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Pyre-Related Material in Inhumation Graves Investigating Traces of Viking Age Biritualism in South-Western Scania

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Pyre-Related Material in Inhumation Graves Investigating Traces of Viking Age Biritualism in South-Western Scania Pyre-Related Material in Inhumation Graves Investigating Traces of Viking Age Biritualism in South-Western Scania BY FRANCISZEK SATALECKI Abstract The article discusses and briefly describes the inclusion of cremated remains in the inhumation burials dating to the Viking Age discovered in six locations in south-western Scania. Previous interpretations, linking the material to human funerary sacrifice and the cult of Odin, are discussed. A new perspective is proposed, focusing on the transformative nature of the burial and on its role in establishing the identities of the mourners, with special attention directed towards New Kinship studies. Ideas for further research are presented. Introduction One of the few aspects of Scandinavian Viking presence of a stone setting, wooden post or a Age burial ritual that most researchers agree burial mound. Researchers point out that the upon is its large variety (Svanberg 2003b; Price number of excavated burials is far too low to 2008, 257 f.; Price 2010, 124; Lund 2013, 48; suffice for the whole population of the area Price 2014, 178; Williams 2016, 401 f.). Both throughout the period, which suggests that cremation and inhumation seem to have been other forms of disposing of the dead had to practised throughout the peninsula (Gräslund exist (Eriksen et al. 2009, 146; Price 2008, & Müller-Wille 1992, 186; Price 2014, 259; Price 2014, 178). 178; Lund & Arwill-Nordbladh 2016, 424) This article is concerned with 44 conforming to regional patterns displaying monuments that combine inhumation differences in frequency between both burial burial with materials that could derive from rites (Stylegar 2007, 87). Burial practices of a funeral pyre, such as cremated human and the societies inhabiting Scandinavia in the animal remains, charcoal and soot deposits Late Iron Age have taken a range of forms, and charred wood. The burials were located including chamber graves, boat burials, on six different sites discovered in the region cremation layers, burials in urns and coffins as of south-western Scania. It is believed that well as in other forms of containers or without inhumation was a dominant burial rite in them, with additional variables such as the the area, as in Zealand and other regions of LUND ARCHAEOLOGICAL REVIEW 22 | 2016 39 eastern Denmark (Svanberg 2003b, 97), from some burials from sites included in this study which almost identical graves displaying a mix may suggest. of pyre-related material are known (Brøndsted The application of new theoretical 1936; Andersen 1960; Eriksen 1992; Jønsson perspectives that are mindful of the modern 1992; Kelinminger 1993; Lindblom 1993; western foundations of archaeology (Thomas Grøn et al. 1994; Wulf Andersen 1995; 2004), can present those modest contexts as Ulriksen 2011). The practice, even if often deserving of further research. The analysis noticed, has not been subjected to detailed is conducted on the documentation of description or interpretation. The aim of contexts excavated several years ago and it the study is to introduce the material to the is preliminary in its nature. However, it can broader public and analyse how the cremation provide a new perspective on burial rituals deposits were created, mainly through study in the final period of the Late Iron Age and of the recorded stratigraphy of the burials. establish a new research agenda that concerns Additionally I will attempt to discuss their essential questions about the nature of the previous interpretations and introduce new past people’s personhood. ways of looking at the material. The study focuses on burials dating to the Viking Age for two reasons – first, is the most unfortunate fact that modestly equipped Theory and method graves, such as those described in the article, The archaeology of death and burial for are seldom a subject of any in-depth study, a long time was concerned with themes with researchers focusing on extravagant and of social structure – it was assumed that lavish burial forms such as chamber graves burials reflected the structure in a rather or boat graves, with the notable exception straightforward manner, with beliefs that the of works by archaeologists such as Ulriksen social persona of the deceased and its ability to (2011), Artelius (2000), Pétursdóttir (2009) control people was symbolized and reflected and Svanberg (2003a & b). It is important to by the economic expenditure of work and recognize that knowledge about the Viking resources in the burial (Brown 1981, 28). Age mortuary customs so far has been built Modern studies recognize the transformative on a very limited amount of burial contexts nature of the funeral (Oestigaard 2000, 42; (Back Danielsson 2007, 27). Many graves Ekengren 2006, 109; Oestigaard 2006, 17; receive a brief description in an excavation Back Danielsson 2007, 250; Mansurd 2006; report, never to be studied again, and the 