Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2013, Page 126

HOWELL M. ROBERTS AND ELÍN ÓSK HREIÐARSDÓTTIR
Burial VII, was identified to the east of
Burial V and north east of Burial III (see
figures 3 and 12). This feature measured
up to 1.85m in length, 0.75m in width
and up to 0.45m in depth. Burial VII
contained circa 50 horse bones and bone
fragments, from at least two individuals,
scattered and disturbed in antiquity. It is
noted that these remains may represent
parts of the same animals as Burial V. All
bones from Burial V and Burial VII,
when considered together are consistent
with two mature animals, one of which
was more than 20 years old (Leifsson,
2012b, 73). No artefacts were recovered
from this feature.
Discussion
This paper acknowledges the interim
nature and incomplete nature of the
current results.
Whilst these discoveries detailed above
account for all plainly visible features (and
areas between and beyond these
discoveries) the possibility of course
remains that fiirther features still await
investigation. If the suggestion advanced
forthe 1915 remains is accepted, we might
for example consider further finds to the
north of the area excavated 2007-2010.
Much work remains to be done, not least
testing those remaining areas around the
burials - if nothing else to eliminate the
possibility of further fmds. Furthermore,
the relationship of the grave field to the
domestic remains at Litlu-Núpar deserves
further investigation.
It is also recognised that the current
discoveries have limited absolute dating.
Tephra evidence indicates that all
features long pre-date 1477 AD, and
likely also 1300 AD. A program of
radiocarbon dating has yet to be carried
out, although the limited precision of
such techniques for the expected time
period is problematic. The burials are
consistent with pre-Christian mortuary
practice in Iceland, although several new
complexities are indicated. The burials
are thus all thought to date to the period
850-1050 AD.
With 9 reported graves, Litlu-Núpar
is one of the larger pre-Christian burial
fíelds in Iceland. It may however be
debated how the various graves are
connected or associated. All features
appear to share a broad alignment, north
north-west to south south-east, and might
perhaps form two rows. This alignment is
approximately parallel to the contour at
site. The closest of the features are
adjacent (Burials III and V), whilst the
largest distance between is the 14m
separation between the 1915 fínds. It is
thought that this similarity in alignment,
and the distribution of the features
suggests a fairly short period of use, that
the graves were placed with an
awareness of each other - within a span
of time where earlier graves remained as
visible monuments.
The boat grave Burial III clearly
forms the core of a group of features,
however the direct contemporanity of all
these cannot be demonstrated. It is here
assumed as a general rule that horse
burials (and dog burials) will be in some
way associated with human burials,
rather than being wholly isolated or
individual intemments. It is thus believed
that Burials V, VI and VII 'belong with'
Burial III.
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