Small Things Wide Horizons Studies in honour of Birgitta Hårdh

Edited by

Lars Larsson, Fredrik Ekengren, Bertil Helgesson and Bengt Söderberg

Archaeopress Archaeology Archaeopress Publishing Ltd Gordon House 276 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7ED www.archaeopress.com

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© Archaeopress and the individual authors 2015

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Printed in England by Oxuniprint Ltd, Oxford This book is available direct from Archaeopress or from our website www.archaeopress.com Contents

Tabula 7 trinkets Buttons as brooches 77 Preface 9 Morten Axboe

silver Hand rings 82 The background and the early history of the neck rings Torsten Capelle † of the Glazov type (also called Permian) and the be- ginning of East-West connections in Early Medieval Gold in Guleboda 86 Northern Europe in the 8th and 9th centuries 13 A Byzantine gold coin from southern Småland Johan Callmer Martin Hansson The social weight of silver in the Íslendingasögur and the hoards 20 A little piece of silver from the Romele ridge area 91 Fredrik Ekengren & Maria Domeij Lundborg Bertil Helgesson

100 Viking Age hoards of Bornholm 27 Two brooch-knobs and a handful of thoughts 97 Status, challenges and perspectives Karen Høilund Nielsen Gitte Tarnow Ingvardson & Finn Ole Sonne Nielsen Notices on the Notitia 104 Hoards and sinuous snakes 35 A comparison between heraldic insignia of late Roman military units as depicted in Notitia Dignitatum and certain patterns Significance and meaning of ring ornaments in Early Viking Age on Scandinavian Migration Period jewellery like wrist clasps hoards from and relief brooches Christoph Kilger Jan Peder Lamm

At the end of the silver flow 43 Close to Asgard – between West and South 110 Islamic dirhams in Sigtuna and the shrinking Viking network Lars Larsson Mats Roslund Shield-formed pendants and solar symbols of the Migration period 115 coins Bente Magnus Viking-Age coins found in 51 Kenneth Jonsson “Vikings in Bavaria” 121 An unpublished spännbuckla from Munich and its history The earliest coin hoard of Lund 58 Sonja Marzinzik & Michaela Helmbrecht Jens Christian Moesgaard A female statement of power? 126 Nicholas of St. Albans, Anketil and Alfvini—three Dan- Some reflections on the Viking Age Yelets-brooch th th ish moneyers of English origin from the 12 and 13 Michael Neiß centuries 64 Jørgen Steen Jensen A Hind to your Health! 132 Alexandra Pesch Three —Coin motive and (trans-)national sym- bol 69 Cecilia von Heijne burials centrality Small items and major conclusions 141 Small things and wide horizons from a Birka perspec- A discussion of the findings from Gullhögen, Old Uppsala tive 229 Birgit Arrhenius with contributions by Ingmar Jansson Björn Ambrosiani & Ingrid Gustin

Uncovering more Death 150 Detecting Vester Kærby 237 Some recent excavations of graves from the Early Iron Age in Problems associated with the interpretation of metal-detector finds from the plough soil Tony Björk Mogens Bo Henriksen & Helle W. Horsnæs

Vester Galsted – an inhumation grave at P. Frey’s Early medieval trading centres and transport systems field 160 between Dorestad, Ribe and Wolin 245 Per Ethelberg The latest results of the Priority Research Programme “Harbours from the Roman Iron Age to the Middle Ages” Rune-stones and the localisation of graves 169 Hauke Jöns Burial customs in the Conversion period Quedlinburg before the Ottonian kings 253 Anne-Sofie Gräslund Approaches towards an early topography of power Pidgirci (Western ) and Havor (Gotland, Swe- Babette Ludowici den)—two grave finds connected with Byzantine Christianity 175 The relationship between Uppåkra and Lund—a status Michael Müller-Wille update 261 Ing-Marie Nilsson Pot and amulet pendants in the early mediaeval grave 130 of Frankfurt-Harheim 182 The Trelleborg constructors 267 Uta von Freeden Anders Ödman

crafts transformations Production of Scandinavian-style sword hilts on the From replica to relic—Gokstad goes abroad 275 southern Baltic coast? 191 Bodil Petersson A stray find, presumably dating to the Late Roman Iron Age, from Lübsow / Lubieszewo in Monumental make over? 281 Andreas Rau, Ruth Blankenfeldt & Jan Schuster Remains of a long close to the ship-setting Ale’s stones. Bengt Söderberg & Björn Wallebom Joining threads – a discussion of the archaeology of the tacit 199 Vikings and the Western Frontier 289 Ulla Isabel Zagal-Mach Wolfe Jes Wienberg

farms and fields dust What did the Wells conceal? 211 Dust to dust 297 Hvissinge Vest – a Village from the Germanic Iron Age A short story of no-thing and every-thing Linda Boye Jarl Nordbladh

