In the pre-Christian Sámi era places in the nature were believed to be sacred and connected to different gods or the spirit world. The sacred places often had a sacred place name and several of the sacred place names are still here today. One of the sacred places were sáiva-lakes which were believed to be sacred lakes that had two lakebeds, where the second or lower lakebed were considered connected to the spirit world. Sáiva-lakes were considered to be great fishing lakes but there were some rules that the fisherman had to obey to such as there had to be complete silence while fishing otherwise the fish would disappear down to the second lakebed. The sáiva-lakes were also connected to sacrificial practises, there were both sacrifices to the lakes or to sieidi stones on the lake shore for fishing luck or as a thank you for the fishes received. There were also sometimes bigger sacrificial places with different animal bones, sieidi stones and sometimes metal objects.Little is known or written about sáiva-lakes and most descriptions of sáiva-lakes comes from historic sources. The aim of this thesis is to research and contribute to more knowledge about sáiva-lakes and sacred traditions by lakes and watercourses in Northern Scandinavia. The main focus is to study sáiva-lakes both from a sacred and a nature perspective as well as to analyse how sáiva-lakes relate to archaeological sites and other sacred places and place names in their surroundings.The theoretic perspective applied on the thesis is mainly new animism and phenomenology which is applied to give a perspective on the landscape and nature. The study is based on archaeological material, historic sources, field excavations done by the author and a GIS analysis. The study shows that sáiva-lakes were connected to sacrificial practises and that sáiva-lakes often have other sacred places and places names in areas around the lakes. In a larger perspective the study of sáiva-lakes shows the perspective of a cultural landscape, and the aspect of sacred traditions by lakes and watercourses.

The island Öland is rich in prehistoric archaeological finds. The ringforts at Ölandwere constructed during the Roman Iron Age and the Migration Period. Contact withthe Roman Empire is known from finds of gold and of objects of Roman character.This essay compares style of architecture and structure of the ringforts withconstructions of some buildings and places in contemporary European cultures. Theresults indicate that the society in which the ringforts in Öland were built, were incontact with Celtic and Roman societies during the Roman Iron Age and theMigration Period.

This bachelor thesis will, through a method study, make an overlook of hypothetical movement patterns and travel routes in northern Sweden between Mesolithic sites/settlements.The common interpretation of the early movement patterns of northern Sweden has been heavily based on waterways as travel routes. With the building of dams along the major rivers in northern Sweden since 1940s many sites have been found along these rivers. This thesis will explore alternative routes based on least cost path analyses and movement patterns over land.Through data of topographic elevation and the Least Cost Path tool through QGIS, hypothetical connections will appear between the sites. The hypothetical travel routes will be tested with data from the cultural register of Sweden to find sites with similar dating near the routes. Through this thesis connections between sites over a large area will test if people moved through these hypothetical routes.

This thesis seeks to present an interpretation of late Iron Age Scandinavian hall buildings as charismatic. Hall buildings need to be both “killed” and “buried” through being burned down and covered by clay coats, instead of just cleaned up and abandoned. This is due to the idea that charismatic objects need to be “killed” and “buried” either through being interred in a burial or through being deposited in for example wetlands. As a result of the Christianization, hall buildings ceased to be regarded as charismatic since only objects and buildings related to God is regarded as Charismatic in the Christian fate. Thus ceases the “killing” and “burying” of hall buildings as well. As case studies four hall building, two “king’s halls” and two “garrison halls”, have been selected from the province of Uppland in the Mälaren region of Sweden: Gamla Uppsala, Fornsigtuna and the Garrison on Birka.

The aim of this BA thesis is to understand the Bronze Age deposit in Tumba, Botkyrka Parish, Sweden, and its unusual placement in the landscape: on land and not in water. In order to achieve this, the deposit is analysed with different points of view: 1) the deposit objects: two socketed axes from Montelius period V–VI and a chisel, are examined for traces of usage; 2) the deposit is seen in relation to two other deposits in its vicinity; 3) the spatial distribution of other Bronze Age remains and monuments are analysed; 4) the deposit is viewed as a part of a natural and cultural landscape. The results demonstrate that, in southern Botkyrka, used axes were deposited in an area free from other Bronze Age monuments. They appear also to have been placed outside the inhabited areas, i.e. where activities like grazing or hunting occurred. This can be understood by viewing the woodland as something with agency, and people in a relationship with the environment.

