The Preservation State of Human Bones From the Early Medieval Burial Ground in Valaliky (Eastern Slovakia) in the Context of Natural Influences
The Preservation State of Human Bones From the Early Medieval Burial Ground in Valaliky (Eastern Slovakia) in the Context of Natural Influences

Summary/Abstract: Archaeological research of the burial ground in Valaliky (Košice-okolie district) uncovered 280 graves from the Early Middle Ages. One of the results of the analyses is an overview of the preservation state of skeletal remains, which is highly variable. This paper aims to identify the factors that influenced the degree of preservation of skeletal remains. It evaluates the influence of biological (age, sex), cultural (several features of the burial rite: depth of the burial pit, presence/absence of a coffin) and natural factors (soil pH, geological and pedological substrate, placement of graves within the local environment). The results of the analyzed sample revealed a statistically significant relationship between the age of the individual and the degree of preservation of skeletal remains, with worse preservation confirmed in juvenile individuals. Gender was not proven to be a significant factor. Another element was the influence of soil pH, but it was reliably demonstrated only in a set of adult individuals. In this case, lower pH values proved to be a negatively influencing factor. Statistically significant relationships were not confirmed among the other variables monitored. The obtained results indicate a combined influence of paleodemographic and environmental factors on the degree of preservation of osteological findings.

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