This article is about prehistoric culture of the Lusatian region. For the modern culture of the region, see Lusatia.
The Lusatian culture existed in the later Bronze Age and early Iron Age (1700 BC – 500 BC) in most of what is now Poland and parts of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, eastern Germany and western Ukraine. It covers the Periods Montelius III (early Lusatian culture) to V of the Northern European chronological scheme.
There were close contacts with the Nordic Bronze Age.[1]Hallstatt and La Tène influences can also be seen particularly in ornaments (fibulae, pins) and weapons.
Reconstructed fortifications and longhouses at Biskupin
The Lusatian culture developed as the preceding Trzciniec culture experienced influences from the Tumulus culture of the Middle Bronze Age, essentially incorporating the local communities into the socio-political network of Iron Age Europe.[2] It formed part of the Urnfield systems found from eastern France, southern Germany and Austria to Hungary and the Nordic Bronze Age in northwestern Germany and Scandinavia. It was followed by the Billendorf culture of the Early Iron Age in the West. In Poland, the Lusatian culture is taken have spanned part of the Iron Age as well (there is only a terminological difference) and was succeeded in Montelius VIIbc in the northern ranges around the mouth of Vistula by the Pomeranian culture spreading south.
'Lusatian-type' burials were first described by the German pathologist and archaeologist Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902). The name refers to the Lusatia area in eastern Germany (Brandenburg and Saxony) and western Poland. Virchow identified the pottery artifacts as 'pre-Germanic' but refused to speculate on the ethnic identity of their makers.[citation needed] The Polish archeologist Józef Kostrzewski, who started in 1934 to conduct extensive excavations of a Lusatian settlement of Biskupin, hypothesised that the Lusatian culture was a predecessor of later cultures that belonged to the early Slavs.[3] Modern archeologists, such as Kazimierz Godłowski and Piotr Kaczanowski, hold the view that the ethnic geography of Bronze Age Central Europe then included peoples whose languages and ethnic identity are simply unknown.[4][5]
Culture
Burial was by cremation; inhumations are rare. The urn is usually accompanied by numerous (up to 40) secondary vessels. Metal grave gifts are sparse, but there are numerous hoards (such as Kopaniewo, Pomerania) that contain rich metalwork, both bronze and gold (hoard of Eberswalde, Brandenburg). Graves containing moulds, like at Bataune, Saxony and tuyeres, attest to the production of bronze tools and weapons at the village level. The 'royal' tomb of Seddin, Brandenburg, Germany, covered by a large earthen barrow, contained Mediterranean imports like bronze vessels and glass beads. Cemeteries can be quite large and contain thousands of graves.
Well-known settlements include Biskupin, in Poland, and Buch, near Berlin. There are both open villages and fortified settlements (burgwall or gord) on hilltops or in swampy areas. The ramparts were constructed of wooden boxes filled with soil or stones.
Its economy was mainly based on arable agriculture, as is attested by numerous storage pits. Wheat (emmer) and six-row barley formed the basic crops, together with millet, rye and oats, peas, broad beans, lentils, and gold of pleasure (Camelina sativa). Flax was grown, and remains of domesticated apples, pears, and plums have been found. Cattle and pigs were the most important domestic animals, followed by sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. Pictures on Iron Age urns from Silesia attest horse riding, but horses were used to draw chariots as well. Hunting was practiced, as bones of red and roe deer, boar, bison, elk, hare, fox, and wolf attest, but it did not provide much of the meat consumed. The numerous frog bones found at Biskupin may indicate that frogs' legs were eaten as well.
^[1]Kaliff, Anders. 2001. Gothic Connections. Contacts between eastern Scandinavia and the southern Baltic coast 1000 BC – 500 AD. Occasional Papers in Archaeology 26. Uppsala., OPIA 26 - Uppsala University
^Józef Kostrzewski, Od mezolitu do okresu wędrówek ludów, Prehistoria ziem polskich, Kraków 1939.
^Kazimierz Godłowski, Z badań nad zagadnieniem rozprzestrzeniania Słowian w V–VII w. n.e.
^Piotr Kaczanowski, Epoka brązu – pomiędzy centrami cywilizacyjnymi Bałkanów i Alp a Skandynawią [w:] Wielka historia Polski, t. I, Fogra, Kraków 2003, s. 170.
