Lucin Burial Ground

a cemetery of the Latgali dating from the ninth and tenth centuries, located near the city of Ludza (the former Lucin) in the Latvian SSR. Excavations conducted in 1890-91 by E. R. Romanov and V. I. Sizov unearthed 338 graves; the burial practices included inhumation, cremation, and the burial of the deceased’s belongings only. Numerous bronze ornaments were found in the female burials, including chains, twisted and lamellar torques, bracelets with snake heads at the ends, rings, and trapezoidal pendants. The male burials yielded speartips, axes, and massive bracelets, which served as weapons (brass knuckles). Rich burials constituted only a small percentage and were easily distinguishable from ordinary burials. This attests to the significant social stratification among the Latgali of that period.