This essay looks at the connection between the design and techniques of longswords. The longsword is perhaps the most iconic weapon of the late medieval and early modern period. However, there are few academic studies on how longswords were used. As well as the use of longswords in general the essay seeks to understand how certain characteristics like blade design or decor can offer clues to how specific swords may have been used. To find out how this kind of weapon was used 10 longswords from northern and central Europe was analysed in terms of design. As well as the longswords four historical fencing manuals from the holy roman empire were studied. The source material was chosen to reflect my own experience whit Germanic medieval/renaissance fencing. Combining study of artifacts and written sources gives this essay the opportunity to explore the several attributes pertaining to the use longswords. As well as examining the books and swords several of the techniques in the manuals have been tested by me and Fencers of Wisby historiska fäktskola.  The study of the source material as well as the tests of the techniques reveal the construction of a sword had an impact on how it can be used. Certain design like the shape of the blade, crossguard and pommel change what techniques are more effective with a particular type of longsword. The early longwords for example seem to have had an emphasis on cutting whilst the later swords became more adapted for thrusting to combat armour. Some of the examined longswords appear to be ornamental and not intended for combat. The more ornamental longswords could however possibly have functioned as a weapon and a symbol at the same time. Sometimes the symbolism is emphasised but even in those cases the swords could often have been used as a weapon if desired or needed.

Den gropkeramiska kulturen är förknippad med kustlandskap och ett osteologiskt material bestående av fisk och säl, men kulturen fanns också vid inlandets insjöar där fisk och bävern istället är framträdande i det osteologiska materialet. Vindförbergs udde är en av flera gropkeramiska inlandslokaler belägen i Dalarna, det som utmärker Vindförberg från andra omkringliggande lokaler är lokalens höga och branta placering i landskapet. Syftet med uppsatsen är att tolka vad för slags lokal Vindförbergs udde varit, varför bävern är framträdande i gropkeramiska inlandslokaler, och hur inlandslokaler skiljer sig från eller liknar kustlokaler. För att svara på frågorna har en osteologisk analys av stenåldersmaterial från Vindförberg gjorts, och en komparativ metod har tillämpats där det osteologiska materialet jämförs med två kustlokaler i Hälsingland, Gästrikland och en inlandslokal i Dalarna. Diskussionen har fokuserat på Vindförberg som lokal och bävern som ett betydande djur, utifrån de frågeställningarna har likheter och skillnader mellan samtida inlands- och kustlokaler presenterats. Resultatet tyder på att Vindförbergs udde kan ha nyttjats året om, där både slakt, konsumtion och verktygstillverkning försiggått. Bävern är framträdande i materialet från Vindförberg och andra inlandslokaler, i samband med bäverns och sälens vattenlevande levnadssätt kan en tolkning av att bävern varit substitut för sälen göras. Likheter mellan gropkeramiska inlands- och kustlokaler kan ses i lokalernas placering i landskapet och kontakter med andra grupper. En tydlig skillnad är det osteologiska materialet där faunan skiljer sig åt. / The pitted ware culture is associated with coastal landscapes and an osteological material consisting of fish and seals. However, the culture also lived alongside inland lakes where fish and beavers were prominent instead. Vindförbergs beak (Vindförbergs udde) is one of several pitted ware culture sites in the inland located in Dalecarlia. What distinguishes Vindförberg from other surrounding premises is the beak’s high and steep location in the landscape. The purpose of this study is to interpret what kind of locale Vindförbergs beak was, why the beaver is prominent in inland pitted ware culture sites, and how inland sites differ from or resemble coastal sites. To answer these questions, an osteological analysis of stone age material from Vindförberg has been carried out, and a comparative method has been applied where the osteological material is compared with two coastal sites in Hälsingland, Gästrikland and one inland site in Dalecarlia. The discussion is focused on Vindförberg as a site and the beaver as a significant animal, and based on the paper’s research questions presents similarities and differences between inland and coastal sites. The results indicate that Vindförberg’s beak may have been used all year round, where both butchering and toolmaking were taking place. The beaver is prominent in the material from Vindförberg and other inland locations. Based on the aquatic lifestyle of the beaver and the seal, an interpretation can be made that the beaver was a substitute for the seal. Similarities between the inland pitted ware culture sites and the coastal sites can be seen in the location of the sites in the landscape and contacts with other groups. A clear difference is the osteological material where the fauna differs.

