Textiles from the Hallstatt period cemetery in Domasław, Wrocław district (Poland). Textile symbolism of the funeral rite

Abstract

The article presents the remains of textiles excavated in Early Iron Age cremated graves in the cemetery in Domaslaw (Poland). The fragments were preserved in 62 burials, mainly richly furnished chamber graves, on jewellery, dress accessories, tools, and weapons. The analysis of the contexts of the finds reveals that urns were ‘dressed up’ and textile containers were used. The contextual analysis of the finds provides the basis for the conclusion that their use in funeral ceremonies had a ritualized form. The textiles in the graves confirm the adaptation of the customs of the European Hallstatt elites among the local community.

Keywords

• archaeological textiles
• Hallstatt period
• Hallstattization
• Domaslaw
• funeral rites
• ceremonies