Przedmioty kultu religijnego jako składnik wyposażenia zmarłych na wczesnośredniowiecznych cmentarzyskach szkieletowych w strefie chełmińsko-dobrzyńskiej

• Autorzy: Bojarski Jacek

Warianty tytułu

EN

Devotional artefacts as part of grave furnishing in early medieval inhumation cemeteries in the Chełmno-Dobrzyń zone

• Języki publikacji: PL

Abstrakty

EN

The subject of the article is a group of items associated with Christian religious symbolism. Among them there are typical devotional items such as crosses and openwork cross-shaped pendants as well as finger rings with representation of the cross or sacred inscriptions fulfilling the same function. In total 24 objects from 23 graves were analysed (Table 1). Almost all of them were located in the cemeteries operating within the two largest settlement complexes of the Chełmno-Dobrzyń zone - Kałdus, the pre-incotporation Chełmno, and Gruczno near Świecie (Fig. 1). Both settlements in the younger phases of the early Middle Ages were the main centres of production and exchange, fulfilling important political and religious functions in the administrative structures of the Polish state. The analysis shows that these items should be treated primarily as an expression of religious beliefs. More often, their owners were women, especially young ones, and children, also probably of the female sex. Very rarely they were found within men's furnishings - rather as a gift - and in the graves of mature women (maturus). In most cases, crosses and cross-shaped pendants were parts of necklaces made of glass beads. Apart from the necklaces, the grave goods included other jewellery items, such as temple rings or finger rings, but not those of a religious nature. However, the presence of tools, apart from knives, as well as vessels and weapons was not confirmed. The analysis of the origin of most of the devotional artefacts shows their association with the areas of Rus’ and the Greek cultural circle. This may be evidence of presence, especially in Gruczno, of people (women?) of the Orthodox denomination. The presence of crosses and finger rings of religious nature is an evidence of the consolidation of Christianity in the Chełmno-Dobrzyń zone, but they are also an important testimony to the fears deeply embedded in the minds of people of the time about the fate of the dead, who were to be protected by new, already Christian amulets placed in graves.

Słowa kluczowe

PL

wczesne średniowiecze; strefa chełmińsko-dobrzyńska; obrzędy pogrzebowe; wyposażenie, dewocjonalia

EN

early Middle Ages; Chełmno-Dobrzyń zone; burial rites; grave furnishing; devotional artefacts

• Wydawca: Muzeum Archeologiczne w Gdańsku
• Czasopismo: Pomorania Antiqua
• Rocznik: 2020
• Tom: Tom XXIX
• Strony: s. 73-108

Twórcy

autor

Bojarski Jacek

• Instytut Archeologii UMK w Toruniu, ul. Szosa Bydgoska 44/48, 87-100 Toruń,