Child archer-warrior and his ‘toys’ from the Bell Beaker cemetery in Popůvky

Abstract

In Central Europe, the Bell Beaker phenomenon is inextricably linked to finds of archery tools equipment and with the first abundant occurrence of copper artefacts. Archery attributes and copper artefacts (mainly daggers and ornaments) are found in the wide area of Bell Beaker distribution, which enables a wide range of researchers to share and connect knowledge about these finds. These artefacts are mostly found in the graves of adult males (exceptionally females) and are referred to as symbols of belonging to archerwarriors, i.e. a group with special and significant status. Sometimes these artefacts also appear in children’s graves. However, children especially very young ones) could not perform the full role of archers and/or warriors, so we interpret the presence of archery equipment and daggers as a symbol of unspecified inheritance. One such child’s grave was also discovered during the recent excavation of the Bell Beaker burial ground in Popůvky near Brno, Czech Republic. In the presented paper, this grave is presented in connection with the hitherto rather neglected issue of the position of children at the end of the Moravian Eneolithic period. Also, potential relations with other deceased individuals at Popůvky cemetery will be discussed.