Grave 88 from the Biskupija – Crkvina site: Grob 88 s lokaliteta Biskupija – Crkvina

Abstract

In grave 88 at the Biskupija-Crkvina site, the deceased was buried with a pair of bronze Carolingian spurs. Recent revision excavations uncovered the skeleton from this grave, which had been initially investigated by Stjepan Gunjača in the mid 20th century. The discovery of this skeleton from one of the oldest graves at Crkvina enabled anthropological and radiocarbon analysis of the skeletal remains. The anthropological analysis revealed that the individual was a male aged between 30 and 40 years, with visible degenerative changes typical of cavalrymen. By comparing the 14C date, the typological chronology of the spurs, and the general archaeological context, the time of death of the individual from grave 88 is dated between 790 and 823 CE. Since previous datings and interpretations have been based solely on typological chronology and comparisons with other sites, the excavation revisions of the site represent a significant advancement in the further research and understanding of both the site itself and the entire Biskupija-Crkvina horizon.