Medicinal herbs—useful and fatal 218 List of contributors 301 Early traces of medicinal plants in Europe Ulla Lund Hansen Birgitta Hårdh—a Bibliography 303 Tabula Gratulatoria

Torbjörn Ahlström & Caroline Arcini, Lund Lars & Anne N. Jørgensen, Bronshøj Björn Ambrosiani, Christoph Kilger, Visby Eva Andersson Strand, København Annika Knarrström, Annelöv Gunnar Andersson, Kista Egge Knol, Groningen Kent Andersson, Uppsala Kristina & Jan Peder Lamm, Lidingö Anders Andrén, Stockholm Lars & Ulla-Karin Larsson, V. Nöbbelöv Jan Apel, Lund Kerstin Lidén, Lidingö Birgit Arrhenius, Stockholm Babette Ludowici, Hanover Else Asmussen, København Ulla Lund Hansen, København Morten Axboe, København Karin Lundqvist, Eslöv Charlotte Behr, London Bente Magnus, Lidingö Tony Björk, Färlöv Ulla Mannering, København Ruth Blankenfeldt, Schleswig Sonja Marzinzik, München Linda Boje, Taastrup Jens Christian Moesgaard, København Mats & Nanouschka M. Burström, Stockholm Michael Müller-Wille, Kiel Johan Callmer, Lund Michael Neiß, Uppsala Maria Domeij Lundborg, Östersund Finn Ole Nielsen, Rønne Johannes, Helena, Edwine &Wilhelmina Edvardsson, Ing-Marie Nilsson, Kristianstad Lund Jarl & Elisabeth Nordbladh, Göteborg Kjell Edvardsson, Lund Deborah Olausson, Lund Anna-Stina Ekedahl, Helsingborg Alexandra Pesch, Schleswig Fredrik Ekengren, Lund Bodil Petersson, Kalmar Frédéric Elfver & Elisabet Regner, Enskede Neil Price & Linda Qviström, Uppsala Lars Ersgård, Lund Per H. Ramqvist, Umeå Per Ethelberg, Haderslev Klavs Randsborg, København Charlotte Fabech & Ulf Näsman, Svalöv Andreas Rau, Schleswig Jan-Henrik Fallgren, Aberdeen Mads Ravn, Vejle Claus Feveile, Kerteminde Christoph & Elke Reichmann, Krefeld Josefine Franck Bican, Lyngby Erika & Jerry Rosengren, Lund James Graham-Campbell, London Mats Roslund, Lund Anne-Sofie Gräslund, Uppsala Elisabeth Rudebeck, Malmö Ingrid Gustin, Lund Eva Rystedt, Stockholm Martin Hansson, Lund Katalin Schmidt Sabo, Lund Rikard Hedvall & Karin Lindeblad, Linköping Jan Schuster, Łódź Bertil Helgesson, Kristianstad Iben Skibsted Klesø, Kokkedal Michaela Helmbrecht, München Peter Skoglund, Göteborg Mogens Bo Henriksen, Odense Dagfinn Skre, Oslo Helle W. Horsnæs, København Bergljot M. Solberg, Fana Susan Hydén, Höör Jørgen Steen Jensen, København Karen Høilund Nielsen, Beder Bengt Söderberg, Lund Henrik Janson, Göteborg Gitte Tarnow Ingvardson, Lund Ingemar Jansson, Stockholm Raimond Thörn & Tove Hjørungdal, Göteborg Kristina Jennbert, Lund Luc Van Impe, Leuven Kenneth Jonsson, Stockholm Claus von Carnap-Bornheim, Schleswig Hauke Jöns, Wilhelmshafen Uta von Freeden, Frankfurt am Main

7 Small Things – Wide Horizons

Cecilia von Heijne, Stockholm Björn Wallebom, Lund Avdelningen för Arkeologi vid Linnéuniversitetet, Egon Wamers, Frankfurt Kalmar Margrethe Watt, Dyssegård Den kgl. Mønt- og Medaillesamling, København Nancy L. Wicker, Oxford, USA Nationalmuseet, København Jens Wienberg, Lund Statens Historiska Museer, Geoarkeologiska Laboratoriet, Torun Zacrisson, Stockholm Uppsala Ulla Isabel Zagal-Mach Wolfe, Lund Wolf Haio & Gunthild Zimmermann, Wilhelshaven Anders Ödman, Lund

