of grave 3/2 is not quite clear
compared to graves Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 8 but, generally, it could be simultaneous with them
or, more probably, later (Китов и др. 1991, 62-74)2.
I.2. Extended inhumations in four-sided pits/no pit data. One of the arms is bent
at the elbow with hand towards the head; the other one is near the body or with the hand
at the pelvic area (Goran-Slatina 2/4, 133; Zeglatzi-Orlyak 2/1). Goran-Slatina 2/13 and
Zeglatzi-Orlyak 2/1 are the primary burials. Both skeletons have one arm bent at the el-
bow. Both are followed by another extended inhumation in such position with the second
arm near the body4. At Goran-Slatina, an inhumation in semi-supine position to the right
in oval pit is the latest grave in the barrow (Китов и др. 1991, 56-59; Панайотов 1989,
124-127).
II. Extended inhumations in four-sided pits with stone enclosures.
Frecăţei 2/1 is the only prehistoric grave in the barrow.
Polsko Kosovo 1/1 is the primary grave. Four other graves have been found in the
barrow as well. The stratigraphic sequence is as follows: Grave No. 5 is the latest dating
to the Iron Age. From top to bottom follow: Grave No. 4, inhumation in supine position
with flexed legs; south-north orientation; no inventory. Grave No. 3, crouched inhuma-
tion in a lightly flexed position on the left side; right arm at the abdomen, left hand be-
neath the skull; west-east orientation; red ochre over the bones; no inventory. Grave No.
2, semi-supine position to the left with flexed legs; right arm at the abdomen, left hand in
front of the head; west-east orientation; no inventory (Станчев 2002, 520).
III. Extended inhumations in oval pits, hands alongside the body.
Goran-Slatina 3/6, 7. In the original dig report, the stratigraphy of all 9 prehistoric
graves found in the barrow is not quite clear. The lack of profiles of the respective barrow
fills does not allow a clear picture of the internal chronology of the graves. It is obvious
that grave No. 9 is the primary one: inhumation in a larger rectangular pit (2.15 х 1-15 х
0.70 м). The pit has been covered with wooden planks. The skeleton lied on an organic
sheet in a semi-supine position to the left. East/northeast – west/southwest orientation.
The left arm was near the body. The same position is mentioned for the other arm but one
can see from the illustrations that the right radial bone is in unusual position. This can be

2 
See note 4.
3
  In this case the description of the graves is taken into account since the position of the arms is not very
clear on the illustrations of the grave.
4 
Grave No. 2, which has similar position of the hands, while the legs are destroyed.
Rehistoric barrow graves with extended inhumations between the Danube... 281

explained if one accepts the original position of the hand to have been at the pelvis and
only later it has fallen down near its initial place. Red ochre is mentioned to present over
the bones as well as “…relatively big amount of ochre in the grave” including “…pieces of
considerable size”. The grave was surrounded by stone enclosure with a diameter of 8.6
m. The wall is up to 0.65 m thick an up to 0.40 m high (3 or 4 rows of stones). The form
and dimensions of the barrow fill above the grave had not been established. However, the
stone wall had a declination to the outside. This could be a clue that the original barrow
fill pressured the wall from the inside and therefore the enclosure encircled and strength-
ened the fill that probably had a diameter of approximately 9 m.
The available illustrations show that the discussed graves are earlier than graves
Nos. 1, 3 and 4. Whilst graves 3 and 4 do not offer much data considering the body posi-
tion (disturbed child skeletons, the first one probably in supine position with flexed legs),
the information about grave No. 1 is much clearer. The skeleton is in supine position with
flexed legs, right arm alongside the body, the left one at the pelvis. Southwest-northeast
orientation. There were signs of organic material beneath the skeleton as well as red ochre
over the skull, ribs and pelvis. The pit had been covered with wooden planks. The grave
itself is rich in inventory: a necklace composed of 2 golden beads, several silver and cop-
per beads and 1 bone bead. Grave No. 3 is rich in inventory as well: gold hair-ring, silver
hair-rings and beads, a bone bead, a shell and a clay vessel. Graves Nos. 2 and 5 had the
same position of the skeletons: supine with flexed legs5. Graves Nos. 1-5 have all the char-
acteristics of the Pit-Grave Culture burials6. The position of graves Nos. 6 and 7 in rela-
tion to grave No. 8 is not quite clear. In the original publication the stratigraphic order
is described as graves 9-8-6, 7. However, the basic criteria used to establish this sequence
is the depth of the graves according to the ‘Zero point’, the highest point of the barrow.
According to the published data grave pit No. 8 had been dug from the same level as grave
No. 9. The distance between the two graves is about 7 m. If one accepts that the first bar-
row heap (grave No. 9) had a diameter of 9 m then grave No. 8 pit should have been dug
outside the already existing barrow at a distance of approximately 2.5 m and the barrow
heap above grave No. 8 should have covered the original fill as well. Grave No. 8 contains
inhumation in a four-sided pit without wooden covering. The skeleton lied on an organic
sheet in supine position with flexed legs. The arms had been bent at the elbows, with
hands at both sides of the pelvis. The legs are in a “rhombic” position. The orientation is
west/northwest – east/southeast. There is red ochre over the bones. Inventory: 2 silver
multi-spiral hair-rings and a bronze chisel. The grave itself had all the characteristics of the
Pit-Grave Culture as well. To our knowledge the Pit-Grave Culture graves are secondary

