Chronological considerations for the use of the Late Roman–Migration period Cemetery at Plinkaigalis, Lithuania

Bibliographic Data

ID9245287
AuthorsAlexandria R Orozco (0009-0007-2397-6291), Laurynas Kurila (0000-0002-7956-1120), Viktorija Micelicaitė (0000-0003-0860-1866), Rimantas Jankauskas (0000-0001-7611-2576), Scott Branting, Simonas Gutautas, Jessica R Robkin, Annalise Whalen, Atakan Atabas
Year2024
Volume66
Issue4
Pages732-749
Publication date2024-08-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRadiocarbon (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-8222 • E-ISSN: 1945-5755
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/rdc.2024.95
OpenAlexW4403133605
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited25

This study presents new (n=32) and previously published (n=35) human bone 14 C AMS dates from 54 individuals interred in 50 burials in the Plinkaigalis cemetery (3rd–7th century AD, Lithuania). The aim of this study is to establish duration of use and identify temporal subgroups within the cemetery. Individuals in group burials were assessed for temporal agreement across individuals and the dates for individuals with multiple dates were combined using OxCal. The Sum command, Interval command, and two Bayesian models (overlapping and abutting periods of use) were used to approximate the use of the site over time and evaluate the chronology of dated burials. An IDW (inverse distance weighted) model was employed to visualize median radiocarbon dates across the cemetery for comparison to earlier IDW interpolations of time at Plinkaigalis. While the two models cannot be distinguished at this time, it can be determined that the site was likely in continuous use from 200–600 cal AD (Sum), 230–560 cal AD (Model 1), 220–550 cal AD (Model 2), or cal 283–508 AD (IDW). The area of the cemetery associated with earliest use shifted east when the IDW model was compared to original data. There was also poor agreement in some group burials and burials with multiple dates. The models generally agree on assignment of burials to phases, but disparate phase assignment was noted across the IDW and Bayesian models. Temporal subgroups cannot be confidently reclassified beyond early/later periods of use based on these models without additional sampling and refinement of the IDW modeling method

Absolute dating · Archaeology · Art · Geography · Physical geography · Radiocarbon dating · Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · History · Geology

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