Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 31/1. (2011)
Articles
TIMISOARA-FREIDORF OSTEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF HUMAN REMAINS Szilárd San dor GÁL Mures County Museum, Tärgu Mures, RO In the 1990 s at Timisoara-Freidorf three partially disturbed graves dated to the period of Huns were discovered. The physical anthropological analysis identified a case of artificial cranial deformation. The investigations also pointed out the Germanic character of the skeletons, outlining the importance of the Gepids in the political structure of the Hunnic Empire. Keywords: Timisoara-Freidorf, cemetery, artificial cranial deformation, Huns, Gepids Up to now, in Banat, south-western Romania only a few archaeological finds from the 5th century AD were discovered, and only one archaeological site - Freidorf - was scientifically investigated, while the other discoveries were collected incidentally. In 1988 three graves were unearthed, and two other graves were found in 1992 and 1995, all of them are already published (Mare 2000). Four more graves were discovered during a preventive archaeological research in 2006.1 From the first three graves only two had archaeological inventory dated in the first half of the 5th century AD, the third one was disturbed and only small fragments from the skull, a few phalanges and fragments of a corroded metal object could be recovered. The fourth grave was considered a cenotaph, probably contemporary with the others. The inventory of these graves reflect the rite and ritual burial customs of common people from the Hunnic period, ages known especially by the famous treasures and prince graves discoveries of the elite. The human osteologic remains have relatively good preservation conditions. During the anthropological analysis macroscopic and morpho-taxonomic methods were applied. The main investigations referred to: age estimation (based on Nemeskéri Et Al. 1960; Acsádi-Nemeskéri 1970; Stloukal-Hanáková 1978; Íscan EtAl. 1984; 1985; Meindl-Lovejoy 1985), sex determination (based on Éry Et Al. 1963; Sjovold 1990; Rösing 1988; Bernert 2005), dental analysis (based on Miles 1963), anthropometric and osteometric analysis (based on Martin-Saller 1957; Alekseev-Debets 1964) and pathology (after Józsa-Pap 1994; Lipták-Marcsik 1976). Grave no. 1 The state of the skull is precarious. Small fragments from the mastoid process (internal acoustic pore), small fragments from the parietal bones, temporal bones and occipital bone were recovered. The ecto-and endocranian sutures are open. Dental formula: 2102 (II.DM1; IV.DM1; 1 Summary of communication was submitted on A.R.A 12, April 2011. MARISIA XXXI, p. 283-289
