Der BAG-Förderpreis 2021 für Masterarbeiten wurde heute an Doris Jetzinger, BA, MA, Institut für Urgeschichte und Historische Archäologie (IUHA) der Universität Wien, verliehen. Der Vorstand der BAG gratuliert aufs Herzlichste!

Titel der Abschlussarbeit

Die mittelneolithischen Kinderbestattungen der Lengyel-Kultur aus Ölkam, Oberösterreich. Möglichkeiten der Analyse, Auswertung und Dokumentation von blockgeborgenen menschlichen Überresten

Abstract

This thesis studies two child burials without grave goods discovered in 1996 in settlement pits of the Middle Neolithic Lengyel Culture near Ölkam in Upper Austria. Both burials were superficially exposed on site, treated with wood glue due to their fragile condition and recovered in the block. The aim is to analyse the chronological and cultural context of the burials. Research methods were adapted to the circumstances of recovery and conservation. The blocks were 3D-documented using Image Based Modelling. A macroscopic anthropologic analysis was conducted to collect basic anthropological data. Bone samples for 14C dating by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry were taken from both skeletons to facilitate a chronological classification. To validate the results, collagen preservation was checked by means of the carbon to nitrogen ratio (collagen C:N ratio) using stable isotope analysis. Scaled orthophotos with a surface detail of 0.1 mm at a print scale of 1:2 and 3D models with a 3D surface detail between 0.52 and 0.68 mm were computed for both blocks. Both individuals were classified as Infans II, with ages at death of 9 – 10 and 10 – 11 years, respectively. Only one burial was successfully 14C-dated; it dates to the Westlengyel phase Ib with calibrated 14C-ages of 4600 – 4490 BC (68.2%) and 4620 – 4520 BC (62.7%). Collagen C:N ratios between 2.9 to 3.6 indicate acceptable collagen preservation, which attests to the reliability of the 14C results. Both burials can be addressed as typical Westlengyel burials and fit well into the cultural context of this group.