Investigations into richly furnished graves from the Urnfield period cemetery of Künzing (Land kreis Deggendorf, Lower Bavaria)

Abstract

During excavations on the area of the Urnfield period cemetery of Künzing (Landkreis Deggendorf) in 2003-2008 six burials were discovered which contained exceptionally rich burial-goods. For instance, grave A contained among other things parts of a wagon, horse-trappings of the so-called Thracian-Cimmerian sphere and a bronze vessel, while grave B contained a metal-hilted sword with iron inlays and grave C an oversized iron lance-head and a further bronze juglet. A spout from grave D can probably be deemed to
be an end-fitting of a drinking-horn. Whereas grave E was relatively poorly equipped with metal gravefinds, grave F was the richest with further parts of wagon- and horse-trappings, a metal-hilted sword, a sickle and two bronze vessels.
The graves date to the late Urnfield period. In all cases the cremated remains indicate male burials. Additionally, at least grave A was surrounded by a burial-plot, similar to two other burials from the necropolis already published, in which horse-trappings were also found.
In the context of the Künzing cemetery one can thus speculate whether the deceased in grave A certainly held a prominent position within the community, which can be designated as »chieftain« . Translation: