Elusive Goths in northern Poland: Initial isotopic insights of the pre-Roman and Roman period populations from the Wielbark Culture cemetery in Malbork-Wielbark

Abstract

Summary From 19 inhumation graves from the cemetery in Malbork-Wielbark (northern Poland) samples (teeth) were collected for the analysis of strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotopes in order to try to determine the origin of the subjects. The chronological range of the analyzed statistical sample covers about 300 years of over 600 years of necropolis history, i. e. the period from the end of the early pre-Roman period (phase A3 – the last decades BC) to the C1b phase of the Roman period (more or less the first half of the 3rd century AD). The results of the analysis indicate the local origin of the studied group, and at the same time constitute an interesting contribution to the discussion on the ethnic structure of the Wielbark culture.