^Kaczmarek, Maciej (2022). "Kaliska I: a Late Bronze Age metal hoard from Pomerania (Poland)". Antiquity. 96 (390): 1612–1620. doi:10.15184/aqy.2022.119. S2CID 253071583.
^Meller, Harald (2021). "The Nebra Sky Disc – astronomy and time determination as a source of power". Time is power. Who makes time?: 13th Archaeological Conference of Central Germany. Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle (Saale). ISBN978-3-948618-22-3. This Late Bronze Age belt hook from Radolinek (former Floth), woj. wielkopolskie (Poland), shows two ships, keels facing each other, on each of which a figure stands with arms raised in worship. Above each ship, three phases of the sun's journey are shown. The sun is pulled across the sky by birds and only seems to rest at its zenith. The metal plate is framed at the edges by two more sun-ships
Further reading
J. M. Coles and A. F. Harding, The Bronze Age in Europe (London 1979).
Dabrowski, J. (1989) Nordische Kreis und Kulturen Polnischer Gebiete. Die Bronzezeit im Ostseegebiet. Ein Rapport der Kgl. Schwedischen Akademie der Literatur-Geschichte und Altertumsforschung über das Julita-Symposium 1986. Ed Ambrosiani, B. Kungl. Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien. Konferenser 22. Stockholm.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lusatian culture.
Hypothetical reconstruction of a Lusatian culture settlement, raised using only bronze age tools - Wola Radziszowska (near Cracow)- Poland
Kaliska I: a Late Bronze Age metal hoard from Pomerania (Poland)
April 12, 2023
lusatian, culture, this, article, about, prehistoric, culture, lusatian, region, modern, culture, region, lusatia, existed, later, bronze, early, iron, 1700, most, what, poland, parts, czech, republic, slovakia, eastern, germany, western, ukraine, covers, peri. This article is about prehistoric culture of the Lusatian region For the modern culture of the region see Lusatia The Lusatian culture existed in the later Bronze Age and early Iron Age 1700 BC 500 BC in most of what is now Poland and parts of the Czech Republic Slovakia eastern Germany and western Ukraine It covers the Periods Montelius III early Lusatian culture to V of the Northern European chronological scheme Lusatian cultureLusatian culture s furthest extent green Alternative namesLausitz cultureGeographical rangeCentral EuropePeriodLate Bronze Age to early Iron AgeDatesc 1200 500 BCPreceded byTrzciniec culture Tumulus culture Nordic Bronze Age Urnfield cultureFollowed byPomeranian culture CimmeriansThere were close contacts with the Nordic Bronze Age 1 Hallstatt and La Tene influences can also be seen particularly in ornaments fibulae pins and weapons Contents 1 Origins 2 Culture 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksOrigins Edit Reconstructed Biskupin Poland Reconstructed fortifications and longhouses at Biskupin The Lusatian culture developed as the preceding Trzciniec culture experienced influences from the Tumulus culture of the Middle Bronze Age essentially incorporating the local communities into the socio political network of Iron Age Europe 2 It formed part of the Urnfield systems found from eastern France southern Germany and Austria to Hungary and the Nordic Bronze Age in northwestern Germany and Scandinavia It was followed by the Billendorf culture of the Early Iron Age in the West In Poland the Lusatian culture is taken have spanned part of the Iron Age as well there is only a terminological difference and was succeeded in Montelius VIIbc in the northern ranges around the mouth of Vistula by the Pomeranian culture spreading south Lusatian type burials were first described by the German pathologist and archaeologist Rudolf Virchow 1821 1902 The name refers to the Lusatia area in eastern Germany Brandenburg and Saxony and western Poland Virchow identified the pottery artifacts as pre Germanic but refused to speculate on the ethnic identity of their makers citation needed The Polish archeologist Jozef Kostrzewski who started in 1934 to conduct extensive excavations of a Lusatian settlement of Biskupin hypothesised that the Lusatian culture was a predecessor of later cultures that belonged to the early Slavs 3 Modern archeologists such as Kazimierz Godlowski and Piotr Kaczanowski hold the view that the ethnic geography of Bronze Age Central Europe then included peoples whose languages and ethnic identity are simply unknown 4 5 Culture EditBurial was by cremation