Informace o publikaci
Issues of the Radiocarbon Chronology of the Bojná Agglomeration and other Great Moravian sites
| Autoři | |
|---|---|
| Rok publikování | 2025 |
| Druh | Další prezentace na konferencích |
| Fakulta / Pracoviště MU | |
| Citace | |
| Popis | This presentation focuses on the radiocarbon chronology of the early medieval defensive agglomeration of Bojná in Slovakia, particularly the Valy fortress and the nearby Rotunda of St. George—one of the oldest surviving churches in Middle Europe. Initial radiocarbon dates from Valy suggested the site should be dated to the late 8th or early 9th century, a conclusion allegedly supported by the archaeological finds. However, this dating conflicted with later dendrochronological analyses of the fortifications, which placed their construction at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries. A meticulous re-evaluation of the archaeological finds revealed that the initial chronology was based on a methodological error. This error stemmed from the misinterpretation of radiocarbon data from the nearby Pobedim stronghold in the 1970s, that had not been calibrated. Subsequent research revealed and corrected this mistake, and new samples confirmed a revised chronology pointing to the late 9th century. This re-assessment significantly undermined the established chronological paradigm for Carolingian-age artifacts in Middle Europe. Nevertheless, the reliability of the radiocarbon dates for Bojná and the reasons for observed discrepancies remained in question. Further analyses continued to indicate a broad chronology for the site, spanning nearly 200 years and suggesting early origins. It was only through collecting, sequencing, and analyzing a larger set of radiocarbon dates from Bojná that it became clear the dates were not “contaminated.” However, they did not represent an absolute chronology of the site and required strict interpretation within their archaeological context. This is particularly evident in the series of dates from the Valy ramparts and the St. George’s Rotunda walls. Seemingly improbable dates were explained only after analyzing technological, constructional, and post-depositional processes affecting the studied structures. These findings underscore the necessity of integrating radiocarbon data with archaeological evidence to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the sites chronology. |
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