The remains of two Iron Age warriors and the ritual to send souls to the ‘afterlife’

From two warriors’ tombs, researchers have discovered a lot of information about the burial rituals of the Iron Age, and show the connection between humans and the natural world more than 1,000 years ago. .
A new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science – the monthly academic journal on archeology in the US – has revealed interesting discoveries about the spiritual culture of the Iron Age.

Accordingly, scientists studied and analyzed two of 15 ancient tombs discovered in the 1920s at the Valsgärde farm, on the outskirts of the city of Uppsala, central Sweden. Specifically, two ancient tombs are the resting place of two warriors from the 7th century. They were buried in boats with helmets, shields and elaborately decorated weapons, even with puzzle pieces. play. The boats carrying the remains of the two warriors were about 9m long each, with 4-5 pairs of oars. Warrior helmet… and elaborately decorated weapons found in ancient tombs. The remains of the two warriors were laid on a soft mattress, stuffed with the feathers of various birds. Researchers believe that the ancients prepared these items in the hope that the journey to the afterlife of the deceased would be easier. Microscopic analysis showed that the feathers in the mattress were taken from geese, ducks, partridges, crows, sparrows, wading birds (swamp birds) and even eagle owls. More strangely, in a grave, there is an Eurasian card owl with its head cut off. Horse bones and other animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, snowy owls, partridges, ducks, geese, and northern pike) were also found near the boats when they were buried about 1,400 years ago. There are also animal-related artifacts, including 20 horseshoes, one saddle, four bridles, and 4-5 dog leashes. “The warriors seem to be equipped to sail to the afterlife, and can also go ashore with the help of horses. We guessed that the choice of down blankets could have a deeper, more symbolic meaning,” said Professor Birgitta Berglund of the NTNU University Museum in Trondheim, Norway. Feathers are used to make blankets for the dead. Various animals and related artifacts were buried with the boat. According to Norse folklore, the stuffed feathers in bedding for the dying are very important. Professor Berglund explained, the ancients believed that using feathers of domestic chickens, owls, birds of prey, pigeons, crows and squirrels would help prolong the time of “fighting” with death. “In some parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, goose feathers are considered the best item to help the soul escape from the body,” he points out. The soft feathers in the Valsgärde tombs, the oldest known to have been found in Scandinavia, suggest that the two warriors belonged to the highest class of Iron Age society there. Wealthy Greeks and Romans had been bedridden for hundreds of years before that, but the rich in Europe probably didn’t use it widely until the Middle Ages, Mr. Berglund said. Mr Berglund believes that the decapitated owl was related to the burial ritual. The keeping of birds of prey like eagle owls has long been a status symbol, according to the researchers. “It’s possible that the owls’ heads were cut off to prevent it from coming back,” said the professor, referring to the swords bent in front of the Viking-era mausoleum to prevent the dead from using weapons should they return from the realm of the dead. died. Dead warriors are well-equipped for the journey to the afterlife. Valsgärde began to be excavated in 1928 by archaeologists from the Uppsala University Museum today. More than 90 tombs from the Iron Age were discovered here, including 15 warriors buried by boat burial from the late Iron Age (570–1030 AD). The two tombs that have been the focus of new research are named Valsgärde 7 and 8, both dating to the 7th century. According to Professor Berglund, Valsgärde 7 was excavated in 1933, while Valsgärde 8 was excavated. in 1936. In addition to revealing Iron Age burial rituals, the new study also determines whether feathers used as blankets for warriors were imported or sourced from local birds. If it was imported feathers, this would open the door to a certain historical trade route. Study co-author, biologist Jørgen Rosvold, from the Norwegian Institute of Natural History (NINA), said that making the feather material is time-consuming and challenging for several reasons. “I am still amazed at how well the feathers are preserved despite the fact that they have been lying in the ground for more than 1,000 years,” he said. Research results show that feathers are obtained from different types of birds locally, not through import. “The feathers provide new perspectives on past relationships between humans and birds. Archaeological excavations rarely find traces of birds other than those used for food,” concluded Berglund.