Beads and burnt bones unearthed at major Iron Age burial site in Sweden (original) (raw)
Archaeologists excavating one of Södermanland’s largest archaeological sites have uncovered colourful glass beads, cremation urns and burnt human remains at an Iron Age burial ground near Rogsta outside Nyköping, offering a rare glimpse into life and death in Sweden some 1,500 years ago.
The extensive excavation, which began in April, is taking place beside a main road surrounded by farmland and forest. Around 20 archaeologists are working across the 16,000 square metre site, where they are gradually uncovering graves dating to the 7th and 8th centuries AD.
- Advertisement -
The burial ground consists of circular stone settings visible in the landscape, along with dark soil stains that become apparent once the stones are removed. Archaeologists say the site is providing valuable insight not only into burial customs, but also into the people who once lived in the region.
“So far we have completed five graves, but there are many more to investigate — around 70 in total,” said project manager Ingela Harrysson. “For us, it is not only the objects that are exciting. We want to understand how the graves were created and constructed, because that tells us about the people who lived here.”
During the Iron Age, cremation was the dominant burial practice across the Nordic world. The dead were placed on funeral pyres together with personal possessions, jewellery, household items and sometimes animals such as horses or dogs. After the cremation, the ashes and burnt bones were collected and buried beneath protective stone coverings. In many cases, portions of the remains were placed inside ceramic urns.
At Rogsta, archaeologist Hjalmar Stibéus carefully uncovered one such urn alongside burnt human bones embedded in darkened soil.
- Advertisement -
“In this grave we have found a large number of glass beads in different colours,” he explained while examining the burial.
The brightly coloured beads — red, blue and yellow — are among the most striking finds recovered so far. Archaeologists say beads were commonly associated with women’s graves during the Iron Age and may have been sewn onto clothing or suspended between brooches worn across the chest.
One grave at the site contained nearly 50 beads, suggesting the buried woman may have held a position of considerable status within the community.
“It is incredibly exciting to work in this area because there are so many different periods and types of remains represented here,” said Stibéus. “Once the ground is cleared, the entire landscape changes and you begin to understand how the place may once have looked.”
What makes the Rogsta excavation particularly significant is the presence of much older remains beneath the Iron Age cemetery. Archaeologists have identified traces of Bronze Age settlement activity dating from around 1700 to 500 BC, including large refuse deposits and settlement remains that will be investigated once work on the burial ground is complete.
By the time archaeologists move into those deeper layers, they will effectively be stepping back another 2,000 years in history.
“What makes this site unique is that we have two ancient environments superimposed on one another,” Harrysson explained. “Partly the Iron Age burial ground, but also traces of Bronze Age settlements and other remains beneath it.”
The excavation is expected to continue for several months, with archaeologists hoping the site will reveal more about the development of settlements, social structures and burial rituals in prehistoric Sweden.
For now, each newly uncovered bead, urn fragment and cremation deposit is helping researchers piece together the stories of the people who once lived — and died — at Rogsta more than a millennium ago.
Sources : Arkeologerna.com
- Advertisement -
Mark Milligan is a multi-award-winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 8,000 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education, the BCA Medal of Honour, and the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.