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This paper presents osteological analyses and radiocarbon dates from human remains found in early churchyards on the Baltic island of Gotland. Graves from the first phases of burial have been discovered beside churches on Gotland on many occasions since the late nineteenth century, usually during preparations for new interments. Previous work has focused on the artefacts found with many of them, which suggest that the early churchyard dead were buried in costume closely resembling that worn in the last phases of the traditional grave fields. These finds have been a key source for research into the chronology and process of the Christianization of Gotland during the late Viking Age and early medieval period. Neglected, however, are the human remains which were sometimes recovered alongside the artefacts, but until now escaped research attention. Here we present analyses of the remains of 26 individuals recovered from Garda churchyard, with smaller numbers from Stånga, Havdhem and Fardhem. The results contribute osteological characterization of the early adopters of churchyard burial, along with new absolute dates for the establishment and use of the new Christian burial sites, and demonstrate that the practice of furnished burial was maintained in churchyards for an extended period.

This article discusses late Viking Age mortuary practices in the town of Sigtuna during the early urban phase (c. 980–1100 AD) with focus on the so-called graveyards (Sw. gravgårdar): cemeteries where the dead were inhumed mainly in accordance with Christian customs, but that lacked churches. It aims to trace cultural, social, or religious communities among the early town dwellers based on an analysis of their burial rituals, in combination with results of osteological and bioarcheological studies of their physical remains. The paper shows that burial customs varied within the early townscape: the dead were laid to rest under visible grave constructions in exposed topographical locations, as well as on flat-ground cemeteries in lower terrain close to the settlement area or at early churchyards. Moreover, diversity in mortuary customs, sex and age distribution, gender division, and diet can be detected between individual cemeteries, indicating that they were used by different urban groups that to some extent parted from their dead in different ways. The results of bioarcheological analyses indicate a heterogenous early urban population, comprising people from the Mälaren area, and also from distant regions. The burial customs reflect this specific urban situation, bearing witness to both long-distance contacts and roots in local mortuary traditions., Title in Web of Science: On the heights and on the town's edge: Grave fields and graveyards in the earliest Sigtuna, VR 2016-02532

The Nunnan block in western Sigtuna is best known for its large number of graves belonging to Sigtuna’s oldest urban phase, unearthed during archaeological excavations in the 1980s and early 1990s. Less well known is that the 1984 excavation also revealed the remains of buildings and an almost 0.25 m deep cultural layer. The close spatial relation between burial and house, situated less than 30 m apart, is noteworthy, as is the character of the settlement remains. Yet this town plot at Nunnan has rarely been discussed within Sigtuna research. This article therefore examines the results of the 1984 excavation with regard to current knowledge of urban developments in Sigtuna. The excavation revealed two areas with one house each, situated in the SE part of the Nunnan block just N of Stora gatan. Three successive structural phases were detected for each house. Closest parallels with regard to building techniques and house types are to be found in the earliest settlement remains in other parts of the town belonging to the late 10th and early 11th centuries. The finds from the Nunnan houses also suggest an early date, possibly in the foundation phase of the town (c. 980) and the immediately subsequent period. These remains of buildings at Nunnan most likely formed part of a short-lived town plot with an E-W orientation. This does not fit the general pattern of Sigtuna’s town plan with its narrow N-S orientated town yards. However, deviating town-yard arrangements have been noticed elsewhere during excavations in Sigtuna in recent decades. Thus this reassessment of the Nunnan plot helps to nuance our understanding of the early townscape of Sigtuna. The dating of the Nunnan building phase suggests that this town plot, as other settled areas in western Sigtuna, was abandoned already during the second half of the 11th century. This seems to be concurrent with the period when the close-by cemeteries in the Nunnan block went out of use, which makes one wonder if there is a con