inhumations are rare The urn is usually accompanied by numerous up to 40 secondary vessels Metal grave gifts are sparse but there are numerous hoards such as Kopaniewo Pomerania that contain rich metalwork both bronze and gold hoard of Eberswalde Brandenburg Graves containing moulds like at Bataune Saxony and tuyeres attest to the production of bronze tools and weapons at the village level The royal tomb of Seddin Brandenburg Germany covered by a large earthen barrow contained Mediterranean imports like bronze vessels and glass beads Cemeteries can be quite large and contain thousands of graves Well known settlements include Biskupin in Poland and Buch near Berlin There are both open villages and fortified settlements burgwall or gord on hilltops or in swampy areas The ramparts were constructed of wooden boxes filled with soil or stones Its economy was mainly based on arable agriculture as is attested by numerous storage pits Wheat emmer and six row barley formed the basic crops together with millet rye and oats peas broad beans lentils and gold of pleasure Camelina sativa Flax was grown and remains of domesticated apples pears and plums have been found Cattle and pigs were the most important domestic animals followed by sheep goats horses and dogs Pictures on Iron Age urns from Silesia attest horse riding but horses were used to draw chariots as well Hunting was practiced as bones of red and roe deer boar bison elk hare fox and wolf attest but it did not provide much of the meat consumed The numerous frog bones found at Biskupin may indicate that frogs legs were eaten as well Gallery Edit Lusatian weapons Various artefacts Bronze and Iron age Socketed axes and armrings Bronze cult wagon model Pottery from Biskupin Lusatian cinerary urn Pottery and figurines Necklaces and armrings Bronze fibulae Fibula and armrings Bronze Age ornaments Bronze vessel Poland c 950 BC Bronze collar with sun ship motifs 6 Gold and bronze ornaments Bronze armrings Seddin grave contents Belt plate with sun ship motif Poland 9th c BC 7 Bronze armbands Bronze tableware 1200 1000 BC Bronze spiral spectacle pendants Gold diadem from Sichow Poland Bronze hanging bowls Poland Lusatian pottery Lusatian potterySee also EditLusatia Urnfield culture Nordic Bronze Age Hallstatt culture Schweinert burial moundsReferences Edit 1 Kaliff Anders 2001 Gothic Connections Contacts between eastern Scandinavia and the southern Baltic coast 1000 BC 500 AD Occasional Papers in Archaeology 26 Uppsala OPIA 26 Uppsala University Dolukhanov 1996 113 Jozef Kostrzewski Od mezolitu do okresu wedrowek ludow Prehistoria ziem polskich Krakow 1939 Kazimierz Godlowski Z badan nad zagadnieniem rozprzestrzeniania Slowian w V VII w n e Piotr Kaczanowski Epoka brazu pomiedzy centrami cywilizacyjnymi Balkanow i Alp a Skandynawia w Wielka historia Polski t I Fogra Krakow 2003 s 170 Kaczmarek Maciej 2022 Kaliska I a Late Bronze Age metal hoard from Pomerania Poland Antiquity 96 390 1612 1620 doi 10 15184 aqy 2022 119 S2CID 253071583 Meller Harald 2021 The Nebra Sky Disc astronomy and time determination as a source of power Time is power Who makes time 13th Archaeological Conference of Central Germany Landesmuseum fur Vorgeschichte Halle Saale ISBN 978 3 948618 22 3 This Late Bronze Age belt hook from Radolinek former Floth woj wielkopolskie Poland shows two ships keels facing each other on each of which a figure stands with arms raised in worship Above each ship three phases of the sun s journey are shown The sun is pulled across the sky by birds and only seems to rest at its zenith The metal plate is framed at the edges by two more sun shipsFurther reading EditJ M Coles and A F Harding The Bronze Age in Europe London 1979 Dabrowski J 1989 Nordische Kreis und Kulturen Polnischer Gebiete Die Bronzezeit im Ostseegebiet Ein Rapport der Kgl Schwedischen Akademie der Literatur Geschichte und Altertumsforschung uber das Julita Symposium 1986 Ed Ambrosiani B Kungl Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien Konferenser 22 Stockholm External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lusatian culture Hypothetical reconstruction of a Lusatian culture settlement raised using only bronze age tools Wola Radziszowska near Cracow Poland Kaliska I a Late Bronze Age metal hoard from Pomerania Poland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lusatian culture amp oldid 1138307239, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
