Anna Tornberg | Lund University (original) (raw)

Papers by Anna Tornberg

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

In this paper, we investigate the Scandinavian Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of Kinnekulle ... more In this paper, we investigate the Scandinavian Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of Kinnekulle in southwestern Sweden. The above-mentioned periods in the study area are poorly understood and the archaeological record consists of a few stray finds and a concentration of 20 gallery graves. This study focuses on three of the gallery graves where commingled skeletons from successive burials were recovered. The human remains and the artefacts from the graves were used for discussing individual life stories as well as living societies with the aim of gaining new knowledge of the last part of the Neolithic and the beginning of the Early Bronze Age in southwestern Sweden. We focused on questions concerning health and trauma, mobility and exchange networks, and diet and subsistence of the people using the graves. Chronological, bioarchaeological, and biomolecular aspects of the burials were approached through the application of archaeological and osteological studies, as well as stable iso...

New Perspectives on the Bronze Age, 2017

Opuscula, 2023

Bioarchaeology has the potential to substantially inform about ancient lifeways through osteologi... more Bioarchaeology has the potential to substantially inform about ancient lifeways through osteological analyses of the remains of the once-living individuals. This article provides insights of the demography and health of the people of ancient Hermione (Geometric–Roman period). A minimum number of 85 individuals from the Hermione necropolis was os- teologically analysed. Although the analysis was limited by taphonomic processes and the long period of use of the necropolis, the results point towards a population affected by urban hazards, such as infections, high child mortality, and, possibly, decreased opportunity to survive into senescence. Further, stunted growth, evidence of general stress primarily in the juvenile skeletal assemblage, and a possible case of child abuse informs of the hardships experienced by children in ancient Hermione. The osteological analysis also confirms that the two individuals buried in the “Warrior Tomb” were of both sexes. The skeletal remains were unfortunately too poorly preserved for detailed analyses of trauma or other health-related patterns. The practice of burying all age groups and both sexes in collective graves between the 6th–5th and 2nd centuries BC might correspond to the necropolis as a communal burial ground, while older and younger graves were assigned for single individuals only.

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2023

Life and afterlife in the Nordic Bronze Age. Proceeding of the 15th Nordic Bronze Age Symposium held in Lund, Sweden, June 11-15, 2019, 2022

Warriors and warfare have become common themes within Bronze Age archaeology over the past 10–20 ... more Warriors and warfare have become common themes within Bronze Age archaeology over the past 10–20 years. Recent reporting of Neolithic and Bronze Age massacres and battlefields in Germany supports the presence of endemic violence in these regions. But what about in southern Scandinavia? This paper explores the evidence of violence-related skull trauma from a pooled sample of 257 individuals from 40 different localities in southern Sweden. The results show that there is a relatively large difference in the frequency of skull trauma depending on burial type. Due to the common practice of Early Bronze Age reburials in Late Neolithic gallery graves, the high frequency of trauma in gallery graves and barrows is probably linked to increased violence rates in the Early Bronze Age. The majority of cases are caused by blunt force, and up to 13% of the individuals were affected. Most of the traumata were healed, especially among males. It is probable that the high levels of blunt-force skull trauma in southern Sweden mirrors a society with endemic warfare during the Early Bronze Age.

Lund Archaeological Review, 2016

In this thesis diet and health of people who lived in southern Sweden 2300-1100 BCE is studied. T... more In this thesis diet and health of people who lived in southern Sweden 2300-1100 BCE is studied. The study is based on bioarchaeological analyses of human remains from 46 localities in the areas of Uppland, Narke, Ostergotland, Vastergotland, and Scania. The studies are based on skeletal remains from a minimum number of 310 individuals that have been analysed both osteologically and biochemically. The thesis constitutes five papers and a synthesis, where diet and health, related to agro-pastoral intensification and increased social stratification, is explored and discussed.The author acknowledges a biocultural approach, i.e. human biology and culture are intertwined and affect each other. A variety of cultural expressions and actions form human biology, which can be studied as skeletal adaptation or stress. This relationship makes it possible to study past cultural behaviour through analyses of human skeletal remains. The results of the papers have been discussed in relation to bioar...

