Moon-shaped idols constitute very specific and variable category of ceramic, in rare cases also of stone artefacts. Beginning of their occurrence and spreading in the middle Europe can be associated with the Middle-Danube and North-Alpine Urnfield culture. Their development consequentially continues in the Early Iron Age when they spread outside central European region down to the north east of Spain and the north of Italy. The current total number of findings is higher than estimate from 2004, which was approximately 2000 pieces. The main objective of the thesis lay in overall processing of results of the research up to now concerning the given issue. At the same time there was an attempt made about critical assessment of the artefact features and the excavation environment with regard to the potential function of the Moon-shaped idols. The excavation environment of these products is quite variable. As a rule they appear in settlements as secondary refuse, but also in the situations, which can be considered as demonstration of cult behaviour. In northeast France and south Germany, parts of Moon- shaped idols are to be found also in context of the final Bronze Age. From there the custom is spread in a modified form to the east. Such equipped graves can be noticed in the burial sites of Bylany and...

This contribution analyzes and discusses formal and chronological characteristics of the house urns in the Collection of prehistoric artefacts of the University of Leipzig. / In dem Beitrag werden die in der Sammlung Ur- und Frühgeschichte der Universität Leipzig aufbewahrten Hausurnen vorgestellt. Es handelt sich um eine Kopie und ein Original.

Prospektionen der Universität Leipzig im Umkreis des römischen vicus Belginum ergaben bei Wederath, Flur Hinterm Klop (Gde. Morbach, Kr. Bernkastel-Wittlich, Rheinland Pfalz) eine mutmaßliche villa rustica. Unterschiedlich große Steinkonzentrationen weisen auf ein Haupt- und mehrere Nebengebäude. Das Fundmaterial besteht vorwiegend aus Ziegeln (Dach-, Fußboden- und Hypokaustenziegeln) und relativ wenig Keramik. Die bestimmbare Keramik datiert in das 2./3. Jh. n. Chr. / Archaeological prospections by the University of Leipzig in the surroundings of the Roman vicus Belginum revealed near Wederath (Rhenania-Palatinate, Germany) a villa rustica. Stone concentrations of different dimensions are indicating the main and several minor buildings. The finds are consisting mainly of bricks and relatively few ceramic sherds. The ceramics are dating into the 2nd/3rd cent. AD.

Im Rahmen des mehrjährigen Prospektionsprogramms der Universität Leipzig im Bereich des römischen vicus Belginum (OT Wederath, Gde. Morbach, Kr. Bernkastel-Wittlich, Rheinland Pfalz) wurde im November 2007 der Bereich von Tempelbezirk 3 und seiner Umgebung begangen. Dieser Tempelbezirk liegt im Westen des vicus und ist bislang nur durch eine geophysikalische Prospektion bekannt. Die Begehungen erbrachten eine perfekte Übereinstimmung mit dem Magnetometerbild mit Konzentrationen im Bereich des gallorömischen Umgangstempels und der Temenosmauer. Die Funde ermöglichen eine Datierung in das 1. bis 2. und vielleicht das frühe 3. Jh. n. Chr. Bemerkenswert ist die Entdeckung mittel- und spätlatènezeitlicher Scherben des 3.-1. Jh. v. Chr. Sie weisen entweder auf eine ältere Besiedlung oder eine frühe Kulttätigkeit. / Since several years, the University of Leipzig is carrying out archaeological prospections in the Roman vicus Belginum and its surroundings (OT Wederath, Gde. Morbach, Kr. Bernkastel-Wittlich, Rhenania-Palatinate, Germany). In November 2007 the temple area 3 was prospected. This site is located at the western periphery of the vicus. It was until yet only known by geophysical prospection. The actual prospection showed a perfect coincidence of findings and the magnetometer plot. High frequencies of finds, mostly brick fragments, were found at the Temenos walls and the site of the Gallo-Roman temple. The few ceramic sherds are dating from the 1st to the 2nd, probably the early 3rd cent. AD. Remarkable was the find of hand-made pottery, dating into the middle and late Latène period (approx. 3rd-1st cent. BC).