8 Preface

The 16th of August 2015 is Professor Birgitta Hårdh’s 70th Besides doing research, Birgitta Hårdh has for several birthday. At the Department of Archaeology and Ancient decades been a lecturer and professor, with long experience History in Lund, an editorial group was set up for the of teaching students and supervising doctoral candidates publication of a Festschrift in her honour. in the subject. She has also been director of studies and served on a number of committees in the Faculty of Arts For several decades Birgitta has been an important and Theology. staff member and researcher at the Department. Her doc­toral dissertation was based on Viking Age silver A feature common to all Birgitta Hårdh’s research is that deposits in southernmost Sweden. This is a field that she has been able, through analysis of a body of finds, to she later developed in several national and international broaden the perspective, not least geographically through publications. As a result she is regarded as one of the her profound knowledge of phenomena in Northern leading experts on the Northern European Viking Age, Europe and indeed all of Europe. This book has been given engaged in diverse research projects both in Sweden and the title Small Things – Wide Horizons, which is a good internationally, and she is a vital collaborator in various summary of Birgitta’s research hitherto. networks specializing in the Viking Age. Thanks to the large network of contacts to which Birgitta Through time, Birgitta has extended her research to Hårdh belongs, the call for papers for this Festschrift met comprise other periods in the Iron Age. This is particularly a great response. A total of fourty titles were submitted to clear in her research on the major site of Uppåkra outside the proposed volume. Lund. Here she has devoted articles to a detailed treatment of the finds from the Late Iron Age. She has also edited Through this Festschrift we wish to thank and honour Pro­ several of the volumes in the series Uppåkrastudier, with fessor Birgitta Hårdh as a fine colleague and an excellent both national and international contributions. scholar. We all look forward to coming years and many more important contributions to archaeological research. Another special field examined by Birgitta Hårdh is the megalithic graves in south-west Scania. Both find material from individual sites and broader perspectives on the Middle Neolithic have been covered in these studies. Lars Larsson, Fredrik Ekengren, Bertil Helgesson, Bengt Söderberg

9 Birgitta Hårdh Copyright material: no unauthorized reproduction in any medium

Monumental make over?

Remains of a long dolmen close to the ship-setting Ale’s stones.

Bengt Söderberg & Björn Wallebom

Abstract the coast-line and appears to have been partly separated by lower terrain from the rich and fertile plain to the north. This article deals with the site of the largest preserved ship-set- Large settlements and grave-fields covering all prehistoric ting in Sweden, Ale’s stones, situated at the Kåseberga ridge in periods are situated at some distance from the coast and south-east Scania. The site is described and the monument is the ridge, which in contrast has been thought of in terms briefly discussed in relation to similar monumental ship-settings of a seasonally exploited resource-area (Strömberg 1994). in . In 2012 the writers of this article took part in a research project ”Ales stones in a new light” inspired by a hypothesis put forward by professor Märta Strömberg, that the During the Late Viking Age a re-location of the settlements ship-setting was built of re-cycled boulders, i.e. taken from older in the nearby plain took place, in favour of the historically monuments in the district. A small excavations based on the re- known village-sites somewhat further inland (Strömberg sults of a geophysical prospection was carried out, resulting in 1982, 204). The distribution of rune stones and silver the find of a long dolmen close to the ship-setting. The connec- hoards show that the settlements in the district were tion between the now standing and the disappeared monument is dominated by an elite of wealthy landowners, residing on discussed and, finally, the question of how to put the monuments large farms (Söderberg 2005, 422). In the 12th century the in a wider context is touched on. presence of a strong, supraregional aristocracy is reflected in the architecture of the local church-buildings, their rich The monument and it’s setting inventories and fortifications (Wikborg 2002).

Ale’s stones, beautifully situated on top of the Kåseberga The prehistoric settlements on the ridge are mainly known ridge, close to the Baltic, is one of the most admired through field-walking and the collecting of loose finds, ancient monuments in Sweden (Fig. 1). The ridge follows mainly flint artifacts (Strömberg 1994). The fishing village

Fig. 1. The location of Ale’s stones at the plateau on the ridge, the excavated trench and the long dolmen (anomaly).

281 Copyright material: no unauthorized reproduction in any medium Small Things – Wide Horizons

Fig. 2. The ship-setting with boulders (letters, numbers) and excavated features (numbers). After Söderberg et al. 2012, 44. of Kåseberga is taking shelter on lower terrain at a short The 67 meters long and 19 meters wide ship-setting distance to the north-east of the monument. The village, consists of 59 boulders including the so-called rudder which is mentioned in the 16th century, was flooded and stone (M4) outside the south-east stern as well as the altar- moved a couple of hundred meters away from the sea- stone (M2), which is a slab lying on the ground inside shore in the 18th century (Wikborg 2002). Due to heavy the stone ship (Fig. 2). In accordance with a photography erosion of the slopes of the ridge, remains of the village showing the monument after the 1917 restoration, the has been exposed together with hearths and cultural slab was probably standing in the foundation pit 1012 at layers, representing several periods from the Stone Age the time, although it is uncertain whether it is an original to the Medieaval Period. The nature and extent of these feature (Fig. 2: Söderberg et al. 2012, 29). activities are, however, difficult to estimate at the moment (Söderberg 2013). Some obvious irregularities catch the eye. One boulder is missing in the south-west railing and a stone-packing, When climbing the plateau on the ridge the visitor is richly possibly a foundation for the missing boulder, has been rewarded with wide horizons and suddenly the magnificent found (Fig. 2: 1009 between S15 and S16). Most of the stone ship is visible, in splendid isolation. This is however, boulders have probably been adjusted to some extent, which we will try to clarify, an illusion. The even pasture of but only a few, such as N2, N3 and N4, have actually the site today is primarily caused by long-time cultivation, been moved away from their original locations. Another wind-erosion, and some recent bulldozing as well. foundation indicated by a stone-packing has been discovered just outside of N4 (Fig. 2: 1011).