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018

Abstract Human stature is a variable often used to study health changes in present and past popul... more Abstract Human stature is a variable often used to study health changes in present and past populations. In this study possible differences in stature from the late Mesolithic-Early Bronze Age, based on skeletal data from southern Sweden, are investigated. The sample comprises n = 203 femora where maximum lengths were evaluated using non-parametric testing. Sex was assessed primarily using criteria on the pelvis and secondarily through statistical testing of sexual dimorphism. Measurements of the vertical diameter of the femoral head, femoral anterior-posterior and medial-lateral were evaluated using an iterative discriminant analysis. Results confirm a significant difference in femoral length between archaeological culture groups for both sexes. Male femoral lengths evidence a significant increase in the Battle Axe Culture that remained high throughout the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. Only a minor increase in male stature associated with the transition to agriculture could be noticed; stature then remained constant until the Pitted Ware Culture. There was no change in female stature following the Neolithic transition. Female stature then increased gradually throughout the Neolithic, but decreased somewhat in the later part of the Late Neolithic-Early Bronze Age. These findings suggest that the transition to agriculture did not affect health in any profound way, and that the high stature in the BAC-Early Bronze Age are dependent on a mix of genetic influx, population increase and good nutrition and health, possibly linked to an intensification and consolidation of the agro-pastoral economy.

Open Archaeology, 2018

This article presents the results of an interdisciplinary study combining archaeology, osteology,... more This article presents the results of an interdisciplinary study combining archaeology, osteology, and stable isotope analyses. The geological conditions and richness of megalithic graves in Falbygden is suitable for studies of Neolithic human remains. Nevertheless, the Late Neolithic period (2350-1700 BC) is poorly investigated. This paper explores new knowledge of the Late Neolithic megalithic population in Falbygden. In-depth osteological and archaeological studies focusing on a single gallery grave (Falkoping stad 5) were conducted. Radiocarbon dating and carbon, nitrogen, and strontium isotope analyses of teeth from twenty-one individuals revealed the time of the grave’s use, as well as the subsistence and mobility practices of the buried individuals. The grave was already in use during the first part of the Late Neolithic and used into the second part of the period by individuals of different origin. Furthermore, the results indicated changing population dynamics in the Late Ne...

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2018

Lund Archaeological Review, 2013

Diet and health during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Scandinavia have never been under ... more Diet and health during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Scandinavia have never been under systematic study. Still, high statures have been reported from osteologists, statures that indicate good health. This article is based on a pilot study examining health changes in relation to dietary changes due to intensified agriculture and the possible Secondary Products Revolution as discussed by Sherratt in the early 1980s. Several different bioarchaeological methods for investigating health are applied to the Late Neolithic-Early Bronze Age graves of Abbekas, southernmost Sweden, showing several parameters connected to health and viewing tendencies of health changes possibly connected to an agricultural intensification. (Less)

Human stature as a measurement for evaluating physical status is used by the World Health Organiz... more Human stature as a measurement for evaluating physical status is used by the World Health Organiza-tion (WHO) as well as bioarchaeologists. The reason for this is that only about 80% depends on genetic factors, while 20% depend on the environment. Bad living conditions decrease stature in a population. This paper aims to make a short review of earlier reports on stature in Late Neolithic–Early Bronze Age Southern Scandinavia and to provide some new data. It is clear that stature in Late Neolithic–Early Bronze Age Scandinavia was very high, equal to modern statures.

Handelser Langs En Vag Finjasjobygden Med Den Medeltida Hovdalaborgen I Centrum Fran Folkvandringstid Till Stormaktstid, 2011

In this chapter, which is really a bigger appendix, the authors report the osteological analysis ... more In this chapter, which is really a bigger appendix, the authors report the osteological analysis of the animal bones from Hovdala medieval castle. They discuss the material in terms of diet, slaughter strategies and animal husbandry. Also the importance of fish as well as hunting big game during this period are two themes discussed in the text.

This article presents the results of an interdisciplinary study combining archaeology, osteology,... more This article presents the results of an interdisciplinary study combining archaeology, osteology, and stable isotope analyses. The geological conditions and richness of megalithic graves in Falbygden is suitable for studies of Neolithic human remains. Nevertheless, the Late Neolithic period (2350–1700 BC) is poorly investigated. This paper explores new knowledge of the Late Neolithic megalithic population in Falbygden. In-depth osteological and archaeological studies focusing on a single gallery grave (Falköping stad 5) were conducted. Radiocarbon dating and carbon, nitrogen, and strontium isotope analyses of teeth from twenty-one individuals revealed the time of the grave’s use, as well as the subsistence and mobility practices of the buried individuals. The grave was already in use during the first part of the Late Neolithic and used into the second part of the period by individuals of different origin. Furthermore, the results indicated changing population dynamics in the Late Neolithic Falbygden, with increased human mobility, variability in subsistence strategies, and growing population density.

A number of papers have provided insight in frequencies of violence related trauma, especially sk... more A number of papers have provided insight in frequencies of violence related trauma, especially skull trauma, in northern European skeletal assemblages dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. Although the cases are often well described, they lack further discussion about the consequences of skull trauma for the injured individual and the implications for the surrounding society, especially considering severe skull trauma leading to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). In this paper we address questions of trauma and care for one individual associated with the Swedish-Norwegian Battle Axe Culture who suffered from two severe ante-mortem skull traumas probably leading to brain injuries. These questions are addressed using the web-based application and analytic tool Index of care. We found that daily care, both short term with basic needs like nutrition and grooming, and long term with cognitive impairments, was available in the Neolithic society. Considering the frequent number of ante-mortem skull trauma in Neolithic and Bronze Age skeletal assemblages TBI was probably a common phenomenon. We argue that the care provided was a necessity for survival and maintenance of a socially sustainable society.