5
  Grave No. 2 position was originally published as extended but the left leg is flexed. It is quite possible that
the original position had been with flexed legs additionally fallen down in the described position. Such a
case is not unusual for the barrow graves.
6 
See the discussion below.
282 Stefan Alexandrov

in some earlier barrows but always dug into the pre-existing barrow heap and not near it.
Therefore, the following sequence of graves seems quite logic: No. 9, with the first bar-
row heap; Nos. 6 and 7, with the second barrow heap; No. 8, dug into the second heap
with the third barrow heap; Nos. 4, 1 2, 5 (Китов и др. 1991, 30-31, 62-74). Then the
discussed extended burials from Goran-Slatina, barrow 3 are later than the inhumation in
semi-supine position with flexed legs surrounded by a stone enclosure and earlier than the
inhumations with supine position with flexed legs.
The Kalugeritsa 3/37 grave (extended inhumation with no data for pits) presents
similar stratigraphic position and therefore it will be discussed here as well. The grave fol-
lows the primary grave No. 4, a crouched inhumation on the right side. The grave was sur-
rounded by an enclosure of three rows of stones with height of 0.60 m and diameter of 11
m. Grave No. 3 is located beneath grave No. 1, with supine position with flexed legs fallen
down to the right, left hand alongside the body, the right one at the pelvis. It is also earlier
than grave No. 2 which was dug into the barrow heap in supine position with flexed legs,
hands alongside the body. There is red ochre over the skill8 (Миков 1936, 4-5).
The above mentioned parallels define stratigraphically this group of extended buri-
als as later than the crouched or semi-supine inhumations with stone enclosures, and ear-
lier than the graves with supine position with flexed legs. It is interesting that all three
graves in discussion are, in fact, situated within the stone enclosures with pits probably
dug into the first barrow heap.
IV. Extended inhumations with no data for pits
Riltzi 2(264)/3, Kalugeritsa 7/3, Madara 1/2, 3/1, 2 and 4/3 are all dug into the
humus level and placed between it and the barrow fill itself. However, Riltzi 2(264)/3 is
later than the primary grave No. 4 (supine with flexed legs in a rectangular pit) and No.
5 (semi-supine to the right in rectangular pit). Its position in relation to graves Nos. 1
and 2 – tightly contracted inhumations dug into the barrow fill – is not quite clear but
the latter two graves are located only into the humus layer. Madara 3/1, 2 are later than
the primary grave No. 6, supine with flexed legs. Their position compared to graves Nos.
3 and 4 – tightly contracted inhumations dug into the barrow heap – is not quite clear
but in absolute measurements these graves are deeper than graves 1 and 2. Madara 4/3 is
later than a primary lightly flexed inhumation to the right and earlier than two destroyed
graves dug into the humus level. Kalugeritsa 7/3 and Madara 1/2 seem to have the char-
acteristics of a Christian ritual9.

7
  Its similarities (stratigraphic, etc.) to the Goran-Slatina graves are the reason to relate the grave to this
group.
8
  In the original publication graves Nos. 1 and 2 have been described as ‘hockers’, but the illustration shows
clear that the position is supine with flexed leg. For the correct position of the bodies of the graves see Pan-
ayotov, 1989, 74-75.
9
  See the discussion bellow.
Rehistoric barrow graves with extended inhumations between the Danube... 283

