In 2015 at Dalfsen (the Netherlands) archaeologists made an amazing discovery. They found a burial ground dating from the TRB-period (3000-2750 BC) comprising 141 burial pits. The TRB is dated in the last phase of the Middle Neolithic period and is well known for its megalithic monuments which are widespread through large parts of northern Europe.

Until recently few non-megalithic burial grounds were known and the find of the Dalfsen burials created new opportunities to study the mortuary ritual in more detail. It sheds light on the social organisation of local TRB communities in this part of the world. The results not only provide evidence for the existence of large multi-person burial mounds during the TRB-period, but also provide intriguing evidence of continuity from this period to the period of the Corded Ware culture ¿ a transition now often interpreted in terms of migration.

This volume is the first scientific publication dealing with this unique site. It contains a detailed description and interpretation of the site. A catalogue in which all graves and finds are described in detail, is available separately.

Contents

1 Introduction
H.M. van der Velde, N. Bouma and D.C.M. Raemaekers

2 The TRB West Group in the Netherlands and the archaeology of non-megalithic burials
H.M. van der Velde and D.C.M. Raemaekers

3 Dalfsen: Excavating a burial ground from the TRB period
N. Bouma and H.M. van der Velde

4 Pottery
A.L. Brindley

5 Geochemical analyses of the ceramics
K. Struckmeyer and B. Van Os

6 Flint, stone and amber
J. Beuker, J. Lanting and H.M. van der Velde

7 The Palaeoecological evidence
H. Bos, M. Dijkshoorn, C. Moolhuizen and T. Oudemans

8 The Dalfsen burial ground as a means of reconstructing TRB local social organisation
D.C.M. Raemaekers and H.M. van der Velde

9 The cultural biography of the burial ground: The long-term history of the site
H.M. van der Velde

Literature

A catalogue in which all graves and finds are described in detail, is available separately.