THE ABSOLUTE CHRONOLOGY OF COLLECTIVE BURIALS FROM THE 2ND MILLENNIUM BC IN EAST CENTRAL EUROPE

ABSTRACT This article discusses the absolute chronology of collective burials Trzciniec Cultural Circle communities Middle Bronze Age in East Central Europe. Based on Bayesian modeling 91 accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14 C) dates from 18 cemeteries, practice burying individuals was linked to a period 400–640 (95.4%) years, between 1830–1690 and 1320–1160 BC. Collective mounds with both cremation inhumation rites were found earliest upland zone regardless grave structure type (mounded or flat). C determinations suggests that this being transmitted generally southeast northwest direction. largest cemetery Żerniki Górne, Lesser Poland Upland, confirmed duration use necropolis as ca. 140–310 years. Further results show partial contemporaneity allow formulation spatial temporal development model necropolis. investigation, some graves used over just couple years others nearly 200, up 30 single grave.