Relative chronology
Considering the relative chronology of the discussed graves, it seems necessary to
focus, first of all, on two basic chronological horizons with barrow graves in the Lower
Danube such as Cernavodă I and Pit-Grave Culture.
The Cernavodă I period
Cernavodă I mortuary practices have been the subject of several different approach-
es and studies. Both barrow graves and flat graves have been included in the group of
Cernavodă I funerary complexes. The largest cemetery so far proved to be the flat necrop-
olis near Brăiliţa with a total number of 125 graves: 117 graves in extended position and
8 graves in crouched position (Harţuche 2002, 127). The flat cemetery near Gherăseni
in North Muntenia as well as some isolated graves from Cernavodă “Dealul Sofia” have
been mentioned as well (Manzura 1999, 115-119). The barrow graves group includes the
crouched burial from Agigea (Haşotti 1997, 130-132), the lightly flexed burial from An-
adolkioi as well as the crouched burial from Baia-Hamangia in Dobruja (Manzura 1999,
116).
Barrow graves from the same period have been assigned to the so called Bassarabian
variant of the Cernavodă I Culture or Hadzider-Cernavodă I group in the area between
Prut and Dniester rivers. It is mentioned that the base of the barrows had frequently been
surrounded by cromlechs, sometimes the surface of barrows had been “…plated partially
or wholly by stones”. Timber structures, stone enclosures, pits, bonfires etc. had been used
in the mortuary rituals. The deceased were buried in semi-supine position to the left/
right, with one arm extended to the knees and with the hand of the other arm at the
pelvis or across the body. Occasionally, the extended position had been practiced. The
heads were northeast/east oriented. Considerable amounts of ochre were used during the
rituals; the dead and the pit floor have often been completely covered with ochre. Grave
goods number is insignificant. The Bassarabian variant graves always precede the Usatovo
graves and follow the Suvorovo graves. Generally, they are simultaneous with Cucuteni
B – Tripolje C1 period (Manzura 1993, 29-30; 1994, 95-99; 1995, 9-12; 1999, 115-116).
Some of the Hadzider-Cernavodă I group graves relate to E. Yarovoj’s Hadzider-
Zivotilovka” chronological group. This group is characterized by barrow crouched buri-
als with some variations and according to E. Yarovoj is the earliest barrow group in the
area. Thirty seven graves have been included in the group from which 1/3 had cromlechs
or stone constructions as well as other constructions related to different ritual activities.
According to E. Yarovoj the group itself could be divided into an earlier one called Had-
zider’/Cernavodă I and a later one called Zivotilovka but both groups are earlier than the
late Tripolje grave complexes (Яровой 2000, 14-18).
This short review undoubtedly shows that during the Cernavodă I period there
were barrow graves in the North-West Pontic area. To the North of the Danube there are
some similar indications in the Coslogeni barrow in which the primary grave – a crouched
burial – has been connected to pottery sherds discovered in the barrow heap and dated by
284 Stefan Alexandrov

P. Roman to the “…end of Cernvodă I or the beginning of Cernavodă III” (Cavruc, Neagu
1995; Burtănescu 2002, 410). Belitsa, barrow No. 1, grave No. 1 could be related to this
period as well. It is a lightly flexed inhumation on the right side in a four-sided pit with
steps. The skeleton has been partly destroyed. The left hand is at the pelvic area. The orien-
tation is east-west. There is red ochre on the upper torso, the lower half of the legs, the feet
and over a large area in front of the body from the neck to the pelvis. The pit had been cov-
ered with wooden planks and organic sheet covered the pit floor under the body. Above
the pit an enclosure of daubs (heart?) has been discovered (Александров, Бенъм 1995).
Other crouched or semi-supine barrow graves that fit the above mentioned charac-
teristics and could be related to the Cernavodă I period come from the previously men-
tioned barrows with extended burials as follows:
- Polsko Kosovo, barrow No. 1, grave No. 2. Semi-supine position to the left with
flexed legs. The right arm is at the abdomen, the left hand is in front of the head. The body
has west-east orientation. There is some evidence for wooden cover of the skeleton. Red
ochre was found over the bones but no inventory. Over the grave, there is up to 0.60 m
thick layer of “…wooden ashes and charcoal” (Станчев 2002, 520).
- Polsko Kosovo, barrow No. 1, grave No. 3. Lightly flexed inhumation on the left
side. The right arm is at the abdomen, the left hand is beneath the skull. The body is west-
east oriented. There is red ochre over the bones. No inventory (Станчев 2002, 520, обр.
7, табл.4).
- Madara, barrow No. 4, grave No. 4. Lightly flexed inhumation on the right side,
northeast-southwest oriented. There is no inventory (Миков 1934, 436).
- Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 3, grave No. 9. Semi-supine position to the left with
flexed legs in a rectangular pit with organic sheet over the pit floor. The left arm is along-
side the body; the right one was probably originally at the abdomen/pelvis(?)10. The ori-
entation is east/northeast – west/southwest. There is no cover of wooden planks. Rela-
tively large amount of red ochre was found in the grave. No inventory. The grave pit is
surrounded by a stone enclosure with diameter of 8.60 m. The width of the walls is 0.60
m, and the height is up to 0.40 m (Китов и др. 1991, 73-74).
- Kalugeritsa, barrow No. 3, grave No. 4. Lightly flexed inhumation on the right
side with east-west orientation. There is red ochre over the upper part of the skeleton. The
floor and walls of the pit had been faced with wooden planks. The pit had been covered
with wooden planks as well. Inventory: a silver open ring at the chest. The grave had been
surrounded by an enclosure of three rows of stones with height of 0.60 m and diameter of
11 m (Миков 1936, 4-5).
The Pit-Grave Culture
The Pit-Grave Culture in the Northwestern Pontic region has already been a sub-

