Prague Castle skeleton
The Prague Castle skeleton (given the identification number IIIN199) is a human skeleton that was discovered in 1928 at Prague Castle in the Czech Republic. The burial was excavated by Ukrainian-born archaeologist Ivan Borkovský as part of a Czech National Museum project. The skeleton was dated to the 9th or 10th century AD and was associated with high-value burial goods. Ethnic identification of the deceased has proved controversial.
During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in the Second World War, Borkovský was forced to withdraw a book he had published identifying early Slavic influence in the region. He was also forced to publish a journal article identifying the burial as Germanic or Nordic, to support a Nazi claim of early German involvement in the region. After the end of the war and with Prague under Soviet occupation Borkovský published a paper retracting his earlier work and identifying IIIN199 as a nobleman of the Přemyslid dynasty. The skeleton was kept in storage until 2004 and, though it has been tested extensively since then, a definitive identification has not been possible.
Discovery
The skeleton was discovered in the third courtyard of Prague Castle on 11 July 1928 by Ukrainian-born archaeologist Ivan Borkovský, who was leading a National Museum excavation project.[1][2][3] The project was investigating a burial ground thought to be associated with an early hill fort on the site of Prague Castle (and dating to AD 800–1000).[1] It was a continuation of work begun in 1925 by Karel Guth, the head of the National Museum's archaeological department, that sought to identify archaeology associated with Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia.[3] Borkovský did not initially write a paper on the discovery of the skeleton as he was of insufficient academic rank, being only an assistant to the head of archaeology at the museum.[2][1] Guth himself tended to publish papers a long time after excavation, and these often contained little detail. Borkovský was more prominent by the 1930s but was keen to keep a low profile on the potentially controversial matter of ethnic identification of the burial as he was seeking to obtain Czechoslovak nationality.[3]
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Photograph of the remains taken in 1928 |
The body belonged to a male; he was likely buried around AD 800–1000 and was given the identification number IIIN199.[1][3] It was found just 300 millimetres (12 in) below the courtyard surface and was in a wooden chamber measuring 3 metres (9.8 ft) by 1.2 metres (3.9 ft), which was probably originally covered by a burial mound.[3] The courtyard was constructed as part of a rebuilding of the castle in the late 11th century, and the graveyard was partially levelled to accommodate it.[3] However, the integrity of graves seems to have been respected, and the courtyard's slabs successfully protected IIIN199 until the 20th-century.[3]
IIIN199 was found to be exceptionally tall for the period, some 1.75 metres (5 ft 9 in) in height, with robust bones that suggested a muscular build.
Historical identification
Czechoslovakia was
Reassessment of the identification of IIIN199 was not possible during the Cold War due to the political ramifications, though anthropologist Emanuel Vlček published a paper in the 1970s that claimed the burial must be later in the 9th century and not related to the Přemyslids.[3]
Modern assessment
The remains and grave goods were kept in storage and away from public view until 2004.[3] A modern study of the remains identified the fire striker as a common piece of Viking equipment.[1] Indeed, the majority of the skeleton's possessions have been identified as resembling Viking equipment. The sword has been identified as a high-quality item almost certainly crafted in Western Europe. It is of a type used by the Vikings in northern, western and central Europe.[2] The knives and bucket have been identified as being manufactured near Prague.[4]
The cause of death has not been determined, but the man is thought to have died at around age 50. Analysis of the Strontium isotopes in the skeleton's teeth has shown that he grew up in Northern Europe, likely on the southern Baltic coast or in Denmark. This area was home to the Vikings, Slavs and Baltic tribes.[2]
Jan Frolik of the Czech Academy of Sciences has suggested that the individual came to Prague as a young man to serve the early dukes of Bohemia (either Bořivoj I or Spytihněv I). These dukes founded the Přemyslid dynasty from their seat at Prague Castle.[2]
Due to the complex national identities of early-Medieval Europe, it is possible that the individual regarded himself as a Viking, a Slav or both.
The conflicting assessments of IIIN199 have been described as reflecting "the fate of Czechoslovakia and Central Europe, as the burial became entangled with Czech identity, Nazi occupation and the manipulation of archaeology".[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "August: Prague Castle skeleton". University of Bristol. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Cameron, Rob (2019-10-28). "Mystery of the skeleton hijacked by Nazis and Soviets". BBC. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
- ^ ISSN 0003-598X.
- ^ Strickland, Ashley (23 August 2019). "Scientists try to crack the mysterious case of a medieval skeleton once used as Nazi propaganda". CNN. Retrieved 9 November 2019.