282 Copyright material: no unauthorized reproduction in any medium Monumental make over?

Some of the boulders are quite impressive, up to 4,6 meters results of the project were summarised, is available in long (M1), but most of them vary between 2—3 meters English (Strömberg 2003). In this article, several ideas of in height. Altogether, the boulders can be described as importance in relation to our work were also discussed, pillar-like. The average relation between width and height which we will return to. To summarise, the project proved is about 1:2,5 (Bergström 1990, 28). The material of the to be successful in several respects, although there were stern-, rudder-, and altar-stones is Cambrian sandstone and many challenges to overcome (Strömberg 2003, 80). From the geological expertise argue that the two stern-stones a source-critical point of view the monument’s bad state were originally quarried in the coastal area, about fifteen of preservation pose a substantial problem. The ship- miles further to the east. The boulders in the railings are setting and it’s immediate surroundings have suffered erratic and the material mostly granite (Bergström et al. severe damage from prolonged cultivation accompanied 1988). by erosion. Furthermore, an air reconnaisance station was built partly inside the monument during the world The orientation of the monument (north-west—south-east) war 2 and repeated restorations were carried out without must also be mentioned. It was meticulously measured and proper archaeological documentation. In 1956 excavators studied by Curt Roslund at the department of Astronomy, removed sand dunes from inside the ship as well as the Chalmers University of Technology in . His plough soil surrounding it, and there is little doubt that hypothesis was that the monument made it possible to find archaeological information was lost in the process. the precise time of the summer solstice during the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age (Roslund 1979). However, Monumental ship-settings later on he pointed out that the orientation could just as well be related to the topography of the landscape, primarily the The tradition of building ship-settings is primarily found ridge and the coast-line (Roslund 2004; cf. Fig. 2). This in certain regions in Scandinavia at different times during view, that the creator was perhaps more of a landscape- the Bronze Age and the Iron Age/Early Medieval Period, architect than an astronomer, has gained certain support c. 1700 BC—AD 1050. Ale’s stones belong to a subclass by comparisons to monumental ship-settings elsewhere. concisting of monumental ship-settings, measuring more The orientation in relation to the cardinal points vary, but than 40 meters in length. These over sized ship-settings are it is always in harmony with the topography of the local only known from certain regions in Sweden and landscape (Vestergaard 2007). and whereas most of the smaller ship-settings contains graves, predominantly cremations, there is generally a lack The idea that the ship-setting is a sun calender from the of grave-related finds in the monumental ship-settings. Bronze Age has long been maintained by Bob G. Lind, Accordingly, their functions have been debated (Capelle lately in co-operation with quaternary geologist N-A. 1986; Vestergaard 2007). Mörner (Mörner & Lind 2011). Since it is hardly possible to rule out or to prove that the monument was built with A study of the monumental ship-settings in Denmark the specific intention to function in relation to the sun, this and Scania shows that they were generally erected on is rather a question of belief. As we will show, however, high ground close to communication routes, clearly there are good arguments for the dating of Ale’s stones indicating that they were intended to be seen and admired to the Early Medieval Period and the Late Viking Age in (Vestergaard 2007). There is also a connection to places particular. of power, including Royal sites such as Jelling and Lejre. In Denmark rune stones are often integrated in the Märta Strömberg and Ale’s stones monumental ship-settings and the inscriptions leave no doubt of the relation to a social elite. The inscription of the In spite of two restorations and an article written by Tryggevœlde rune stone is quite informative when it comes Oscar Montelius in 1917, archaeological excavations had to the function of the ship-setting as well as the setting as actually never been carried out at the site before the project a whole. Runologist Erik Moltke translated it as follows: ”Ales stone’s and the Kåseberga ridge” was initiated by ”Ragnhild, Ulv’s sister, placed this stone and made this professor Märta Strömberg (†) in 1989. From this year mound in memory—and this ship-setting—of Gunulv, her on, small-scale archaeological fieldwork was conducted husband, a ”clamourus man”, son of Nœrve”… (Moltke annually until 2005. In total close to 15 % of the area inside 1981, 226). the ship-setting was excavated and 32 boulders were partly excavated. Excavation data has been compiled in a report According to the inscription the ship-setting was part which is available on the internet, but unfortunately not in of a monument complex intended as a memorial. There English (Söderberg et al. 2012). are several other examples of monumental ship-settings that were part of similar monument complexes, the The Ale’s project included collaborators from other largest, most famous and multi-faceted being the recently subject fields, such as archeo-astronomy and geology. investigated and re-interpreted stone ship at the site of The results were primarily published in local periodicals Jelling (Holst et al. 2013). In Tryggevœlde and Jelling the although the intention was to make them available to mounds were most probably ”made” at about the same international readers after the project was completed. time as the ship-settings, but some examples shows that However, only one article in which the most important a Bronze Age mound also could do, such as the complex