  See the analysis above

10
Rehistoric barrow graves with extended inhumations between the Danube... 285

ject of many considerations. The constantly increasing number of grave complexes gives a
possibility for more detailed study of the Pit-Grave Culture mortuary practices and their
internal chronological position. Although even today some authors accept the idea that
all the prehistoric barrow graves in Bulgaria belong to the “Pit-Grave” Culture (Nikolova
1999, 369-389; Николова 2000) most of the authors seem to believe that the Pit-Grave
Culture at its initial stage of development in Bulgaria has the following characteristics:
1. Inhumation in supine position with flexed legs in a rectangular pit;
2. Presence of an organic sheet or layer of red ochre over the pit floor;
3. Parts of the body, mainly the skull, pelvis, wrists and feet, were covered with red
ochre;
4. Pit covered with wooden planks;
5. Relatively poor grave inventory with predominance of hair ornaments.
The first phase of Pit-Grave Culture presence in the Northwestern Pontic region
has been associated with the so called Dniester and Danubian variants (Дергачев, 1986,
74-82; Панайотов 1989, 43-60; Яровой 2000, 21-22). Chronologically, the appearance
of this culture to the south of the Danube is related to the Zimnicea - Celei - Ezero A1 ho-
rizon and Cernavodă II Culture (Дергачев 1999, 205-207; Alexandrov 2002, 143-144;
Burtănescu 2002, 265-267).
The second phase of the Pit-Grave Culture in the northern part of the region has
been described as the Budjak variant. The burials, most of which are secondary, are in a
semi-supine position with more or less contracted legs. This stage is associated with the
Glina and Edineţ Cultures and partially with the Catacomb Culture (Dergacev 1994,
126-127). Similar observations have been made for North Bulgaria as well (Панайотов
1989, 56).
Barrow graves that fit the above mentioned characteristics and could be related to
the Pit-Grave Culture from the previously discussed barrows with extended burials are as
follows:
Pit-Grave Culture (first phase): Supine inhumations with flexed legs
- Chilia Veche, barrow No. 2, grave No. 6. North-south orientation, red ochre over
the bones (Vasiliu 1995, 59).
- Riltsi, barrow No. 264, grave No. 4. Southwest-northeast orientation; red ochre
over the bones; no inventory. The pit was covered with wooden planks.
- Kalugeritsa, barrow No. 3, grave Nos.1, 211. Northeast-southwest orientation; red
ochre at No. 2 (Миков 1936, 4).
- Madara, barrow No. 3, grave No. 6. northeast-southwest orientation; red ochre
over the bones; some signs of wooden cover also present (Миков 1934, 436, обр. 293).

  In the original publication the position of the skeletons in the discussed graves is described as crouched
11

but the illustration shows a supine position. For the correct interpretation see Панайотов, 1989, 74-75.
286 Stefan Alexandrov

- Polsko Kosovo, barrow No. 1, grave No. 4. South-north orientation; red ochre over
the bones and the organic sheet; no inventory or signs of pit top cover (Станчев 2002,
522).
- Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 3, grave No. 1. An inhumation in a rectangular pit(?)
covered with wooden planks. Southwest-northeast orientation; red ochre over the bones.
Inventory: 2 golden beads, several copper and silver beads.
- Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 3, grave No. 5. An inhumation in a rectangular pit cov-
ered with wooden planks. West-east orientation; red ochre over the bones; no inventory.
- Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 3, grave No. 8. An inhumation in four-sided pit cov-
ered with wooden planks. West/northwest – east/southeast orientation; red ochre over
the bones. Inventory: 2 silver hair-rings and a bronze chisel (Китов и др. 1991, 64-65,
68, 73. 77).
Pit-grave culture (second phase): Semi-supine inhumations
- Riltzi, barrow No. 264, grave No. 5. Semi-supine inhumation to the right. South-
west-northeast orientation; red ochre over the skull and pelvis. Inventory: a bovine bone
near the skull. No cover of the pit.
- Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 2, grave No. 18. Semi-supine inhumation to the right
with flexed legs. West-east orientation. An organic sheet was found beneath the skeleton.
There is red ochre over the bones. Inventory: three silver spirals and a neckless of human
and animal teeth (Китов и др. 1991, 57-60).
In total, eight of all thirteen barrows with extended burials – Kalugeritsa 3, Riltzi 2
(264), Goran-Slatina 2 and 3, Chilie Veche 2, Polsko Kosovo, Madara 3 and 4 – contain
Cernavodă I or Pit-Grave Culture graves. Only three barrows – Kalugeritsa 7, Madara
1 and Zeglartzi-Orlyak – give insufficient stratigraphic data. Based on the stratigraphic
evidence and the cultural and chronological attribution of some of the discussed graves,
four stratigraphic and chronological phases of the barrow graves with extended inhuma-
tions could be defined:
1. Barrow graves with extended inhumations that stratigraphically precede the
Cernavodă I Culture barrow graves;
2. Barrow graves with extended inhumations, with a stratigraphic position between
the Cernavodă I and Pit-Grave Culture graves;
3. Barrow graves with extended inhumations that probably are simultaneous with
the Pit-Grave Culture graves;
4. Barrow graves with extended inhumations that are later than the Pit-Grave Cul-
ture graves.