Scholars have long discussed social hierarchies associated with the Early Bronze Age in southern ... more Scholars have long discussed social hierarchies associated with the Early Bronze Age in southern Scandinavia. In this paper, social hierarchies are targeted through bioarchaeological methods. Fifty new radiocarbon dates from 50 individuals show that there is an increase in burial complexity from the Early Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. Further, stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were analysed in 29 of the individuals and dental caries were then assessed in a data set of 598 post-canine teeth, to examine differences in diet between individuals associated with different inhumation practices. The nitrogen values indicate that manuring was practised during the period, but there was no statistical difference in diet or dental caries between burials. It is argued that different types of burials are associated with different social levels in society, but that there is not a higher meat consumption or visibly different food behaviour among individuals interpreted as being a member of the " elite " .

Human stature is a variable often used to study health changes in present and past populations. I... more Human stature is a variable often used to study health changes in present and past populations. In this study possible differences in stature from the late Mesolithic-Early Bronze Age, based on skeletal data from southern Sweden, are investigated. The sample comprises n = 203 femora where maximum lengths were evaluated using non-parametric testing. Sex was assessed primarily using criteria on the pelvis and secondarily through statistical testing of sexual dimorphism. Measurements of the vertical diameter of the femoral head, femoral anterior-posterior and medial-lateral were evaluated using an iterative discriminant analysis. Results confirm a significant difference in femoral length between archaeological culture groups for both sexes. Male femoral lengths evidence a significant increase in the Battle Axe Culture that remained high throughout the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. Only a minor increase in male stature associated with the transition to agriculture could be noticed; stature then remained constant until the Pitted Ware Culture. There was no change in female stature following the Neolithic transition. Female stature then increased gradually throughout the Neolithic, but decreased somewhat in the later part of the Late Neolithic-Early Bronze Age. These findings suggest that the transition to agriculture did not affect health in any profound way, and that the high stature in the BAC-Early Bronze Age are dependent on a mix of genetic influx, population increase and good nutrition and health, possibly linked to an intensification and consolidation of the agro-pastoral economy.

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

New Perspectives on the Bronze Age, 2017

Opuscula, 2023

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2023

Life and afterlife in the Nordic Bronze Age. Proceeding of the 15th Nordic Bronze Age Symposium held in Lund, Sweden, June 11-15, 2019, 2022

Lund Archaeological Review, 2016

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018

Open Archaeology, 2018

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2018

Lund Archaeological Review, 2013

Handelser Langs En Vag Finjasjobygden Med Den Medeltida Hovdalaborgen I Centrum Fran Folkvandringstid Till Stormaktstid, 2011

This article presents the results of an interdisciplinary study combining archaeology, osteology,... more This article presents the results of an interdisciplinary study combining archaeology, osteology, and stable isotope analyses. The geological conditions and richness of megalithic graves in Falbygden is suitable for studies of Neolithic human remains. Nevertheless, the Late Neolithic period (2350–1700 BC) is poorly investigated. This paper explores new knowledge of the Late Neolithic megalithic population in Falbygden. In-depth osteological and archaeological studies focusing on a single gallery grave (Falköping stad 5) were conducted. Radiocarbon dating and carbon, nitrogen, and strontium isotope analyses of teeth from twenty-one individuals revealed the time of the grave’s use, as well as the subsistence and mobility practices of the buried individuals. The grave was already in use during the first part of the Late Neolithic and used into the second part of the period by individuals of different origin. Furthermore, the results indicated changing population dynamics in the Late Neolithic Falbygden, with increased human mobility, variability in subsistence strategies, and growing population density.

The last decade of archaeo-genetic research has revealed substantial biocul-tural changes setting... more The last decade of archaeo-genetic research has revealed substantial biocul-tural changes setting forth in Europe around and after 2900 BCE. In the Nordic region, the First Farmer population vanished, fled into retreats, or became absorbed by Corded Ware (CW) lineages of the newcomers whose genetic ancestry traces back to pastoralists of the Eurasian Steppe. Researchers cur-rently discuss causes, effects, and timelines. There are numerous reports of CW violence in skeletal remains from central Europe, but in which ways were acts of violence part of the Nordic CW groups? So far, violence among the Nordic CW groups has only been reported on case basis, but population fre-quencies are unknown. Weaponry is commonly found in Nordic CW contexts but there has been an archaeological consensus that battle axes, commonly found in male burials, where ceremonial prestige objects and not suitable in combat. Here, we present evidence of violence in skeletal remains from Sweden and Denmark. Most violence-related trauma correlate to blunt force violence to the head, but in core areas, the use of projectiles seems elevated. It is likely that this corresponds to inter-group conflict over local resources. Based on skeletal evidence, we also argue that the battle axe was, in fact, used in combat and should not be regarded solely as ceremonial objects.

