Reopening of the Sarmatian Graves: Looting or Ritual?

(Site Neuropsychiatric Hospital “Park”)

Abstract

The archaeothanatological and bioanthropological analysis of the necropolis at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital “Park” in Vršac revealed a complex and multifaceted pattern of grave reopening during the period of Late Antiquity (4th century AD). Three main models of intervention were documented: (1) complete dislocation of skeletal remains, (2) disturbance of the upper body, and (3) full grave emptying, the last being the rarest. Complete disarticulation, often accompanied by severe skeletal loss and absence of anatomical positioning, suggests that many graves were reopened only after the skeletonization process had occurred, estimated to be at least 10 years post-mortem. Taphonomic changes such as weathering, exfoliation, and deep cortical cracks further support the hypothesis that graves remained open for prolonged periods, exposing remains to environmental degradation.

Selective targeting of upper body regions, frequently linked with the removal of grave goods, indicates that grave perpetrators may have possessed prior knowledge of burial customs, including body orientation and grave content placement. Despite this, the grave goods inventory does not show strong evidence of symbolic or ritual selection. In most cases, “valuable” items were missing, while “lower-value” artifacts (ceramics, beads, metal items) were often left behind. This, coupled with the extent of skeletal disturbance, supports the interpretation of widespread looting rather than symbolic reopening.

Bioanthropological data showed no clear correlation between grave reopening and biological profiles (sex, age, pathology), though some female and juvenile graves showed higher frequencies of disturbance.

The study emphasizes not only the physical manipulation of graves but also the indirect consequences on the burial environment. Reopened graves were subject to subaerial weathering and bioturbation, leading to accelerated decay and significant loss of skeletal information. This has major implications for the archaeological record, as many graves today appear nearly empty or contain only scattered bone fragments.

Interpretatively, the phenomenon of grave reopening on this site aligns closely with historical narratives and archaeological patterns across the southern Pannonian Plain, suggesting organized looting during periods of political and military crisis. Nevertheless, the possibility of ritual practices – such as the retrieval of ancestral remains – cannot be entirely excluded. The absence of evidence for reburial, the widespread exposure of remains, and the lack of community action to restore grave integrity raise important sociocultural questions. Grave reopening emerges not merely as a material act, but as a socially conditioned practice involving planning, knowledge of mortuary behavior, and community dynamics, whether permissive, complicit, or absent.

This study highlights the need for an interdisciplinary approach that integrates taphonomy, archaeothanatology, and social archaeology to interpret post-burial practices. Future research should aim to deepen our understanding of local community responses to grave disturbance and the long-term transformations of mortuary landscapes under the pressures of migration, conflict, and shifting political power in Late Antique Pannonia.