Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – Archaeologists have identified the remains of a woman known as the Princess of Bagicz, dating back to approximately 120 AD. This dating was established by analyzing the wood from her coffin, which was crafted from a single tree trunk and is recognized as the oldest example of its kind found in Poland.
We will soon know what the Princess of Bagicz looked like, scientists say. Credit: AncientPages.com
The burial site was accidentally discovered in the late 19th century in Bagicz, in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland. The remains and their wooden log coffin were revealed after slipping from a seaside cliff. Alongside her bones, archaeologists uncovered numerous grave goods, including bronze ornaments such as a clasp and bracelets, a glass-bead necklace, a bone pin, and even a wooden stool. Fragments of cattle hide and woolen clothing were also preserved with the burial—an exceptionally rare occurrence for this region.
Due to both the richness of these grave goods and the unique nature of this isolated burial site, researchers identified these remains as belonging to an individual they refer to as the “Princess of Bagicz.” In recent years, scientists from the universities of Szczecin and Warsaw have conducted further analyses of both the artifacts and human remains. Initial studies suggested that she lived in the late first half of the 2nd century AD, based on associated items found in her grave.
However, more advanced testing using radiocarbon (C14) analysis on one of her teeth—conducted in 2018—revealed that she likely died no later than around 30 AD. This new evidence suggests that her burial predates previous estimates by more than 100 years. The discovery provides valuable insight into ancient funerary practices in Poland and highlights how scientific advances can reshape our understanding of history.
View of the cliff from which the burial fell. Credit: Marta Chmiel-Chrzanowska
We wanted to review these results to see if we had made a mistake along the way. We decided to conduct a dendrochronological analysis of the wooden coffin. As a result, the dendrochronological dating closely matches the dating of the artifacts, which means that the girl from Bagicz died around 120 AD,” Dr. Marta Chmiel-Chrzanowska from the University of Szczecin told PAP.
The researchers used a method that involves counting tree rings. They took a small wood core from the coffin and compared the annual growth pattern with chronological sequences typical of northwestern Poland.
The archaeologist from the University of Szczecin explained that they faced a challenge because this is the oldest wooden coffin preserved in this manner in Poland. As a result, there was uncertainty about whether permission would be granted for invasive dendrochronological research. Ultimately, approval was secured with support from the National Museum in Szczecin. Professor Marek Krapiec from the AGH University of Science and Technology conducted the drilling, carefully extracting a very narrow sample for dendrochronological analysis.
She clarified that dendrochronological dating reveals when the tree used to make the coffin was felled, rather than pinpointing either the girl’s death or the coffin’s construction. However, based on knowledge of how the Wielbark culture operated—and considering that the girl from Bagicz belonged to this group—the researchers concluded that wood was not typically seasoned or stored after being cut down; instead, it was used immediately for practical needs. This suggests that once felled, the wood likely went directly into making her coffin.
Source: “Dawn of Pomerania” exhibition catalogue, p. 345 – author Karolina Gołębiowska and Natalia Laskowska
Researchers have identified the reservoir effect as a likely cause of previous errors in radiocarbon dating. This phenomenon occurs when individuals consume significant amounts of marine or freshwater fish, which can introduce older carbon into their bodies and skew dating results. Recent dietary analysis of the Bagicz girl revealed that freshwater fish made up a substantial portion of her diet.
According to Dr. Marta Chmiel-Chrzanowska, “In the case of fish from marine reservoirs, radiocarbon dating can be off by up to several hundred years. With freshwater reservoirs, the issue is even more complex because it varies individually and depends on factors such as calcium carbonate levels in the water and its absorption by living organisms.” In the coming months, researchers plan to conduct DNA analysis on the remains known as the “Princess of Bagicz” and reconstruct her facial features.
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“We are convinced that this was not an isolated burial and that the remains of the Bagicz girl are part of a larger site, as indicated by the graves we discovered on the cliff. We know that the deceased in the Wielbark culture were buried in wooden coffins. However, these coffins are never as well preserved as the Bagicz girl’s burial; wooden coffins usually appear as obscurations around the remains.
Therefore, we are interested in the moment when the coffin containing the body went underwater. We tentatively suspect that around the 6th century AD, the water level may have risen enough to submerge the Bagicz girl’s remains, which is why the material has been preserved in such good condition,” the archaeologist pointed out.
Source: Science in Poland
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