283 Copyright material: no unauthorized reproduction in any medium Small Things – Wide Horizons at Bœkke, Jutland, where the ship-setting is anchored to a consists of sparsely erected monoliths in contrast to the Bronze Age mound. The most pronounced elite-connected more or less unbroken lines of chain-stones characterising monument complex of this kind in Sweden, Anundshög the Bronze Age stone ships. (’s mound) north to Lake Mälaren, may be viewed as a variation on the theme, although Anund’s mound The most exact datings, provided by the rune stones, supposedly was built during the sixth century AD. This suggests that the monumental ship-settings in Denmark mound, which in fact is one of the largest in Sweden, is the were erected during a rather short period, approximately anchorage of a double monumental ship-setting, more than AD 900—970 (Vestergaard 2007, 152). However, most a hundred meters long. The incription of the rune stone of the large stone ships in Sweden can only be dated by close by says that ”Folkvid raised all of these stones”… using blunter instruments such as typology, stratigraphy, which, however, probably refers to a number of radiocarbon analysis and artifacts. The abscence of graves flanking the ancient road at the site (cf. Sanmark & Semple makes it particulary difficult. As Vestergaard has pointed 2008). out, they may well be contemporary with the Danish examples but some may be slightly older and a few may Highly elaborate settings such as Jelling and Anund’s even date back to the Bronze Age. mound clearly shows that the memorial function was part of a larger parcel, underlining the legitimacy of a ruler/ In the case of Ale’s stones a series of six radiocarbon cult leader or a dynasty. They may also have been intended samples of charcoal from contexts selected by Strömberg as assembly-places. Several of the monumental Swedish has been dated within the time-span cal. AD 260—1050 ship-settings, such as Anund’s mound, were situated in (Söderberg et al. 2012, 51 f.). However, a number of connection to the Royal road called Eriksgatan, where observations and some finds as well, indicate that Ale’s a newly elected king had to travel to the local things in stones was built at a place which had been used as a grave- order to confirm his election (Elfstrand 1998). Eriksgatan field for some time, reminding of Färlöv. According to is mentioned in the oldest provincial law in Sweden. descriptions and illustrations by visiting antiquarians Written sources also mention that thing was held at Hilfeling and Bruzelius during the 18th and 19th centuries Anund´s mound in 1392, and at Rane´s stones in the late respectively, small stone- or ship-settings were observed, 12th century. Rane´s stones is a monumental ship-setting flanking the large stone ship (Söderberg et al. 2012, 24 situated at Askeberga, in the province of Västergötland ff.). In connection with the restorations a round stone- (Elfstrand 1998; Artelius 2000; Sanmark & Semple 2008). setting was observed, situated close to the south-east stern. Finally, a and it’s presumed foundation pit were At present, monumental ship-settings are known from found in 1950, at a distance of c. 60 meters to the north about 30 locations in Denmark and Sweden with a of the ship-setting. Some of these features as well as a concentration in Scania, in particular the eastern part of number of anomalies indicating more hidden features were the province (Söderberg & Knarrström in prep.). However, identified during the geophysical prospection in 2006 (Fig. the connection to the social elite is not that explicite in 3: Trinks et al. 2012, 36 ff.). the Scanian examples. The most elabore setting known so far in Scania is the site at Färlöv, where excavations has Most probably at least some, perhaps all the radicarbon- revealed at least two monumental ship-settings situated at a datings reflect activities at the previous to grave field alongside an old road and close to a rune stone, the building of the ship-setting. During the Ale’s project thus reminding of the setting at Anund’s mound. Although a Migration Period ceramic vessel was found inside the the inscription could not be read because of the weathered stone ship together with a single fragment of burnt human surface of the stone it was established that the old runic bone. Another fragment was found close to a railing stone alphabet was used, dating to the 8th or 9th century. The (Söderberg et al. 2012, 51). Three datings from these two ship-settings were dated to the Vendel—Viking Period by contexts represent the earliest datings in the time-span radiocarbon analysis, using charcoal from the foundation mentioned above. Two samples were collected close to the pits. A number of cremation graves, including a richly south-east stern, one from the round stone-setting and the furnished weapon grave, were also found at the site, dating other from the area nearby. The writers of this article is to AD 200—400 (Björk 1999). of the opinion that the sample of charcoal collected in the pit A1010 (Fig. 2), centrally situated in the ship-setting, is The dating of Ale’s stones closest in time to the building of the monument (Lu-2578: BP 1110+75, cal. AD 690—1050). The pit A1010 may be It is fair to say that the monumental ship-settings are interpreted as a foundation for a large stone—a symbolic generally dating to the Early Medieval Period. However, a maststep—a feature which, according to Torsten Capelle, few exceptions are known from the island of Gotland and was erected in the ship-settings of the Viking Period ”as the mainland next to the island, dating to the Bronze Age far as they are datable” (Capelle 1995, 74). According to (Capelle 1986, 1995; Wehlin 2012). When comparing the an old tradition recorded in the early 18th century there over-sized Bronze Age- and Early Medieval ship-settings a was something written on one of the boulders, and it is number of morphological differences may be pointed out, tempting to speculate in the possibility that there was the most important concerns the railings or outer contours. originally a rune-stone in the centre of the ship (Söderberg The railings of the Early Medieval stone ships generally et al. 2012, 26).