Chronological phases
I. Barrow graves with extended inhumations that stratigraphically precede the
Cernavodă I Culture barrow graves. Polsko Kosovo 1/1 (an extended inhumation in four-
sided pit with stone enclosure) and probably Frecăţei 2/1 can also be affiliated to this
Rehistoric barrow graves with extended inhumations between the Danube... 287

group.
The best parallel for the Polsko Kosovo grave comes from Moldavia, Etulia ІІ, bar-
row No. 1, grave No. 15. It has an extended inhumation with arms alongside the body and
east-west orientation. The oval pit was covered with wooden planks. The grave is enclosed
by a stone cromlech with diameter of 18-18.5 m, 1.2-1.4 m height and 1.2-1.4 m width.
Stratigraphically, next is grave No. 10 (supine position with flexed legs, arms alongside
the body, east-west orientation) dated to the Drevnejamnaia period (Борозияк 1984, 82-
86). Etulia ІІ, barrow No. 1, grave No. 15 is related by V. Dergacev to the Suvorovo group
for which, despite the cromlech, the eastern orientation is characteristic. According to V.
Dergacev the group is simultaneous with the Cernavodă I period (1986, 65-74). At the
end of twentieth century, there are at least 16 barrow graves with extended inhumations
with cromlechs. Except the Etulia grave, all the others are concentrated near the Dnieper
(Rassamakin 2004b, Abb. 15a).
North of the Danube, in South Romania similar grave comes from Vităneşti, bar-
row No. 1, grave No. 3. This grave, however, is without a cromlech and has an extended
inhumation with east-west orientation in rectangular pit. No red ochre, no pit covering.
The grave is primary, followed by a supine inhumation with flexed legs, hands alongside
the body (Leahu, Trohani 1979, 128-133, fig. 3/1). According to some authors the grave
from Vităneşti is one of the earliest barrow graves in Southeastern Romania (Burtănescu
1996, 92).
In conclusion, even if this group is stratigraphically earlier than the Cernavodă I
graves, there is no sufficient evidence to precise whether or not the group is earlier than
the Cernavodă I Culture itself. However, if the recent research on the relations between
the local Gumelniţa-Karanovo VI and the North Pontic populations during the end of
the Chalcolithic is considered (Георгиева 2005), Polsko Kosovo and Vităneşti graves
could be even earlier than Cernavodă I period.
II. Barrow graves with extended inhumations with a stratigraphic position between
the Cernavodă I and Pit-Grave Culture graves. Goran-Slatina 3/6, 7 and Kalugeritsa 3/3
graves are later than the Cernavodă I graves with cromlechs and earlier than the Pit-Grave
Culture graves in supine position with flexed legs. It is quite possible that the Madara
4/3 burial belongs to the same group as well. According to the typology of the barrow
graves with extended inhumations in Moldavia all the three graves fall in group I: in oval
pits. According to the stratigraphic data, the group is simultaneous with the Hadgider-
Cernavodă I and to Usatovo graves and always precedes the Pit-Grave Culture graves.
Generally, this group is simultaneous with the Cucuteni A – Tripolje BI period (Leviţki
et al. 1996, 60-63, 66).
Both chronological phases I and II belong to the ‘Chalcolithic’ in terms of the
North-Pontic archaeological research. Basically, the barrow graves with extended inhu-
mations there are related to the ‘Chalcolithic’ or ‘Catacomb’ periods. The first ‘Chalcolith-
ic’ group contains E. Yarovoj’s group 3 – ‘post-Mariupol’ graves (Яровой 1985, 103-104;
288 Stefan Alexandrov