This essay has analyzed and compared measurements of at least 41 dogs from seven different locations on Gotland ranging periods from Stone Age to Iron Age. This essay’s focus was on studying what kind of different types of dogs there are in the different time periods on Gotland, but also what their usage may have been. Type is not to be confused with breed as it is a modern concept and would give a faulty image, type indicate usage such as primed for i.e. hunting. The thesis also explores if the result differs from the mainland or preference of dogs compared to the island. Earlier studies have stated that during the Stone- and Bronze Age there are spitz type dogs, which usually varies between 30-60 cm. While during the Iron age more variety of different type of dogs were found such a greyhound type. Even larger dogs appear in the material with a height of 60-70 cm.   The Gotlandic dogs that were examined came from the locations Simunde, Lilla Vikers, Stora Källstäde, Hemmor, Gullrum, Ire, Vallhagar and Broa in Halla. Their sizes differed between 25-73 cm in height. The types of dogs that have been read out in the material are spitz, terrier, molosser types. The spitz and the terrier types indicate a usage as a farm dog raging to hunting, herding, guarding and as a companion. The molosser type and the other long-legged dogs in Broa in Halla show more specified hunting, high status and even hunting with horse. Nothing shows a different preference of type or size between the mainland and Gotland with the exception that the Gotlandic Stone age dogs were a little on the larger side than normal. The dogs were important in Gotland society and lived a good life with man as well as having the same diet which was proven by carbon-13 value analyzes from Ajvide. The dogs showed very few injuries and those that did showed instead that they had been taken care of in form of food and shelter so that those injuries fully have healed properly. Which shows that man has taken care of the dogs and wanted them well in health, that the dog is indeed important to humans and is our best friend.

The aim of this essay is to get a wider perspective on the early production and usage of textiles in Northern Sweden during the Iron Age and Middle Ages (up until the 17th century). The work consists of collecting digital data of finds, their location and approximate date, and then place them in l'chaîne opératiore, and group the finds accordingly. The groups of the production chain is presented on distribution maps. The lack of finds in large areas shows that, from this study, everyone using textiles were not necessarily creating them from their own raw material.

The complex process of manufacturing woolen textiles contains a long chain of cooperation between resources, techniques and society. With a focus on South and Central Sweden, this study aims to trace the development of woolen textiles and its manufacture, how and why it changed and obtained an increased meaning from the Early Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age. Archaeological biography and materiality are used as theoretical concepts to firstly explore how textile tools, sheep husbandry and woolen textiles changed in occurrence and appearance over time and space. Secondly, by comparing these results, the study analyzes how the different source materials may have affected each other towards the advancement of woolen textiles. The results suggest that a successive increase of sheep among settlements, caused by probably ecological and/or economic factors, possibly led to an increase in wool that sparked the textile development with the creation of more advanced tools and techniques for making woolen textiles in a gradually higher quality. The relationships between people and woolen textiles, as well as its components of manufacture, also seems to have altered during the investigated period, sometimes probably due to influences from the outside world.

Eriksson, J.E. 2021. Hallar och kulthus i södra Skandinavien under äldre järnålder: När Oden och härskaren blev grannar.Eriksson, J.E. 2021. Halls and cult houses in southern Scandinavia during early iron age: When Odin and the ruler became neighbours. The intention of this paper is to investigate why halls and cult houses were built close together and at the same time in southern Scandinavia during the Roman Iron Age and the Migration Period and how this can be linked to the development of administrative and military power. The thesis has been divided into three parts, namely a review of archaeological and historical research, a description of three archaeological sites and analysis. This means that the theoretical starting point of the thesis is to compare research with recent years reported archaeological results. The paper focuses on the time from the Roman Iron Age to the end of the migration period, from the year 0 to 550 AD and the geographically area being studied to southern Scandinavia. The result of the study shows that leaders inspired by the Roman Empire built and took control over the halls and cult houses around the year 250 AD to legitimize and manifest their power, acquire wealth and loyalty from subjects. Archeological remains show that the Norse god Odin was worshiped in the cult house and the stability of this cult can be traced to the end of the Viking Age.

