Archaeologists currently investigating an Iron Age burial ground in Pryssgården, Sweden, have found a woman’s grave containing a small needle and a curved knife inserted vertically into the earth! The cemetery, dating from around 500 BC to 400 AD, contains at least 50 burials and may be the same site famously described in 1667 by Ericus Hemengius, a priest tasked with recording ancient remains in his parish. The woman’s grave remains the most unusual find of the lot.
A Large Cemetery
The cemetery was uncovered in Pryssgården, a southern Swedish area about 105 miles (169 kilometers) southwest of Stockholm. Archaeologists initially learned of the site through the 17th-century text by Hemengius, who was commissioned to document ancient cemeteries in his parish.
Hemengius describes the piles and mounds he saw, visible from his window, writing:
“Below the priest’s property, west of Prästegården, there are some ancestral burial mounds, seemingly large, on which, for the most part, fires are seen burning every autumn night.”
Until now, archaeologists were uncertain if these graves had survived or were even in the area of their current excavation, according to a press release by Arkeologerna.
Archaeologist Moa Gillberg in the process of excavating one of the graves. (Henrik Pihl/ Arkeologerna)
The Unusual Burial
Two tombs located close to each other were excavated simultaneously. In one, archaeologists found a burned grave containing a small runner stone, possibly used as a millstone. Some pits contained few or no bones, suggesting they may have served a symbolic or alternative ritual purpose.
The second tomb, on the other hand, was extremely sooty, with a thick layer of fire. As they dug down, they found an iron knife had been put straight into the ground.
Archaeologist Moa Gillberg from the Sweden’s National Historical Museum said that those who buried this Iron Age woman:
“…stuck the knife in; we don’t know why, but it is clear that it is meant for the woman”.
The knife with a curved edge, normally used for working leather, and a needle for sewing leather. These objects are most common in women’s graves and are usually dated to centuries around the year 0. (Karin Lindeblad/Arkeologerna)
In addition to the needle and knife, analysis of a toe bone from the woman’s remains suggests she may have suffered from osteoarthritis in her big toe. Similar graves have been discovered at the Fiskebygrav site, where women’s burials also included needles and knives of this type.
“We found a human bone during the preliminary investigation this spring, and when we started to excavate the earth, there were two more small skull fragments and then smaller stone packings. We also found two fibulas, costume buckles, and a costume pin at the launch site with the detector. Then we realized that we were probably on to something and that it could be the burial ground that the priest was talking about”, said Gillberg.
Archaeologist Tamara Gomez Kobayashi works in the field with one of the graves/pits. (Henrik Pihl/Arkeologerna)
It’s the Pits! A Variety of Burial Types
The Pryssgården site includes a variety of burial types. Some graves are pits filled with remains from cremation pyres, while others are covered by symmetrically arranged stones, a practice known as stone packing. Cremation was a common burial custom during the Iron Age, with remains often burned at the burial site, reports Live Science.
In some cases, the archaeologists found less soot or even animal bones in the pits, hinting at different burial practices and rituals. Some graves had been almost emptied of bones, leading to the speculation that the cremated remains might have been moved to other parts of the site or nearby locations.
“A pit was revealed to be a rather large posthole, suggesting it may have been part of a superstructure or a boundary marker for the burial ground. We’re interested in finding additional pits like this one. In another area, we uncovered an intricate stone arrangement with a large, flat stone placed on top of several other stones, almost like a foundation. However, there were no bones beneath it. Sometimes, monuments are constructed within burial grounds, so this may have served as one,” explained Gillberg.
Altogether, the archaeologists estimate there are around 50 graves at Pryssgården, though the count may change as investigations continue. The site also includes evidence of two ancient structures, a cultivation store, and a well, ready to be explored in further digs.