2000, 15). The Mariupol type graves are spread across a vast area from Northern Donetzk
to the Danube delta and are divided into five groups. The last one – the ‘post-Mariupol’
graves from the Northwestern Pontic area – has a direct link to this consideration. The
group is genetically linked to the preceding ‘Dniestro-Bug’ group that is considered to be
the original place for the movement to the west of this type of burial practice (Ковалева
2001). At the end of twentieth century, the ‘Post-Mariupol’ group includes 32 graves or
24% of all the ‘Chalcolithic’ graves. 75% of them are primary graves. Every fourth graves
has a stone construction. Extended position, poor inventory and lack of pottery are some
of the characteristics of this group. Chronologically, it follows the graves of Zivotilovka-
Hadzider group and precedes the ancient Pit-Grave Culture graves of group 4 - Yarovoj
(Яровой 2000 15-18). The similar chronological position for these graves makes J. Ras-
samakin to classify the group as the ‘Kvitianskaya’ Culture and to consider it as simulta-
neous with Tripolje C-II, i.e. as earlier than the Pit-grave Culture (Rassamakin 1994, 39-
40, fig. 11). A recently published paper shares similar opinion for the chronology of this
group: later than Cernavodă I and simultaneous with the end of the Cucuteni-Tripolje
complex (Agulnikov, Paşa 2008, 33-35).
In conclusion, between the Danube and the Balkan Range there is a certain group
of barrow graves with extended inhumations that is earlier than the Pit-Grave Culture. Its
relation to the Cernavodă I Culture or to the Cernavodă III Culture mortuary practices
is not quite clear and needs further research.
III. The graves from group I.2 – extended inhumations in four-sided pits – belong
to this (third) phase. A characteristic feature of this group is that one of the arms is bent
at the elbow with the palm put towards the skull, the other arm is alongside the body or at
the abdomen/pelvic area (Goran-Slatina 2/4, 13; Zeglatzi-Orlyak 2/1). According to L.
Nikolova these would be graves of type І/2, 4 generally assigned to the Pit-Grave Culture
without any chronological determinations (Nikolova 1999, 426). However, there is suf-
ficient evidence for the relative dating of this group. A golden hair-ring, a necklace of 30
silver beads and a ceramic bowl with internally-thickened rim and tunnel-like lug (lugs?)
have been found at Goran-Slatina, barrow No. 2, grave No. 4 (Китов и др. 1991, 57-60,
обр. 31, 33). The shape and the decoration of the bowl – incised triangles filled with verti-
cal incisions – find their analogies at Sucidava-Celei, level 2g in Oltenia (compare Китов
и др. 1991, обр. 31 with Nica 1982, fig. 12/1) which gives ground to consider them as
simultaneous. Celei, level 2g dates to EBA Ib according to the Bulgarian periodization
of the Bronze Age that is contemporary to the Zimnicea cemetery, to the “cist” graves
north of the Danube river and to a part of the Varna-lakes material (Alexandrov 2002).
Therefore, at the present state of research, this phase of graves with extended inhumations
should be dated to EBA Ib.
According to the typology of the barrow graves with extended inhumations in Mol-
davia the graves in discussion fall in group 3: extended inhumations in rectangular pits.
They are always later than the other extended inhumations and could be considered as si-
Rehistoric barrow graves with extended inhumations between the Danube... 289

multaneous with the Dniester variant of the Pit-Grave Culture graves (Leviţki et al. 1996,
61-62). Analogies could be found in the so called Alexandrovka type graves from the
North Pontic region that are supposed to be integrated in the Pit-Grave Culture move-
ment to the Lower Danube basin (Burtănescu 1996, 97; Burtănescu 2002, 395-396). It is
obvious that unlike the other regions, the Pit-Grave Culture between the Danube and the
Balkan Range shows a big variety in skeleton positions (Панайотов 1989, 46-47). Along-
side the ‘typical’ supine inhumations with flexed legs, crouched inhumations in rectangu-
lar pits as well as the discussed graves characterize the Lower Danube Pit-Grave Culture
mortuary practices (Alexandrov 2010). Probably, all three different body positions in the
grave reflect the complexity of the Pit-Grave Culture movements to the south-west, in
the Lower Danube and Thrace. The nature and mechanism of that movement is still to be
investigated.
IV. Barrow graves with extended inhumations which are later than the Pit-Grave
Culture graves. Extended inhumations in four-sided pits, no other constructions, hands
alongside the body. Goran-Slatina 3/2, Chilia veche 2/2 and probably Riltzi 2/3 should
be included in this group. South of the Balkan Range there is only one barrow grave with
extended inhumation in four-sided pit, Troyanovo, barrow No. 1, grave No. 2. The grave
is secondary, dug into the first barrow heap. The primary grave is with supine position
with flexed legs, hands alongside the body (Буюклиев 1964, 63-65). According to F.
Burtănescu, Chilia veche 2/2 should be related to the Catacomb Culture or even later,
to the Belozerka Culture. The same author associates with the same culture three graves
from Baldovineşti, four graves from Smeeni and one grave from Gurbaneşti in Muntenia
as well as the grave from Troyanovo (Burtănescu 1996, 91-92). For now, there is no suf-
ficient evidence to relate this group to the Pit-Grave Culture. The link to the Catacomb
Culture is still to be proved but a chronological position in EBA III or later is to be con-
sidered.
There is no enough information to relate the Anadolkioi 1/1 and Madara 3/1, 2
graves to one of the above mentioned phases. Based on some elements such as orienta-
tion, position of the arms, legs and the skull, the Kalugeritsa 7/3 and Madara 1/2 graves
could date to the late medieval period and to be associated with the Christian mortuary
practices (Панайотов 1989, 80; Петрунова 1996).
290 Stefan Alexandrov

Conclusions
Twelve barrow graves with extended inhumations between the Danube and the
Balkan Range could be dated to several prehistoric periods. The earliest barrow grave
south of the Danube seems to be Polsko Kosovo, grave No. 1 (group II). It could date even
to the end of the Gumelniţa-Karanovo VI period. The extended burials in oval pits of
group III should be related either to Cernavodă I or Cernavodă III Culture. The extended
burials in rectangular pits from group I.2 date to the EBA Ib and are to bе associated with
the Pit-Grave Culture’s advance into the Lower Danube. Some of the graves of groups I.1
and IV are to be dated to the EBA III period or even later.