THE EMERGENCE of churchyards is one of the most significant transformations of the landscape during the conversion to Christianity. This article examines changes in burial and commemorative practices during the 11th century, based on early Christian grave monuments. These are the first examples of churchyard memorials in central Sweden, yet at the same time they also form an integral part of the late Viking-Age runestone tradition. This article presents an analysis of their temporal, regional and contextual backgrounds, tracing developments in the early ecclesiastical landscape. It is concluded that different regional designs of rune-carved funerary monuments are related to substantial differences in the Christianisation process, reflecting variation in early ecclesiastical organisation and providing insight into how the conversion process was related to social and political structures., Monuments funéraires des débuts du christianisme et développements ecclésiastiques en Suède au 11e siècle L’émergence des cimetières paroissiaux est l’une des transformations du paysage les plus marquantes pendant la conversion au christianisme. Ce papier examine l’évolution des pratiques de sépulture et commémoratives au 11e siècle, en s’appuyant sur les premiers monuments funéraires chrétiens. Ces premiers exemples de mémoriaux dans les cimetières du centre de la Suède rentrent cependant tout à fait dans la tradition des pierres runiques à la fin de l’ère viking. Cet article analyse leur contexte de fond, temporel et régional, en retraçant les développements dans le paysage ecclésiastique primitif. Il conclut que les divers modèles régionaux de monuments funéraires avec des pierres runiques sculptées sont liés à des différences majeures dans le processus de christianisation; l’implication étant qu’ils reflètent les variations existant au sein des premières organisations ecclésiastiques et fournissent des indications sur la manière dont le processus de conversion s’articulait avec les structures sociales et politiques., Winner of the 2019 Martyn Jope Award.

Den här artikeln diskuterar den danske adelsmannen Sivert Grubbe och de tavlor med långa inskrifter på latin som han satte upp på sina herrgårdar Torup och Hovdala på 1630-talet. Tavlorna sattes upp mot slutet av hans liv och kan ses som ett försök att skapa ett minnesmärke över sig själv, att styra det egna eftermälet.

This paper explores the early Christian grave monuments (often called Eskilstunakistor) as a source for the social dynamics of 11th-century Sweden. These monuments formed an integral part of the Scandinavian runestone tradition, at the same time as they constitute the first churchyard memorials in the Götaland and south Svealand area. Based on an analysis of the stylistic design of the early Christian grave monuments it is possible to identify regional groups which have varying degrees of affinity with each other. I will argue that the ornamental design of the monuments can be regarded as a way of visual communication, where networks of associations are created by means of citation; linking places, burials and magnate families together. Thus, similarities and diversities in the design of funerary monuments convey information about the social networks of people erecting, or being buried beneath, these kinds of memorials as well as the scope of their power. Moreover the designs of rune carved monuments are related to substantial differences in the Christianisation process, in the way Christian burial and commemoration was practiced during the eleventh century in Sweden. Different types of rune-inscribed grave monuments not only signify differences in elite networks, but also provide insight into how the Christianisation process was related to social and political structures.

This thesis examines transformations in burial and commemorative practices during the late Viking Age and early Middle Ages based on early Christian grave monuments (in sw. often named Eskilstunakistor); the first examples of churchyard memorials known in south central Sweden. The designs of these monuments range from stone cists consisting of five slabs - one lid, two sides and two gables - which stood above ground, to simpler constructions such as recumbent slabs with or without head- and foot-stones. Early Christian grave monuments share several characteristics with runestones, including the commemorative formula of the runic inscription as well as ornamentation in Ringerike or Urnes style. An important premise of the study is that they constitute an integral part of the late Viking Age runestone tradition. Sune Lindqvist’s 1915 dissertation gave the first systematic survey of the early Christian grave monuments; however the material has not been the subject of a new compilation since then. The thesis therefore comprises a complete overview of the material, which is presented in a separate catalogue volume. The thesis analyses the temporal, regional and contextual background of the early Christian grave monuments in order to understand the emergence of Christian cemeteries and a new religious and socio-political landscape in the transition between the Viking Age and the medieval period. This objective is divided into two levels that correspond with the two main analytical chapters. The first explores the chronology of the early Christian grave monuments, their relationship to the raising of runestones, as well as to changes in late Viking Age burial customs. The second concerns the actual sites where early Christian grave monuments were once erected. The social context of these places, as well as their significance for the emerging ecclesiastical organisation, is investigated using archaeological material contemporary with the grave monuments. The results show th, Avhandlingen består av två band. Del I: Under runristad häll. Tidigkristna gravmonument i 1000-talets Sverige. Del II: Under runristad häll. Katalog över tidigkristna gravmonument.