Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2005, Síða 86

Garðar Guðmundsson, Gavin Lucas, Hildur Gestsdóttir and Sigríður Þorgeirsdóttir
Lid Keel
Side Plank
5 cm
Figure 2. Profiles of moulded coffin parts from burial 3.1.
likely that they represent a single articu-
lated skeleton. Sexually diagnostic char-
acteristics of the skull indicate that it
probably belonged to a male, but analysis
of the pelvis was inconclusive, mainly
due to its partial preservation. Assess-
ment of suture closure indicates that age
at death was 48±10 years. The left femur
was preserved well enough to take meas-
urements for stature estimation, which
assuming it is male, indicates a height of
171±3 cm. No pathological changes
were recorded.
Test Pit 7
In TP7 there were 9 graves, all in coffins,
but variously well preserved (Fig.3): only
three were excavated:
Burial 7.1
This was a small coffin, lifted whole and
in very good condition (Fig.4). It was
studied in the field and not retained but
retumed for re-inhumation. It was hexa-
gonal (equilateral) in cross-section and
made from six long planks, overlapping
and nailed onto two end plates. In total it
was 59 cm long, 24 cm wide at the head
and 17 cm wide at the feet. On the top
plank, there was a cross carved near the
head end. Inside was a complete infant
skeleton, lying on its back with right arm
over left, crossed on its chest; the body
was wrapped in a fine woven textile
shroud and there were wood shavings
under and around the body. The bones
were not recovered, but measurements
taken of the long bones in situ indicate
that they are perinatal, 36±1 weeks in
utero, probably therefore premature, pos-
sibly still-birth.
Burial 7.2
This was a large coffin, in good condition
but lifted in sections (Fig.5). It was in
two parts: a lid and base, hexagonal in
cross-section, with the lid made from
three planks and two end plates, and the
base from six planks and two end plates.
Apart from the lid and base, sides were
mitred and bevelled and the elements
mostly joined with iron nails. All the long
planks were retrieved but only the head
plates of the base and lid. In total, the
coffin was 182 cm long and c. 50 cm
wide (at the head). The lid comprised
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