References
Александров, Бенъм 1995: С. Александров, А. Бенъм. Могилен гроб от ранната бронзова
епоха до с. Белица, Тутраканско. – В: Тутракан и неговото място в историята на Добруд-
жа. Разград, 1995, 49-54.
Борозияк 1984: И. Борозияк. Раскопки кургана у ст. Етулия в 1979 г. – В: Курганы в зонах
новостроек Молдавии. Кишинев, 1984, 76-89.
Буюклиев 1964: Х. Буюклиев. Две раннотракийски могилни погребения от Старозагорс-
ко. – Археология, 1964, 4, 63-65.
Георгиева 2005: П. Георгиева. За зооморфните скиптри и последните етапи на
късноенеолитните култури Варна, Коджадермен-Гумелница-Караново VІ и Криводол-
Сълкуца. – В: Stephanos Archaeologicos. In Honorem Professoris Ludmil Getov (Studia Ar-
chaeologica Universitatis Serdicensis, Supplementum 4). София, 2005, 144-167
Дергачев 1986: В. Дергачев. Молдавия и соседние територии в эпохи бронзы. Кишинев,
1986.
Дергачев 1999: В. Дергачев. Особености культурно-исторического развития Карпато-Под-
нестровя. – Stratum plus, 1999, 2, 169-221.
Китов и др. 1991: Г. Китов, И. Панайотов, П. Павлов. Могилни некрополи в Ловешкия
край. Ранна бронзова епоха. (Некрополът Горан – Слатина) (Разкопки и проучвания,
23). София, 1991.
Ковалева 2001: И. Ф. Ковалева. “Вытянутые” погребения из раскопок В.А. Городцовым
курганов Донетчины в контексте постмариопольской культуры. – В: Бронзовой век
Восточной Европой: Характеристика культур, хронология и периодизация. Самара,
2001, 20-24.
Миков 1934: В. Миков. Последни могилни находки. – В: Мадара, 1. София, 1934, 429-438.
Миков 1936: В. Миков. Стари могилни гробове при Калугерица и Кюлевча. – В: Мадара,
2. София, 1936, 3-10.
Николова 2000: Л. Николова. Ямная культура на Балканах. – Stratum plus, 2000, 2, 423-458.
Панайотов 1989: И. Панайотов. Ямната култура в българските земи. (Разкопки и
проучвания, 21). София, 1989.
Rehistoric barrow graves with extended inhumations between the Danube... 291

