guy Posted February 20 Report Share Posted February 20 (edited) A Roman-era coffin, containing “the Princess of Bagicz,” has been the source of controversy. It is the only wooden coffin from the Roman era found in Poland. It was discovered in northwestern Poland in 1899, after erosion caused it to fall off a cliff into the Baltic Sea. The coffin is a hollow oak log typical of the Wielbark culture (1st–4th c. AD). The woman, aged 25–30 and about 145 cm tall, showed signs of lower-spine osteoarthritis, suggesting she engaged in hard labor despite her elite burial. Grave goods included a bronze fibula, a bone pin, two bronze bracelets, and a necklace made of glass and amber. Organic items such as a stool, hide, and textiles were originally present but were lost during WWII. The burial's dating has been a subject of debate. Radiocarbon analysis yielded a date range of 160 BCE to AD 50, while the artifacts suggested a later date of AD 110-160. A dendrochronological analysis of the tree rings was conducted in 2024. It suggested that her wooden coffin was made around AD 120 (± 7 or 8 years). The burial of the Princess of Bagicz, long debated due to conflicting radiocarbon and typological dates, has now been precisely dated to the early 2nd century AD based on dendrochronological analysis of the oak log coffin. The woman, a young adult of modest stature but high social status, was interred with jewelry and imported materials characteristic of the Wielbark culture. Isotope analysis indicates Scandinavian origins, possibly Öland (an island off the southeast coast of Sweden in the Baltic Sea). This case illustrates the limitations of radiocarbon dating in environments influenced by reservoir and hard-water effects. Late Roman writer Jordanes claimed the Goths originated in Scandinavia and crossed the Baltic to settle near the Vistula. Archaeology can't confirm this directly, but it does show a surge in Scandinavian cultural elements during the formation of the Wielbark culture. Burial practices such as log coffins, stone circles, specific brooches, and elite female dress resemble those of southern Sweden, especially Öland and Gotland. The Princess of Bagicz burial illustrates Scandinavian mobility and influence during the early Wielbark period. Her oak log coffin, dated to around AD 120, along with her grave goods, situates her within this cultural context. Strontium isotope analysis shows she came from Öland, Sweden, providing rare evidence of Scandinavian movement. Her coffin, jewelry, and burial style align with Scandinavian elite traditions, reflecting migration, cultural blending, and identity formation related to the Goths. Her burial confirms that Scandinavians were present and shaping the region's cultural landscape. https://archaeologymag.com/2026/02/the-princess-of-bagicz-re-dated/ https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/75418 https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/new-study-resolves-dating-discrepancy-in-roman-iron-age-coffin https://www.newsdirectory3.com/roman-coffin-age-solved-dendrochronology-dates-princess-of-bagicz/ Dating Ancient Wood: Edited February 20 by guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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