Radiocarbon Dating of Cremated bone samples from the Site of the Hungarian Church at Păuca, Sibiu County

Abstract

Archaeological research in the site of Păuca - Hungarian Church started in 2010, and between 2012-2023 has uncovered over 116 graves, some being simple cremation graves with a deposit of remains in the urn, others being double graves (with two urns) and one being a mixed double grave (incineration and inhumation). The dating of the five samples from the cemetery would suggest that the beginnings of the Păuca cemetery is contemporary with the late Germanic period (Gepids) and the early Avar period. Admitting that it is more accurate to date closer to the upper limit of the range (7th century), the cemetery at Păuca could be connected with historical events that occurred between 567 and 630, i.e. the establishment and consolidation of Avar power in the Pannonian-Transylvanian space. The C14 dating of the cremated bones from the Păuca cemetery (Sibiu county) reopens the discussion on the need for more samples of C14 data from the cremation cemeteries attributed cemetery to the so-called Mediaș group and simultaneously may represent a turning point in the evaluation of the chronology of the period between 6th and 8th centuries A.D.

Keywords

• c14 data
• cremation cemetery
• romania
• mediaș group
• migration period