Nov 06, 2024 19:00:00

Iron knife found in 2,500-year-old Iron Age woman's grave for unknown reasons

A woman's grave was found with knives and needles stuck in it at an Iron Age burial site in the southern Swedish municipality of Prisgården, dating from 500 BC to 400 AD. According to archaeologist Mor Gillberg of the Swedish History Museum, the purpose of the knives and needles is unclear.

Ovanlig kvinnograv funnen på järnåldersgravfält i Pryssgården | Arkeologerna

https://arkeologerna.com/bloggar/pryssgarden-en-6000-arig-historia/ovanlig-kvinnograv-funnen-pa-jarnaldersgravfalt-i-pryssgarden/

Iron Age woman was buried with a knife stuck into her grave. Archaeologists aren't sure why. | Live Science

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/iron-age-woman-was-buried-with-a-knife-stuck-into-her-grave-archaeologists-arent-sure-why

The Iron Age burial site, found in the municipality of Prisgården, about 169 km southwest of Stockholm, was suggested to exist by Swedish priest Erikus Hemengius in the late 17th century, but had never been excavated before. However, a preliminary survey was carried out in early 2024, and a graveyard, dwellings, storehouses, and wells were discovered. Buried ornaments were also found as a result of the survey using a metal detector.

Subsequent excavations have uncovered Iron Age graveyards, where people would dig holes to bury cremated remains, as well as some graves where small stones were placed symmetrically around the remains. One grave contained a thick burnt layer containing ash and bone fragments, and when we dug up the grave, we found an iron folding knife stuck straight into the ground, Gillberg reported.

In addition, small needles were also found in the same grave. However, Gillberg said, 'These knives and needles could have been used to make clothing, suggesting that this grave belongs to a woman. However, we don't know why knives were stuck in the grave.' According to overseas media LiveScience, in the Iron Age, knives may have been used for food preparation and clothing, as well as for self-defense.

'Partial toe bones found in this grave indicate that the woman probably had osteoarthritis of the big toe,' Gillberg said. 'A similar female grave was found in

the Fiskeby burial site, where a needle and a knife were also found in the grave.'

According to Mr. Gillberg, it is estimated that there are about 50 graves in total in this area, and further excavation is planned in the future. In addition, post holes that seem to have been built around the graves have been discovered, and Mr. Gillberg said, 'We would like to find more remains like this. Memorials and other monuments are sometimes built near crematoria, so this may have been one of them.'