Syftet med detta arbete är att skapa en bild av hur bostäder och boende såg ut under den tidigaste järnåldern i Grekland. Arbetet avgränsar sig till åtta platser spridda över hela Greklands fastland. Arbetets huvudsakliga källmaterial är lämningar och lösfynd som daterats till den protogeometriska perioden (1050–900 f.v.t.). Arbetet grundar sig i en teoretisering av bostädersom utrymmen där människor utför aktiviteter och skapar rutiner. Huvudsakligen tillämpas kvantitativa och kvalitativa undersökningar av källmaterialet, samt matematiska beräkningar, för att utröna mönster som kan besvara frågeställningarna. Arbetet rör sig gradvis från en undersökning av konkreta aspekter av boende, som de fysiska konstruktionsdragen på husen, mot en undersökning och spekulativ diskussion om mer abstrakta aspekter, som rutiner och hushållsstorlekar. Arbetet producerar resultat för vilka drag som var vanliga för protogeometriska hus och producerar möjliga svar på frågeställningarna om vanliga aktiviteter och möjliga hushållsstorlekar. / The aim of this essay is to create an image of what the dwellings and indoor daily life may have looked like in the earliest period of the Greek Iron Age. The source material for the essay consists of remains of buildings, as well as loose finds, dated to the protogeometric period (1050–900 B.C.E.), from eight different places in mainland Greece. The theoretical basis for the essay is a view of a dwelling as a place where people are active and form routines. Quantitative and qualitative methods are applied in different parts of the essay. A mathematical method is also applied for one of the research questions. The essay gradually moves from a grounded approach of studying physical remains and noting patterns in construction, to a more abstract approach of attempting to picture routines and potential household sizes. The essay successfully produces results for the patterns of material and form, and possibly produces results regarding common activities and household sizes.

Syftet med studien är att utforskar vad stolphålen i ”Buttlekrigaren” indikerar utifrån hur de förhåller sig till varandra, till andra konstruktioner i graven samt till den övriga gravkontexten. Ytterligare har de omkringliggande lämningar i Buttle Änge samt de källkritiska aspekterna av dokumentation av stolphål beaktas. Materialet avgränsas till Buttle Änge och grävningarna sedan 2009. Analysen av materialet har genomförts utifrån ett kronologiskt och rumsligt perspektiv samt via tolkningar och definitioner av konstruktionselement av gravar; rituella företeelser och minnen kopplade till gravar; samt utifrån källkritiska aspekter över metodik och tolkning. Resultatet indikerar att stolphålen i ”Buttlekrigarens grav” var en del av begravningsritualen och utgjordes av en eller flera konstruktioner som var uppförda tidigare eller samtida med primärgraven. Graven har successivt förändrats jämte bruket av den och området Buttle Änge samtidigt som de ursprungliga avgränsningarna och användningsområden har behållits. Å andra sidan är stolphål enklare att tolka men svårare att fastställa. / The aim of this study is to explore what the postholes in the “Buttlewarrior’s grav” indicate based on how they relate to each other, to other constructions in the grave and to the rest of the grave context. Additionally, the surrounding remains of Buttle Änge, and a source-critical aspect of the documentation of postholes has been taken in consideration. The material is delimited to the area of Buttle Änge and to the excavation conducted since 2009. The study applies a chronological and spatial perspective and analyses the material though interpretations and definitions of construction parts of graves; ritual aspects and memories connected to graves; and source-critical aspects of methodology and interpretation. The results shows that the postholes in the “Buttlewarrior’s grave” were a part of the burial ritual and consisted of one or a few constructions erected later or contemporary with the primary grave. The grave has gradually changed along with the use of it and the area of Buttle Änge, while the original boundaries and areas of use have been preserved. On the other hand, postholes are easier to interpret but more difficult to verify.

Studies of human sacrifice during the Iron Age in the Nordic countries have long been based on historical literary sources. Scientific studies of human sacrifice often lack archaeological material in the form of human skeletons. This is because of the difficulty in detecting injuries on human bones that can be linked to lethal violence. Studies of bog bodies have mainly been done on bog mummies and therefore studies of wetland skeletons have lagged behind. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate whether it is possible to find archaeological evidence for historical literary sources' claim that people in the Nordic countries were sacrificed alive during the Iron Age. The aim is also to investigate during which periods of the Nordic Iron Age these human sacrifices took place. It is hoped that this thesis will make an archaeological contribution to research on Nordic human sacrifice and thus pave the way for more interdisciplinary studies of the subject.