Värdig ett vapen
en analys och tolkning av Birkas vapengravars gravgåvor och kontext
BirkaWeaponWeapon-graveSocial classGenderSocial ageWarriorTradeBirkaVapenVapengravSocial klassKönSocial ålderKrigareHandel
The aim of this thesis is to interpret and discuss the weapon-graves of Viking Age Birka. The weapon-grave phenomenon is deemed differential in relation to the rest of the grave-material of the site, and thus the questions that motivate the thesis is: who was buried with weapons and why? Further questions arise regarding the social aspects of individuals who were buriedalong with weapons. The theoretical approach will be to evaluate any differences in 'social class', 'social age' and 'gender' between the weapon-grave contexts. By conducting qualitativeand quantified analysis of the grave-goods, this thesis adresses both overall and detailed patterns in correlation and constellations between weapons, other grave-goods and terms of burial.