Петрунова 1996: Б. Петрунова. Погребални обичаи и обреди в българските земи през ХV-
ХVІІ век. (По данни от християнските некрополи). Автореферат на дисертация. София,
1996.
Станчев 2002: Д. Станчев. Резултати от археологическите разкопки на могилата Яланджи
тепе до с. Полско Косово, Русенско. – В: Πιτύη. Изследвания в чест на проф. Иван Ма-
разов. София, 2002, 519-531.
Яровой 1985: Е. В. Яровой. Древнейшие скотоводческие племена Югозапада СССР. Ки-
шинев, 1985.
Яровой 2000: Е. В. Яровой. Скотоводческое население северо-западного Причерноморья
эпохи раннего метала. Автореферат дисертации. Москва, 2000.
Agulnikov, Paşa 2008: S. Agulnikov, V. Paşa. Morminte eneolotice târzii din regiunea Prutului
inferior. – Peuce, 6, 2008, 29-40.
Alexandrov 2002: S. Alexandrov. Post Cernavodă III-Boleráz Phenomena South of the Danube.
– Годишник на Археологическия институт с музей, 2, 2002, 140-147.
Alexandrov 2010: S. Alexandrov. Forth – second millennium BC barrow graves in North Bulga-
ria. – In: В. Атанасов (съст.). Реката и времето. Тутракан, 2010, 27-40.
Burtănescu 1996: F. Burtănescu. Consideraţii asupra unor morminte tumulare de pe teritoriul
Moldovei (perioada de tranzitie – bronz timpuriu). – Thraco- Dacica, 17, 1996, 87-116.
Burtănescu 2002: F. Burtănescu. Epoca timpurie a bronzului între Carpaţi şi Prut. (Biblioteca
Thracologica, 27). Bucureşti, 2002.
Cavruc, Neagu 1995: V. Cavruc, M. Neagu. Date noi privind stratigrafia Grădiştei Coslogeni. –
Cultura şi Civilizaţie la Dunarea de Jos, 13-14, 1995, 71-80.
Dergacev 1994: V. Dergacev. Epoca bronzului. Perioada timpurie. – Thraco-Dacica, 15, 1994,
1-2, 121-140.
Harţuche 2002: N. Harţuche. Complexul arheologic Brăiliţa. (Biblioteca Thracologica, 35).
Bucureşti, 2002.
Haşotti 1997: P. Haşotti. Epoca neolitică în Dobrugea. (Biblioteca Tomitana, 1). Constanţa.
1997.
Häusler 1976: А. Häusler. Die Gräber der alteren Ockergrabkultur zwischen Dnepr und Kar-
paten. Berlin, 1976.
Leahu, Trohani 1979: V. Leahu, G. Trohani. Săpăturile arheologice de la Vităneşti, jud. Teleor-
man. – Cercetări Arheologice, 3, 1979, 127-141.
Leviţki et al. 1996: O. Leviţki, I. Manzura, T. Demcenko. Necropola tumulară de la Sărăteni.
(Biblioteca Thracologica, 17). Bucureşti, 1996.
Manzura 1993: I. Manzura. The East-West Interaction in the Mirror of the Eneolithic and Early
Bronze Age Cultures in the North-West Pontic. – Revista Arheologica, 1, 1993, 23-53.
Manzura 1994: I. Manzura. Culturi eneolitice în zona de stepă. – Thraco-Dacica, 15, 1994, 1-2,
92-101.
Manzura 1995: I. Manzura. East-West Interactions in the Eneolithic and Bronze Age Cultures of
the North-West Pontic region. – Journal of Indo-European Studies, 23, 1995, 1-2, 1-49.
Manzura 1999: I. Manzura. The Cernavodă I Culture. – In: L. Nikolova (ed.). The Balkans in
later prehistory. BAR International Series, 791. London, 1999, 95-174.
292 Stefan Alexandrov

Nikolova 1999: L. Nikolova. The Balkans in later prehistory. BAR International Series, 791. Lon-
don, 1999.
Rassamakin 1994: J. Rassamakin. The main directions of the development of early pastoral soci-
eties of Northern Pontic zone: 4500-2450 BC (Pre-yamnaya Cultures and Yamnaya Culture).
– In: Nomadism and Pastoralism in the Circle of Baltic-Pontic Early Agrarian Cultures: 5000-
1650 BC. Baltic-Pontic Studies, 2, 1994, 29-70.
Rassamakin 2004а: J. Rassamakin. Die nordpontische Steppe in der Kupferzeit. Teil I – Text.
(Archäologie in Eurasien, 17). Mainz, 2004.
Rassamakin 2004b: J. Rassamakin. Die nordpontische Steppe in der Kupferzeit. Teil II – Kata-
log, Tafeln. (Archäologie in Eurasien, 17). Mainz, 2004.
Schuchhardt, Traeger 1919: C. Schuchhardt, P. Traeger. Aufgrabung zweier Tumuli bei Cons-
tanza. – Praehistorische Zeitschrift, 10, 1918 (1919), 150-155.
Vasiliu 1995: I. Vasiliu. Cercetări arheologice în delta Dunării. Mormintele cu ocru de la Chilia
Veche. – Peuce, 11, 1995, 49-87.
Vasiliu 2004: I. Vasiliu. Cercetările arheologice de salvare de la Frecăţei, jud. Tulcea. – Peuce, 15,
2004, 9-32.

Праисторически могилни гробове с трупополагане

в изпънато положение между Дунав и Стара планина
(резюме)
Стефан Александров

В статията са дискутирани седемнайсет праисторически могилни гроба с трупопо-

лагане в изпънато положение, открити между р. Дунав и Стара планина. Въз основа на ха-
рактеристикте на гробните комплекси са изведени четири основни групи гробове. След
анализ на стратиграфската позиция на отделните групи и съпоставянето им с погребалните
практики в хронологическите хоризонти „Чернавода І” и „Ямна култура” са направени след-
ните изводи:
Само дванайсет от седемнайсетте гробни комплекса могат да се отнесат към диску-
тираните праисторически периоди. Най-ранен е гроб №1 от Полско Косово, отнесен към
периода Чернавода І, с възможност за още по-ранното му датиране в края на периода Гу-
мелница – Караново VІ. Гробовете в овални ями от група ІІІ са отнесени към периода Чер-
навода І – Чернавода ІІІ. Гробовете в правоъгълни ями (група І.2. датират от фаза РБЕ Іb и
могат да се свържат с придвижването на носителите на Ямната култура на юг от Дунав. Част
от гробовете от групи І.1. и ІV датират в етапа РБЕ ІІІ или по-късно.