Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2013, Page 125

THE LITLU-NÚPAR BURIALS
indicating butchery. They indicate a male
animal at least 15 years of age, and the
skull shows evidence of a heavy blow
(Leifsson 2012b, 72). These bones seem
to have been piled up with some
deliberation at the north westem comer
(see figure 14), and the fmd is quite
different in nature to the scattered
remains one might expect from some
ad-hoc process of robbing or desecration.
It seems some care had been taken in the
process of disarticulation and
re-intemment - although the meaning of
this act is naturally only speculation.
Beneath and amongst the horse bones
were 31 iron artefacts, mostly clench
bolts, nails and other fragments, but also
two buckles. These fínds are thought to
indicate horse hamess and perhaps a
saddle. The similarity with fmds from
Burial II is noted (Gísladóttir, 2012, 88).
Burial VII - Double (?) horse
burial
In 2010 a large open area was excavated
to the east of Burials III, IV and V,
extending east to the edge of the
currently eroded area. A further grave,
v - /’W B' -.c.
V't fgrÍM \* mHi m 1 'æKM ■- - ■’ -
Figure 14. Lilja Pálsdóttir excavating horse remains in Burial VI (David Stott/FSÍ).
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