DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17909417
title: Radiocarbon Dating and Bayesian Chronological Modeling of Linearbandkeramik (LBK) Mortuary Sites in Moravia and Western Slovakia

description: This dataset contains radiocarbon dates and Bayesian chronological models supporting the study of Linearbandkeramik (LBK) funerary practices in Central Europe. The dataset includes new radiocarbon dating results from multiple Moravian and Slovakian sites spanning the period 5315–5035 cal BC.

The dataset supports chronological analysis of three burial contexts: formal cemeteries, settlement graves, small grave clusters, and secondary bone depositions. It provides the temporal framework for understanding the emergence and development of LBK mortuary traditions in Central Europe, including patterns related to foundational burials of non-adults in settlement contexts.
description: The dataset is provided as Microsoft Excel workbooks, two supporting Word documents containing supplementary materials and Bayesian modeling results, and animated maps of the chronological distribution of the analysed sites. 

 

SI-1 (10963_2025_9201_MOESM1_ESM.xlsx)

Table 1: Complete radiocarbon dating results from newly analyzed LBK mortuary contexts, including 38 successful AMS dates from human bone collagen samples. Data includes original grave codes, site names, sample codes, laboratory codes (SUERC and GU), radiocarbon dates with standard deviations, 2σ calibrated ranges, stable isotope values (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ³⁴S), elemental ratios (C/N, C/S, N/S), age categories, sex determinations, and contextual observations for individuals from Brno-Starý/Nový Lískovec, Nitra (Horné Krškany and Mlynárce), Těšetice-Kyjovice, and Vedrovice (Široká u lesa, Za dvorem).

Table 2 (Regional dates): Comprehensive compilation of previously published radiocarbon dates from Central European LBK contexts, including cemetery burials, settlement graves, isolated burials, and associated features (wells, pits). Data organized by grave number, site, district, context type, bone/material sampled, laboratory code, radiocarbon age, standard deviation, biological age, sex, bibliographic references, burial treatment, and ritual data.

Table 3 (Contextual data): Comprehensive archaeological database of 216 LBK burials from multiple sites including burial type classifications (cemetery graves, settlement graves, isolated burials), contextual reliability assessments, feature associations, excavation years, pottery phase attributions, and up to three radiocarbon dates per burial. Contains detailed burial characteristics including single/multiple interments, grave goods inventories (unfurnished status, polished stone axes/PBA, pottery presence, Spondylus shell ornament counts, flaked blades, projectile points, grinding stones, bone/antler items, animal teeth, other goods), biological profiles (age categories, age ranges, sex determinations), burial practices (body orientation, position), stable isotope values (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N from both new and previously published data with unified values), dietary cluster assignments, strontium isotope mobility classifications (local/non-local ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr clusters), and bibliographic references for strontium, anthropological, and contextual data sources.

Table 4 (Settlement dates): Regional compilation of 107 radiocarbon dates from non-burial LBK settlement contexts across Central Europe, including wells, pits, ditches, and other features. Data organized by site/sample name, context details (feature numbers, depths, stratigraphic information), material types (animal bone, charcoal, plant macrofossils, sinter slips), laboratory codes, radiocarbon ages with standard deviations, calibrated date ranges (95.4% confidence intervals), and bibliographic references. 

 

SI-2 (10963_2025_9201_MOESM2_ESM.docx)

Materials and methods supplementary information detailing sampling criteria, laboratory protocols for collagen extraction at the University of Tübingen, AMS measurement procedures at SUERC, quality control parameters (C/N ratios, collagen yields), dietary isotope interpretations, and justification for terrestrial calibration curve usage.

 

SI-3 (10963_2025_9201_MOESM3_ESM.zip)

SI-3.1. Brno-Starý Lískovec: Twenty independent Bayesian model simulations plus summary sheet for settlement grave contexts. Each simulation sheet contains probability distributions for boundary Start, End, and Span, with calibrated year values and associated probability densities, including model agreement indices and complete probability distributions.

