A Group Burial in the Chernyakhiv Culture Cemetery of Viytenky

The cemetery represents part of an archaeological complex of the late Roman to early Great Migration period located in the eastern part of the area of the Chernyakhiv/Sântana de Mureş culture. In all, 273 graves (128 inhumations, 143 cremations, and 2 cenotaphs) were discovered there, belonging to the stages C3–D1 in the system of J. Teiral or to M. V. Lyubichev’s phases B–E of the ‘classical’ Chernyakhiv culture of the DnieperDonets forest-steppe region. Grave 183 sheds additional light on the problem of group burials in the Chernyakhiv/Sântana de Mureş culture. The number and placement of postpits in the grave is analogous to Grave 224 of the Dančeny burial ground, suggesting the similarity of the original wooden chambers. Two skeletons were found in the grave, anthropologically identified as a man of 18-20 years old and a woman of 30-35 years old. The grave inventory includes ceramic vessels, metal clothing accessories, and household utensils. The ceramic vessels form a so-called ‘complete drinking service,’ in which a special place belongs to a ‘decanter’ jug. Its distinction lies in the zoomorphic ornament that decorates it. On the belt, five successive animal figures in motion are depicted in recessed, slashed lines, representing an ornament of a combined type. Figurative images of animals are very rare not only on vessels of the Chernyakhiv culture, but also on those from the areas of Roman-era cultures in Central Europe — the territory of Germania Magna. The closest to the images on the ‘decanter’ jug from Grave 183 in terms of motif, composition, and technique is the zoomorphic image on a three-handled vase from the cremation grave 1 of the Kaborga IV Chernyakhiv cemetery in southwestern Ukraine. The wooden chamber of Grave 183 was built for the burial of several individuals, most likely members of the same family and clan. The chamber has space for more than two bodies, but only two were interred; the free space may be interpreted as the entrance to the chamber. The two deceased were probably buried at the same time, in a similar crouched position. Group burials are not a common phenomenon in Chernyakhiv cemeteries, but they do occur. The fairly high social status of the two deceased from Grave 183 is evidenced by: 1) a large burial chamber; 2) a ceramic ‘drinking service,’ including the ‘decanter’ jug with a unique zoomorphic ornament; 3) a unique fibula (possibly two); 4) remains of sacrificial food.