DOI Kapitel:
K.W. Alt/W. Vach: Analysis of relationships within the Alemannic linear graveyard of Kirchheim/Ries (Germany)
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68088#0146
142
Summary
K. W. Alt / W. Vach:
Analysis of Relationships within the Alemannic linear graveyard of Kirchheim/Ries
(Germany)
Summary
These are the basic results of a study assessing genetic
relationships within the population of the Alemannic
cemetery of Kirchheim/Ries (Ostalbkreis, Baden-
Württemberg, Germany). They have been established by
morphological analysis of the skeletal material for
epigenetic traits. All mentioning of illustrations refers
to the German main text.
I. The Kirchheim/Ries cemetery
The cemetery of Kirchheim/Ries was discovered during
construction work in 1961 and the graves still intact were
subsequently excavated completely by the local
archaeological authority (Landesdenkmalamt Stuttgart).
These investigations, however, did not take into account
the unknown number of interments previously destroyed.
The results were published by Christiane Neuffer-Müller
(1983).
Fig. 1.1 contains a map of the entire cemetery (GF-
Gesammtgräberfeld). Three areas of interment can be
distinguished: a smaller western cemetery ÇWc-Westfriedhqf),
the considerably larger main cemetery (^-HauptfriedhoJ),
and a small burial compound spatially separated from
the rest. Because of its richly furnished graves this is
referred to as the “noble burial compound“ (AF-
Adelsfriedhof).
How the western and main cemeteries relate to each other
remains unclear as they are separated by the construction
trenches which also have destroyed a considerable number
of graves.
518 graves have been discovered at Kirchheim/Ries, 480
of which were recovered during the excavations effected
by the Stuttgart archaeological unit. The rest was dug
up unprofessionally before systematic investigation started.
All in all there are indications for the existence of 581
individual skeletons. However, only for 570 of them it
is known where exactly they have been found. Speculating
on the number of graves lost to construction work
Neuffer-Müller (1983) estimates that the cemetery initially
must have contained about 700 interments.
In 1991 L Jorgensen presented the results of an analysis
of relationship based on archaeological finds. For this
study he developed his own relative chronology for the
cemetery which in some points differs from the
chronological framework given by Neuffer-Müller. The
following table compares the two schemes.
Neuffer-Müller (1983)
Jorgensen (1991)
Phase 1
from the middle of 6th
cent.
AD 570 - 600
Phase 2
from the end of 6'h
cent, through first
quarter of 7 cent.
AD 590/600 - 630
Phase 3
second and third
quarter of 7 cent.
AD 630 - 670
Phase 4
last quarter of 7th cent.
AD 650 - 670/690
Phase 5
from the beginning of
oth
8 cent.
from ca. AD 670
II. Approach
11.1 The method of anthropological assessment
of genetic relationship
The methodology employed in this study has already been
tested on populations from other cemeteries and
published as a text book (Alt 1997). It is assumed that
groups of individuals buried together in collective graves,
cemeteries, etc generally represent local populations. These
social communities contain subgroups of individuals
displaying a relatively high biological or rather genetical
similarity due to common descent. The idea that
biologically related individuals have a number of pheno-
typical traits in common which are typical for their family
(epigenetic traits) is the key premise for reconstructing
such subgroups from skeletal remains. These characteristics
have to be separated from a multitude of anthropological
features present on the material. The result are family
groups consisting of genetically related individuals. In
this study the terms “family“ and “relationship“ are
therefore understood in the biological sense as opposed
to the broader social concept encompassing all members
of a house and living community (incl. servants, relatives
by marriage, etc.).
In order to be deemed suitable for the analysis of
Summary
K. W. Alt / W. Vach:
Analysis of Relationships within the Alemannic linear graveyard of Kirchheim/Ries
(Germany)
Summary
These are the basic results of a study assessing genetic
relationships within the population of the Alemannic
cemetery of Kirchheim/Ries (Ostalbkreis, Baden-
Württemberg, Germany). They have been established by
morphological analysis of the skeletal material for
epigenetic traits. All mentioning of illustrations refers
to the German main text.
I. The Kirchheim/Ries cemetery
The cemetery of Kirchheim/Ries was discovered during
construction work in 1961 and the graves still intact were
subsequently excavated completely by the local
archaeological authority (Landesdenkmalamt Stuttgart).
These investigations, however, did not take into account
the unknown number of interments previously destroyed.
The results were published by Christiane Neuffer-Müller
(1983).
Fig. 1.1 contains a map of the entire cemetery (GF-
Gesammtgräberfeld). Three areas of interment can be
distinguished: a smaller western cemetery ÇWc-Westfriedhqf),
the considerably larger main cemetery (^-HauptfriedhoJ),
and a small burial compound spatially separated from
the rest. Because of its richly furnished graves this is
referred to as the “noble burial compound“ (AF-
Adelsfriedhof).
How the western and main cemeteries relate to each other
remains unclear as they are separated by the construction
trenches which also have destroyed a considerable number
of graves.
518 graves have been discovered at Kirchheim/Ries, 480
of which were recovered during the excavations effected
by the Stuttgart archaeological unit. The rest was dug
up unprofessionally before systematic investigation started.
All in all there are indications for the existence of 581
individual skeletons. However, only for 570 of them it
is known where exactly they have been found. Speculating
on the number of graves lost to construction work
Neuffer-Müller (1983) estimates that the cemetery initially
must have contained about 700 interments.
In 1991 L Jorgensen presented the results of an analysis
of relationship based on archaeological finds. For this
study he developed his own relative chronology for the
cemetery which in some points differs from the
chronological framework given by Neuffer-Müller. The
following table compares the two schemes.
Neuffer-Müller (1983)
Jorgensen (1991)
Phase 1
from the middle of 6th
cent.
AD 570 - 600
Phase 2
from the end of 6'h
cent, through first
quarter of 7 cent.
AD 590/600 - 630
Phase 3
second and third
quarter of 7 cent.
AD 630 - 670
Phase 4
last quarter of 7th cent.
AD 650 - 670/690
Phase 5
from the beginning of
oth
8 cent.
from ca. AD 670
II. Approach
11.1 The method of anthropological assessment
of genetic relationship
The methodology employed in this study has already been
tested on populations from other cemeteries and
published as a text book (Alt 1997). It is assumed that
groups of individuals buried together in collective graves,
cemeteries, etc generally represent local populations. These
social communities contain subgroups of individuals
displaying a relatively high biological or rather genetical
similarity due to common descent. The idea that
biologically related individuals have a number of pheno-
typical traits in common which are typical for their family
(epigenetic traits) is the key premise for reconstructing
such subgroups from skeletal remains. These characteristics
have to be separated from a multitude of anthropological
features present on the material. The result are family
groups consisting of genetically related individuals. In
this study the terms “family“ and “relationship“ are
therefore understood in the biological sense as opposed
to the broader social concept encompassing all members
of a house and living community (incl. servants, relatives
by marriage, etc.).
In order to be deemed suitable for the analysis of