[gothic-l] Gothic graves in Lauchheim cemetary

[dirk at SMRA.CO.UK]

I found an interesting article in the popular science magazine Geo
(1997) about the excavation of an Alamannic cemetary at
Lauchheim/Aalen in Wuerttemberg (South-West Germany). The arcticle
reports that the cemetary contained some 1300 graves of the time from
the late 5th to the late 7th century.

The article also reported that the cemetary contained a number of
female burials of the late 5th century which included 'typical'
Ostrogothic buckles and fibulae, which at the time let to the
suggestion that these graves contained the remains of Ostrogothic
noble women who had married Alamannic nobles (probably the regional
king).

On the other hand, it was equally likely that these women followed a
fashion of Ostrogothic adornements, without any direct contact with
Ostrogoths. Now it was apparently possible to analyse tooth enemal to
establish where these individuals grew up, as certain drinking water
minerals are deposited in the enemal to leave a distinctive profile.
The investigation showed that neither of the women grew up in South
West Germany. The test results are compatible with the Pannonia region
ie. the area of the Ostrogoths of the time. While the test was unable
to rule out other regions for which no comparable data profile exists,
the scientist stressed that it is very likely that these individuals
had come from Pannonia to South West Germany at some during adulthood.

As there have been 'several' of such 'Ostrogothic' graves at
Lauchheim, this could suggest that a local Alamannic noble/royal
family had close ties with an Ostrogothic noble/royal family. The
result can also be taken as example, where the material culture does
allow for conclusions about ethnic/linguistic identities.

cheers

Dirk




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