Thunau am Kamp - An Early Medieval Burial Site

The burial ground on the Obere Holzwiese consists of 215 burials and is therefore by far the largest burial site of Carolingian times uncovered in Lower Austria north of the Danube. After being archaeologically investigated between 1987 and 1993, presentation of the burial ground as a whole, and associated scientific analyses, is given in this volume. Further investigations concerning archaeobotanics, material analyses, metallography, anthropology, textiles and leather contribute crucially to the augmentation of knowledge. On the Schanzberg of Thunau am Kamp a fortified central settlement, a centre of power, existed in Early Medieval times. It is the only extensively excavated site of this kind in Lower Austria. The burial ground belonged to a `manor farm`, which built the core of the site. It is to be counted as one of the prestige burial areas which formed an essential part of the political centres on the eastern periphery of the Carolingian Empire. Burial grounds serve as a valuable source for archaeology, as social affiliations of different kinds find expression in burial customs, influenced by actual conditions as well as perceptions. Thus special attention is paid to the investigation of social identities and relationships of the buried, especially social status and age-specific gender roles. In particular, burial practices deviating from the norm and multiple burials offered the possibility to study underlying motivations. Thunau is situated between the two spheres of power of the enlarged Carolingian Empire and the Great Moravian Empire; the political affiliation of extended parts of Lower Austria north of the Danube is unclear. Analysis of the burial ground seems to point to temporary cultural and political orientation towards the Moravian rather than Carolingian side. The majority of burials were laid down in the 9th century. In more than one third of the graves furnishings in terms of dress accessories and burial gifts (weapons, tools and food offerings) were preserved. A pathway through the burial ground is interpreted in terms of a division of the cemetery into areas of socially-higher and lower-positioned families. A grave-free space encourages the assumption of a wooden church. The elite of the hilltop site were buried in a separate group of graves. The aspiration towards distinct representation becomes clear, which was probably encouraged by luxurious burials in the nearby Moravian centres. A regional imprint finds expression mainly in the finds of female burials. In the last phase of burial in the early 10th century a re-strengthening of paganism seems to show. The named developments and the final abandonment of the cemetery are connected to the changed economic and political situation, as may be expected in consequence of the decline of Great Moravia, while settlement activity shifts to the foothill of the Schanzberg.

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