Diss. Stockholm : Stockholms universitet, 2005.

Diss. Stockholm : Stockholms universitet, 2007.

Diss. Stockholm : Stockholms universitet, 2007.

Diss. Stockholm : Stockholms universitet, 2009.

Diss. Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2005. / CD-ROM i ficka. Titel på CD-ROM: En enkel till Himlingøje : catalogue with references 2.

Diss. Stockholm : Stockholms universitet, 2007.

Diss. Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2007.

Diss. Stockholm : Stockholms universitet, 2004.

This paper investigates possible interpretations of a cremated grave material from the Vendel period in Valstad, Gamleby parish, Småland. The interpretations are based on both the osteological material and some of the archaeological finds. The focus in this paper is the excavated grave in Valstad and does not include similar burials from other locations. The source material consists of osteological material and text material that focus on the late Iron Age. The text material has been selected in order to include up-to-date discussions about ideas and interpretations. The theoretical framework of this paper is built around post-processual archaeology, process archaeology and practice theory. The osteological analysis resulted in the identification of three present animal species in addition to human remains. The analysis also revealed the species distribution in the grave and the distribution pattern of all bone fragments. The bone material was found to have been deliberately crushed, where the material is likely to have been collected or picked up before the crushing took place. The discussion treats three phases; cremation, deposition and closure, in the process from deceased individual to complete grave. In each phase identifiable practices and their interpretations are discussed for the grave as a whole. In the discussion, the interpretation is made that the cremation was the phase where the dead was considered leaving the living world. The deposition was instead interpreted as the phase that allowed the survivors to have continued contact with the dead and the closure the phase that made it possible for the established link to remain forever.

The purpose of this thesis is to study the symbolic role of weapons, specifically axes in Viking age burials. The thesis will also discuss the axe´s role in relaion to the character of the grave and the grave goods. A total 18 graves will be studied and analysed with help from J. Petersen´s typology of Viking age weapons and Holger Arbman`s works on anout Birkas burials and their grave goods. Qualative and quantative research methods will be used used to answer the thesis`questions. First the thesis will discuss what a weapon grave is and explain Petersen`s typology of axes and explain what other types of axes that exist in Birka. It will further analyse weapon and axe symbolism, explain different characteristics and grave goods. Finally, I will discuss different interpretations and patterns surrounding the different practices, grave goods, the types of depsotied axes and the symbolic role of axes in graves. Axes buried with rich grave goods shows that some types of axes have higher status than others. The axes aesthetics do not play a pivotal role in the graves and their placements in the graves do not have a symbolic or deeper meaning.