Cranial lesions, following both violence and accidental injury, are relatively frequent in prehis... more Cranial lesions, following both violence and accidental injury, are relatively frequent in prehistoric skeletal materials. The impact of violence of course varies, but all traumas detectable in the osteological material are severe enough to show skeletal alteration of some sort. Many individuals suffering from trauma to the head survived, indicated by new bone formation. However, heavy force to the head can result in brain injury (Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI), well known from modern medicine. The physical and mental result of the injury is dependent on muliple factors, such as location of trauma, the sex and gender, age and previous medical history of the affected as well as her social and cultural context. By using an interdisciplinary approach, applying archaological and osteological methods together with neurological and neuropsychological experiences on a South Swedish skeletal material dated to the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, discussions about TBI, health care and individual function in society are made and preliminary results are presented.

The World Health Organization (WHO) use human stature as a tool for evaluating physical health. H... more The World Health Organization (WHO) use human stature as a tool for evaluating physical health. Human stature is dependent on both genetic and environmental factors, such as nutrition and disease history, why it is also a good method to examine health in the past.

Earlier publications report high statures in the South Scandinavian Late Neolithic-Early Bronze Age, indicating good health. In current paper new estimations of human stature has been made through linear regression in skeletal assemblages from Southern Sweden, which largely confirms earlier reports.

What do these high statures represent and how should we interpret them? Are South Scandinavian Late Neolithic statures uniquely high or are there equally tall people during the Middle Neolithic and in other parts of Late Neolithic Europe? Are there differences in stature between South Swedish regions or between individuals with different burial traditions? In this paper Late Neolithic-Early Bronze Age statures are put in perspective and evaluated as a contribution to the discussion of high statures as an indicator of good health in prehistoric populations.

Poster presentation at the 20th European Meeting of the Paleopathology Association (PPA) in Lund... more Poster presentation at the 20th European Meeting of the Paleopathology Association (PPA) in Lund, Sweden, 26th - 31st August 2014.

Osteological analysis of Late Neolithic skeletal remains from Herrestorp, Scania, Southern Sweden.

The author acknowledges a biocultural approach, i.e. human biology and culture are intertwined and affect each other. A variety of cultural expressions and actions form human biology, which can be studied as skeletal adaptation or stress. This relationship makes it possible to study past cultural behaviour through analyses of human skeletal remains. The results of the papers have been discussed in relation to bioarcheological theories and methodologies as well as current regional archaeological understandings.

The period around 2300-1100 BCE is considered by archaeologists as a period of agro-pastoral intensification, population increase, and increased social stratification. Agro-pastoral intensification allows for increased access to nutrition, and further, a resource surplus. This development would plausibly also result in population increase and increased socio-economic differences. Through investigations of diet, oral health, stature, paleopathology and care, mobility, and demography insight in the biological consequences of this development have been gained.

The results from the papers show that there is a higher reliance on cereals and cattle in the Late Neolithic-Early Bronze Age than in previous periods, which is visible both in stable isotope results and the frequency of dental caries. The health of the population seems to have been generally good with high stature, low prevalence of pathological lesions related to nutritional stress, possibility of gaining care if injured, many surviving into old ages, and low child mortality, which is indicative of low risk of infections due to low population density. However, an elevated risk of dying as young adults and decreasing female stature in the Early Bronze Age might reflect increased levels of stress in parts of the population.

Broadly speaking, archaeologists examine change across the scale of human space and time. However... more Broadly speaking, archaeologists examine change across the scale of human space and time. However, the advances and exactitudes of new scientific discoveries and the increasing command of typology and shifts in metal sources and metallographic practices have also changed the means by which those changes are measured. How have our definitions of what was Nordic/non-Nordic changed? In terms of archaeometry, were people in the Nordic Bronze Age generally healthy? What about long-distance migration(s)? If so much metal was imported to Scandinavia, can we really discuss ‘Nordic’ metalwork/ ornamentation in relation to other areas? Are these measures the same as they were a decade ago?

This session invites input from various branches of archaeological investigation as a means to openly discuss new changes in the standards by which we assess the Nordic Bronze Age, its persons, and its material culture. It welcomes papers from both the archaeological sciences and more traditional archaeological pathways which seek to address and/or present new criteria for what should and should not be “normal” within the Northern European Bronze Age.