The recent excavation of a 2,500-year-old graveyard site in Norway has unearthed a peculiar discovery – a cluster of graves, mostly for children under the age of six. The site, located in Østfold county, includes 39 individual bodies of children along with two adult bodies in separate graves. Archaeologists were initially surprised by the findings as they were expecting artifacts from the Stone Age, not graves from the transition between the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.
The excavation leader, Guro Fossum, mentioned that the site had evidence of cooking pits and fireplaces, suggesting that gatherings and ceremonies were held in connection with the burials. This raises questions about the significance of the site and why the graves were separate rather than communal. The meticulous craftsmanship of the graves, with stones sourced from different locations and placed precisely in formation, adds to the mystery surrounding the purpose of the burial site.
The round or oval-shaped graves, some with central flagstones and edge stones, are unique in Europe according to the team of archaeologists involved in the excavation. The exhibition titled “In Memory of the Children” at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo showcases a reconstruction of one of the stone graves and raises questions about the tradition of burying children in a separate place over several hundred years.
Despite the detailed analysis of the burial site, there are still unanswered questions about the reasons behind the separate children’s graves and the significance of the site in the community. The ongoing analysis of fragments of pottery found at the site may provide more insights into the lives and traditions of the people who were buried there. The exhibition invites visitors to ponder on the mysteries of the site and adds to the list of intriguing burial sites that have been uncovered over time.
The ancient graveyard discovery in Norway presents a unique insight into past burial traditions and raises questions about the significance of separate children’s graves. The meticulous craftsmanship of the graves and the evidence of ceremonial gatherings at the site add to the intrigue surrounding this archaeological find. As researchers continue to analyze the artifacts and remains found at the site, we may uncover more about the lives and traditions of the people who lived in the area during the transition between the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.
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