Abstract

This paper deals with the funerary finds from Late Iron Age Romania. The archaeological record is analysed so as to produce conclusions about the identity of the tomb builders, the Dacians. It is argued that due to their extremely reduced number, the graves should be considered as anomalies which were caused by the extreme political and social dynamism that characterised that particular time interval. One of the fundamental reasons for their construction was the need of the Dacian communities to express and reinforce their identity as it became challenged by numerous external and internal factors. The archaeological record generally points towards the existence of highly localised identities, though in some cases wider regional bonds appear to have been suggested. However, there does not appear to be any sign of an ethnic consciousness.