Archaeologists have discovered a large Viking Age grave during excavations of a prehistoric settlement near Varberg in Halland County, Sweden.
Only six percent of the site has been excavated, as much of the cemetery is under modern construction. Despite this, researchers discovered 139 graves containing human and animal remains, clay vessels, jewelry and evidence of ship burials.
The site is located on a ridge near ancient trade routes, with the river Tvååkersån flowing nearby, and an old road known as Järnbärarvägen runs through it.
Much of the site has been damaged by centuries of farming, when the soil was plowed and leveled to cultivate the land.
Petra Nordin of Arkeologinerna explained that the funerary superstructures were mostly destroyed and the graves were plowed up, scattering the remains.
Only six percent of the site has been excavated
However, investigations have identified areas where concentrations of funeral pyres occurred, in addition to the traces of a 50-meter-long ship, the footprint of three ship burials and a ship-shaped mound.
The graves themselves varied, with some containing dogs buried in round fire pits, while human remains were usually found in elongated pits. “The dog was a companion, who joined the man at the stake,” Nordin said, according to the report HeritageDaily.
Excavations also revealed a square burial with three large fire pits containing 17 vessels, human and animal bones, woven weights and iron arrowheads. This tomb is believed to be a cremation site where fires were made above ground.
A large part of the cemetery is under modern construction
Many of the objects discovered during the excavations include buckles such as fibulae and buckles with clasps, pottery, gold pendants and a fragment of an Arab silver coin dated 795-806 AD.
Animal bones from birds, dogs, cattle and pigs have been found alongside human remains, suggesting they were placed on the graves as funerary sacrifices.
According to archaeologists, the concentration of burials indicates that a substantial Viking Age settlement is somewhere nearby, with possible theories of a trading post in Gamla Köpstad or the port of Galtabäck.
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Source: www.descopera.ro