133; Williams 2008, 240), highlighting material is seldom subjected to an analysis the fact that the social identity of both the that goes beyond cherry-picking examples deceased and mourners was established across regional boundaries. The second reason during the process. Social identities must be for confining the study to this particular time viewed as ever changing (Jenkins 2008) and period was that most of the described contexts existing as a product of networks of social in which such remains had been found are relations between people (Brück 2004, 311; dated to the Viking Age, and therefore I Oestigaard 2006 14; Graham 2009, 52), decided that it is most pertinent to present the ever so often including the dead. The grave study of examples of the practices from south- monuments should be viewed as a group western Scania dating to this period. It is, effort to fix and communicate the established however, necessary to state that it might have identities (Oestigaard 2000, 53; Williams started in the earlier parts of the Iron Age, as 2006, 26; Ekengren & Nilsson Stutz 2009, 12; 40 FRANCISZEK SATALECKI Graham 2009, 51). The deceased, possessing choices and selections undertaken by the physical qualities and, quite possibly, acting organizers of the funeral. In that case, even as a focal point of the ceremony (Williams objects that would normally be classified as 2004, 265; Nilsson Stutz 2008), has a limited everyday items may receive another meaning, agency in the design carried out by the based on their appearance and relation to other living (Oestigaard & Goldhahn 2006, 29; objects found in the burial context (Ekengren Ekengren & Nilsson Stutz 2009, 6). During 2013, 182). The possible entanglement of the funeral a new identity is bestowed on the objects, their “biography”, must be also taken dead person, suitable for his or her present into account (Pétursdóttir 2009, 29) if the condition (Ekengren 2006, 109), to which creation of memory through performance and the mourners relate their identities. material culture is viewed as the main purpose A grave itself should not be viewed as a of the funeral (Williams 2006, 12). static arrangement of corpses and items, but With the above-mentioned concepts as an outcome of a process that takes place in mind I analysed the documentation of in certain time frames. Funerals are sequences previously excavated burials in south-western of actions that can form visible archaeological Scania, dated (or possibly dating) to the deposits (Williams 2006, 120; Ekengren 2013, Viking Age, in which cremation deposits 179) and the sites in which the dead were were discovered. As cremation deposits I deposited are often utilized later for further understand materials that could have derived burials and activities. Taphonomic processes from a cremation ceremony – mainly burned further transform the information preserved human and animal remains, large pieces of (Nilsson Stutz 2003, 137). Finally, during the burned wood, but also layers of charcoal. archaeological excavations attempts are made Cremation deposits located in separated cuts in to recover it. All these processes are critical in layers of the fill of the burial were excluded, as shaping the interpretation of the particular they might represent an overlying intersecting burial context. burial – a practice not uncommon for Viking If the funeral ceremonies are composed Age burial grounds in south-western Scania. of series of actions executed by the people The practices of deposition of the cremation- attending them, then through studies of related material are placed in a context of the stratigraphy of the graves it is possible to funeral ceremony. Analysis of drawings of establish a relative chronology of the events burial contexts, sections and the information taking place at the site (Gansum & Oestigaard about the level on which the recorded finds 2004, 69). Careful study of the burial context, were discovered, was used to reconstruct, in with consideration of different stages of the very broad strokes, the sequence of the events funeral, can help in understanding the role of and to reflect on the configuration of objects items discovered in the burial. during the certain stages of the ceremony. It is necessary to recognize that burial Following the rule of superposition – the goods can be composed of objects that were bottom layers will be perceived as older than personal possessions of the deceased, the the top layer – objects placed at the bottom tools necessary for the construction of the will be the ones that were placed first in the monument, gifts for the afterlife or means of grave, and objects found in upper layers will stopping the dead from harassing the living be generally considered as deposited at later (Brück 2004, 309; Fahlander & Oestigaard stages (Gansum & Oestigaard 2004, 69). 2008, 7ff; Pétursdóttir 2009, 32). In any of those instances they represent conscious LUND ARCHAEOLOGICAL REVIEW 22 | 2016 41 Fig. 1. Map of cemeteries in south-western Scania where pyre-related material was found in inhumation burials. Drawing by the author. Sites in the study – material of deposition of the human remains.
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