284 Copyright material: no unauthorized reproduction in any medium Monumental make over?

Fig. 3. Above: Georadar data from the site of Ale´s stones. After Trinks et al. 2012. Under: Same picture as above with anomaly and excavation trench marked. After Andersson et al. 2013.

Finally, a hitherto unpublished Viking Period glass bead the Neolithic, Late Bronze Age and Iron Age—Medieval was recently discovered in a box together with finds Period (Söderberg et al. 2012, 53, 119). from the surroundings of the Ale’s stones. The box was deposited at the Historical Museum, University of Lund Ale’s stones in a new light by Strömberg. The find information specified that the bead was found in the plough soil close to the railing. The choice of the object for excavation was based on the results of the geophysical prospection in 2006 (Trinks et In addition there are evidence of activities at the site prior al. 2012). Apart from the anomalies discussed above, the to the Iron age/Early Medieval Period. A radio-carbon data indicated the presence of a large circular structure dated sample of charcoal from a mixed layer inside the with a rectangular structure in it’s centre, situated some ship-setting correspond with the period when megalithic 25 meters east of the ship-setting (Fig. 3). The structure as graves were built in Scandinavia (Lu-4012: BP 4600+140, a whole bear a certain resemblance to an excavated grave 3650—2900 cal. BC). Furthermore, a shard of pottery monument in the nearby site of Skogsdala, with remains attributed to the Battle Axe Culture of the Late Middle of an Early Neolithic long dolmen, covered by Bronze Age Neolithic Period and some polished flints has been found burial mounds and encircled by kerbstones (Jacobsson in the plough soil inside the ship-setting. A number of 1986). stray finds from the near surroundings have also been registered, indicating activites during different periods of

285 Copyright material: no unauthorized reproduction in any medium Small Things – Wide Horizons

The prospect of identifying a dolmen close to Ale’s stones was considered most interesting in relation to the hypothesis put forward by Strömberg, that some of the boulders in the monument were recycled, i. e. taken from megalithic monuments in the district (Strömberg 2003). The hypothesis was introduced when cup marks situated at different parts of several boulders in the ship-setting were discovered; at the base, on different sides and on the top of the boulders. Cup marks often occur on boulders in and passage graves, and some examplex in the district are known (Strömberg 1971, 29, 168).

So far cup marks has been securely identified on seven boulders in the railings of the stone ship (Fig 2: N1, N25, S7, S9, S12, S22 and S27). A number of observed cup marks on other boulders are considered less reliable and must be examined further, by experts (Söderberg et al. 2012, 47 ff.). On five boulders cup marks were discovered far below the surface when the lower parts of the boulders were excavated. Some of them were well preserved while others were in poor condition, and it was concluded that the two categories …”represent a rather long time and were not made on the ridge just before the construction of the ship-setting” (Strömberg 2003, 86).

The excavation was carried out at the site in Octobre 2012 (Andersson et al. 2013). Using an excavator a sixty meters long and 2,5 meters wide trench was dug across the 50 meters wide anomaly and it’s central part where an extension was made. The internal structure of the anomaly corresponded well with a number of archeological features interpreted as the remains of a rectangular long dolmen, measuring approximately 22 x 10 meters. Impressions of boulders and regular foundation pits form a chamber in the centre of the rectangular structure which is delimited by stone brims and impressions/pits from a chain of boulders (Fig. 4). The interpretation is based on how ploughed-out dolmens use to appear in archaeological records. During recent years a number of destroyed and ploughed-out dolmens have been excavated in Scania (Andersson & Wallebom 2013).

The outer, circular structure of the anomaly corresponded with a ditch-like structure in the southern part. However, a similar structure could not be discerned to the north, were a layer of stones in different sizes emerged. The outer structure appeared as vague compared to the inner structure, and the question of functions remains in this case open.

The finds were generally quite sparse and consisted only of worked flint. A flake scraper was found in the ditch to the south. Charcoal (ash) from a foundation pit belonging to the central chamber was analysed and dated to the Middle Neolithic Phase B (Ua-30880: BP 3996+32, 2580—2460 cal. BC). It is considered to be secondary, reflecting activities when the dolmen was in use.

Fig. 4. Suggested interpretation of the archaeological features in the trench. After Andersson et al. 2013.