Historically, Norwegian settlement archaeology and research has depended on secondary materials, such as graves, non-contextual artefacts, and historical maps, often used in a retrogressive manner. Primary settlement materials were scarce, which to some extent justified the use of such methodologies. However, an increasing amount of rescue and commercial archaeology projects, combined with mechanical topsoil removal, has led to a vast increase in available primary material. This paper examines two sites excavated as part of E18-prosjektet Gulli-Langåker, namely Gulli and Auli, using both primary and secondary materials to illuminate its settlement structure during the late iron age.  The archaeological material suggests that the two settlements performed continuous dwelling activities within a smaller confined area, though not at a fixed point in the landscape, throughout most of the iron age. These settlements did not reside in the landscape, they were the landscape. As external pressure changed, so did the composition of the landscape at any particular point. The nature, and force, of the pressures experienced during the Migration- and early Merovingian period led to significant changes in the interactions with the surrounding landscape. The result was neo-localization and a contraction of the local social sphere, seen by the changed field of inquiry at the new dwelling sites. A need to mark the geographical extent of the social sphere, as well as an act of dedication to the group, communal gravesites were placed on top of the earlier settlements. The road into the social sphere went through the graves, largely consisting of mounds, creating a theatric and symbolic access and exit point. So, to locate more early iron age dwelling sites one must look beyond the sites from the previous period, using knowledge of contemporary challenges and the phenomenology of the landscape as a compass.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att diskutera hästens kön i en gravkontext och som våtmarksoffer. Detta är en komparativ studie baserad på textuellt källmaterial. De teoretiska begreppen som kommer att användas är genusteori, kunskapsteori, agens och personlighetsteori, för att på så sätt närma sig frågan om valacken, hästens tredje kön.   Hästen har haft en betydande roll för människan och detta går att utläsa i de olika kontexterd är skelettmaterial av häst påträffats. Fyra kontexter under järnåldern behandlas i denna uppsats, båtgravar i Uppland, kammargravar på Björkö, ryttargravar på Gotland och våtmarksoffer på Öland och Gotland. Det är inte bara hästen som är viktig, utan även utrustning som återfanns i gravarna, som kan berätta om hästens sociala roll i samhället. När hästar påträffats i gravar har större vikt lagts på den mänskliga individen och artefakterna de fick med sig, men hästen är inte ett föremål och kan därför inte klumpas ihop med analysen av dessa. Utifrån denna uppsats kan man tyda en preferens för det manliga könet på hästen, men det behöver inte betyda att alla varit hingstar. / The aim of this study is to discuss the gender of the horse in a funerary context and as a wetland sacrifice. This is a comparative study based on textual source material. The theoretical concepts that will be used are gender theory, epistemology, agency and personhood, in hope to approachthe question of the gelding, the horse's third gender. The horse has had a significant role for humans, and it’s possible to interpret this in the different contexts in which skeletal remains of horses can be found. Four contexts from the Iron Age are examined in this essay, boat graves in Uppland, chamber graves on Björkö, equestrian graves on Gotland and wetland sacrifices on Öland and Gotland. It is not only the horse that is important, but also the equipment that was deposited, which can reveal the horse's social role in society. When horses are found in graves, more emphasis has been placed on the person and the artifacts they brought with them. But the horse is not an object and therefore cannot be lumped together with the analysis of these. Based on this essay, a preference for the male gender of the horse can be concluded, but this does not necessarily mean that they all have been stallions.