Funerary Practices of the Middle to Late Bronze Age Transition in Unterradlberg, Lower Austria. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Investigate Burial Mounds and Cremation Graves

During the Middle Bronze Age Tumulus Culture, the predominant burial practice shifted from inhumation to cremation, ultimately leading to uniform urnfields in the Late Bronze Age. To examine the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age (14th to 12th century BC), this paper focuses on four burial mounds and five cremation graves located in Unterradlberg, Lower Traisen Valley (Lower Austria), as a case study. Despite poor preservation, the study includes archaeological evaluation, osteological analysis, strontium isotope analysis, and radiocarbon dating. The graves exhibit a variety of architectural elements, such as ‘door openings’ of burial chambers, indicating deliberate reuse or manipulation of funerary space. The osteological analysis identified 14 individuals (six adults, eight children), suggesting communal burials. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of two adults indicate a possible non-local origin. The results highlight the experimental character of the transitional period and provide insights into regional developments in burial practices.