286 Copyright material: no unauthorized reproduction in any medium Monumental make over?

Towards a ship-setting in context time from the Early Neolithic Period to the end of the Viking Period. The excavation clearly shows that a megalithic grave, a long dolmen, was built at the site of Ale’s stones a long A model by John Chapman (1997) concerning the time before the ship-setting was erected. At some point development of cultural landscapes in two different in time the boulders belonging to the dolmen were taken courses running parallel and to some extent interacting away. Although it is difficult to actually prove that the with each other may serve as an interesting point of boulders were re-used in the ship-setting it is our opinion departure for further analysis of the site. One course that the find strongly support this hypothesis. is characterised by the vernacular landscape, which is developed successively and transformed over time. The Ale’s stone has often been perceived as a riddle, and other course is the political landscape, formed by the fact considered as difficult to put in context. The necessary that certain places are ascribed a specific significance and prerequisite is, of course, a reliable dating. Although it is are shaped accordingly. The objective of social groups, still an assumption that Ale’s stones was built during the in particular elites, was to display their social power in Viking Period—in our opinion well into the 10th century— physical monuments. However, in order to put Ale’s this dating must be considered well-founded as it is based stones in context it is also of vital importance to consider on a variety of archaeological and scientific data as well continuity and change at other levels than the site itself, as comparisons with monumental ship-settings elsewhere. locally and regionally as well as in the wider political and cultural sphere. It may be argued that the re-use of boulders from megalithic graves also speaks in favour of a dating to the Viking Acknowledgements Period. During recent years excavations of sites containing megalithic graves in Scania shows that dolmens in several The project ”Ale’s stones in a new light” was generously instances occur together, in complex settings (Andersson supported by the Anders Althin Foundation and The & Wallebom 2013; Söderberg 2014). The results shows National Heritage Board, Department of Contract that the sites were in active use for c. thousand years and Archaeology, UV Syd in Lund. We would also like to then continued to be respected for several millennia. A re- express our gratitude to the late Professor Märta Strömberg, use during the Bronze Age is known, such as at previously Lund. mentioned Skogsdala (Jacobsson 1986). During the Early Medieval Period, however, there are signs of re-use beyond References the traditional funerary context. At Skegrie, the dolmens were integrated in the settlement structure, and the find Andersson, M., Knarrström, A., Söderberg, B. and B. of a sunken floor-hut at Döserygg indicate a similar Wallebom 2013. Ales stenar i nytt ljus. Delprojekt 1 behaviour. It has been suggested that the Skegrie dolmens – gravmonumentet intill skeppssättningen – Skåne, were regarded as assets ascribed to the ancestors, thereby Ystads kommun, Valleberga socken, Kåseberga 48:29, granting the farm-owners the right to the land (Andersson fornlämning Valleberga 154. Riksantikvarieämbetet & Wallebom 2013, 132 f.; Söderberg 2014, 102 ff.). UV Rapport 2013:80. Stockholm. However, there is significantly less evidence for a strict Andersson, M. and B. Wallebom 2013. Döserygg and funerary re-use of megalithic graves compared to Bronze Skegrie. Megalithic centres in south-west Scania, Age mounds during the Early Medieval Period. According southern Sweden. In Fontijn, D., Louwen, A.J., Van der to Eva Thäte the megalithic graves may have been Vaart, S. and Wentink, K (eds.), Beyond Barrows. Cur- perceived differently from the Bronze Age mounds, and rent reserach on the structuration and perception of the consequently they were seldom re-used for funerals (Thäte prehistoric landscape through monuments. Leiden. 2007, 176 f.). Thäte also raises the question whether the Artelius, T. 2000. Bortglömda föreställningar. Begrav­ postulated re-use of the boulders in Ale’s stones was meant ningsritual och begravningsplats i halländsk yngre as a symbolic link to the ancestors, or if the megalithic järnålder. Riksantikvarieämbetet. Stockholm. monuments were considered as meaningless structures in Bergström. J. 1990. Ett geologiskt studium av Ales stenar. an area where large stones were lacking. Ystadiana, Ystads Fornminnesförening XXXV. Bergström, J., Daniel, E., Herner, E., Kornfält, K-E., The find of the dolmen and the suggested monumental Strömberg, M. and H. Wikman 1988. Ales stenar – ste- make over raises many questions concerning the narnas historia. Ale 1988:4. formation and transformation of the site during the course Björk, T. 1999. For Gods and Men to Behold. Excavations of prehistory. Did the setting contain several megalithic at an Iron Age Grave-Field in Färlöv, 1996 – 1998. graves? The possibility can hardly be ruled out since Lund Archaeological Review 1998. Ale´s stones consists of some sixty boulders. The finds Capelle, T. 1986. Schiffsetzungen. Praehistorische Zeit­ and radio-carbon datings from the site represents quite a schrift 61 (1). number of periods. Altogether, this setting, percieved by Capelle, T. 1995. Bronze-Age Stone Ships. In Crum- today’s visitor as a solitary monument, should actually be lin Pedersen, O. and Thye, B.M. (eds.), The Ship as viewed as a heavily re-arranged and severely fragmented a Symbol in Prehistoric and Medieval Scandinavia. accumulation of monuments and artifacts, spanning in

