Abstract

Near the Szurpiły village (the Suwałki region) a large settlement complex is situated with the most intensive phase of usage dated to the Early Medieval Period (9th–13th c.). In thecentre of thiscomplex thereisa hillfort (the so-called “góra zamkowa”/“Castle Hill”), and relics of a large settlement. In the northern part of the settlement (Site 8) a unique kind of cemetery was found. In the area of ca. 2500 m2 in the humus layeran extraordinary amount of cremated human bones, small pieces of metal artefacts and pottery was discovered. During the expedition in 2011 a trench of 43.75 m2 was excavated. In the course of excavations ca. 1000 pieces of pottery, 1044 pieces of metal artefacts and many pieces of cremated human bones were found. The finds confirm the dating of the cemetery in general to the 13th c. In the northern part of the trench a construction with piled stones (6.12×2.35 m) was discovered, which was connected with another one, not so well preserved (ca. 3.3×4.7 m), at a right angle. Both constructions were made from quite small stones, only on the borders there were medium-sized and larger ones. on several stones there werealso intentionally made vertical scratches. This find is important because it confirms that the users of the cemetery changed the natural order of the concentration of stones left here by glacier in great amount.