SI-3.2. Těšetice-Kyjovice: Twenty Bayesian simulations for small burial cluster contexts. Each simulation sheet contains probability distributions for boundary Start, End, and Span, with calibrated year values and associated probability densities, including model agreement indices and complete probability distributions.

SI-3.3. Vedrovice-Široká u Lesa: Summarized data across multiple model runs organized into Start boundaries, End boundaries, and Span estimates. Each sheet includes results from multiple independent simulations with model agreement indices (Amodel/Aoverall values) and probability distributions.

SI-3.4. Vedrovice-Za Dvorem: Twenty Bayesian simulations for the burial cluster. Each simulation sheet contains probability distributions for boundary Start, End, and Span, with calibrated year values and associated probability densities, including model agreement indices and complete probability distributions.

SI-3.5. Vedrovice-Sídliště: Twenty Bayesian simulations for settlement burial contexts. Each simulation sheet contains probability distributions for boundary Start, End, and Span, with calibrated year values and associated probability densities, including model agreement indices and complete probability distributions.

SI-3.6. Nitra: Twenty Bayesian simulations for the Nitra cemetery. Each simulation sheet contains probability distributions for boundary Start, End, and Span, with calibrated year values and associated probability densities, including model agreement indices and complete probability distributions.

 

SI-4 (10963_2025_9201_MOESM4_ESM.docx)

Complete results from Bounded-Single Phase Bayesian chronological models built in OxCal, including site-specific analyses examining temporal patterns by age groups (adults/non-adults), sex, mobility status (local/non-local ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values), burial treatment (furnished/unfurnished graves), grave goods categories (arrowpoints, polished stone axes, Spondylus), body orientation, and nitrogen isotope values. Contains chronological ranges (start/end boundaries, span), model agreement indices (Amodel, Aoverall), and probability matrices for temporal ordering of different burial categories.

 

SI-5 (10963_2025_9201_MOESM5_ESM.zip)

Animation 1: Visualization of the sites funerary practices over time, based on the chronology estimated using a single contiguous phase model (see Table 2 for details). The site IDs shown correspond to those in Fig. 2 in the published paper.

Animation 2: Visualization of the development of various funerary practices over time, based on the chronology estimated using a single contiguous phase model (see Table 2 for details). Each symbol represents a different type of funerary practice (see SI-1.Table 2 for details): settlement grave (pink circle), burial near house (yellow circle), graves in ditch (slate blue circle), grave cluster (orange triangle), cemetery (sky blue square), and unknown (black circle). The site IDs shown correspond to those in Fig. 2 in the published paper.

Animation 3: Visualization of the development of various funerary practices over time, based on the chronology estimated using a single contiguous phase model (see Table 2 for details). Each point represents a dated funerary context (see SI-1.Table 3 for details), with the symbol indicating the type of funerary practice: settlement grave (light salmon circle), grave cluster (cinnabar circle), ditch burial (venetian red circle), cemetery (american purple circle), or unknown type (black circle). The site IDs shown correspond to those in Fig. 2 in the published paper.
description: Archaeological and biological data was compiled from published sources and museum records for 216 LBK burials, including burial type, feature associations, pottery phases, grave goods inventories, biological profiles, burial practices, and previously published isotopic data.

Radiocarbon samples were collected from Linearbandkeramik (LBK) mortuary contexts across six sites in south-eastern Czechia and western Slovakia: Vedrovice (Široká u lesa cemetery, Sídliště settlement graves, and Za dvorem burial cluster), Brno-Starý/Nový Lískovec, Těšetice-Kyjovice-Sutny, and the Slovakian cemeteries of Nitra-Horné Krškany and Nitra-Mlynárce. Methods of collagen extraction, AMS radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis are described in SI-2 (10963_2025_9201_MOESM2_ESM.docx)