287 Copyright material: no unauthorized reproduction in any medium Small Things – Wide Horizons

PNM Publications from the National Museum Studies Strömberg, M. 1994. Kåsebergaåsen under forntiden. in Archaeology and History Vol. 1. . Österlen. Årsbok från den samlade hembygdsrörelsen Chapman, J. 1997. Places as Timemarks – the Social på Österlen 1992. Simrishamn. Construction of Prehistoric Landscapes in Eastern Strömberg, M. 2003. Ale’s stones. A Monument of Recy- Hungary. In Nash, G. (ed.), Semiotics of Landscape: cled Boulders? Lund Archaeological Review Vol. 7. Archaeology of Mind. BAR International Series 661. 2001. Oxford. Söderberg, B. 2005. Aristokratiskt rum och gränsöverskri- Elfstrand, B. 1998. Skeppssättningen vid Stångån. Stånge- dande. Järrestad och sydöstra Skåne mellan region bro – händelser kring vatten. Meddelanden från och rike 600 – 1100. Riksantikvarieämbetet Arkeolo- Östergötlands länsmuseum. Östergötland 1997/1998. giska Undersökningar Skrifter No 62. Stockholm. Holst, M.K., Jessen, M.D., Andersen, S.W. and A. Peder- Söderberg, B. 2013. Skadebesiktning i Kåseberga. Kultur- sen 2013. The Late Viking-Age royal construction at lager från förhistorisk tid och nyare tid. Skåne, Ystads Jelling, central Jutland, Denmark: recent investigations kommun, Valleberga socken, Kåseberga 48:23. Antik- and a suggestion for an interpretative revision. Prae- varisk kontroll 2013. Riksantikvarieämbetet UV Rap- historische Zeitschrift 87 (2). port 2013:43. Jakobsson, B. 1986. The Skogsdala Dolmen. A Long Dol- Söderberg, B. 2014. Väg E6 Trelleborg – Vellinge Område men Beneath a Bronze Age Burial Mound at Skogs- 6:1. Järnåldersgårdar i dösmiljö. Skåne, Trelleborgs dala, South Scania. Papers of the Archaeological Insti- kommun, Skegrie socken, Skegrie 39:1. Riksantik- tute University of Lund 1985 – 1986. New Series Vol. varieämbetet UV Rapport 2014:57. 6. Söderberg, B., Knarrström, A. and K. Stark 2012. Ales ste- Moltke, E. 1981. Runes and Their Origin. Denmark and nar. Fördjupat Kunskapsunderlag. Skåne, Ystads kom- Elsewhere. The National Museum of Denmark. Copen- mun, Valleberga socken, Kåseberga 49:29 m fl. Rik- hagen. santikvarieämbetet UV Rapport 2012:21. Montelius, O. 1917. Stenskeppet vid Kåseberga. Minness- Thäte, E.S. 2007. Monuments and Minds. Monument krift 1907 – 1917 utgifven av Ystads Fornminnesfören- Re-use in Scandinavia in the Second Half of the First ing. Ystad. Millenium AD. Acta Archaeologica Lundensia Series Mörner, N-A. and B.G. Lind 2012. Has Got in 4o No. 27. Lund. a Younger Sister. Ales Stones in Sweden Decoded. Trinks, I., Larsson, L-I., Stark, K. and P. Karlsson 2012. International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics Arkeologisk prospekteringsundersökning Ales stenar. 2012,2. Skåne, Ystads kommun, Valleberga socken, RAÄ 20. Roslund, C. 1979. Ale – forntidsmatematiker och Rapport Riksantikvarieämbetet UV Teknik. astronom? Forskning och framsteg 1979:5. Vestergaard, F. 2007. Monumental Ship-Settings in Den- Roslund, C. 2004. Liten astronomilära för Ales stenar. Ale mark and Scania. Kuml 2007. 2004:3. Wehlin, J. 2012. Östersjöns skeppssättningar. Monument Sanmark, A. and S. Semple 2008. Places of Assembly: och mötesplatser under yngre bronsålder. GOTARC New Discoveries in Sweden and England. Fornvännen Serie B. Gothenburg Archaeological Theses 59. 103 (4). Gothenburg. Strömberg, M. 1971. Die Megalithgräber von Hagestad. Wikborg, J. (ed.). 2002. Kåseberga. Historia och historier Zur Problematic von Grabbauten und Grabriten. Acta kring ett fiskeläge. Kåseberga. Archaeologica Lundensia Series in 8o, No. 9. Bonn/ Lund. Strömberg, M. 1982. Ingelstorp. Sur Siedlungsentwick- lung eines sűdschwedischen Dorfes. Acta Archaeolog- ica Lundensia series in 4o, No 14. Lund.

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