Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2013, Page 128

HOWELL M. ROBERTS AND ELÍN ÓSK HREIÐARSDÓTTIR
The postholes surrounding Burial IV,
and between Burial IV and Burial III are
thought to connect the two graves. The
function of the post holes is difficult to
assert with any confídence. There are few
Icelandic burials that have a similar
arrangement - although recent studies by
the same research team, at Ingiríðarstaðir
in Þegjandadalur (circa 20km south of
Litlu Núpar) have revealed comparable
burials (see figure 15). Bjarni F.
Einarsson has reported subsidiary
features connected to a pre-Christian
burial at Hólmur in south eastem Iceland
(Einarsson 2008, 159). A pit house,
several cooking pits, two post holes and
other features are associated with the
proposed (disturbed) location of a burial
find from circa 1900. However, it is
unclear that the post holes at Hólmur
directly relate to the proposed grave, and
at least not in the manner seen at both
Litlu-Núpar and Ingiríðarstaðir.
To date, three of five excavated
human burials at Ingiríðarstaðir have
associated postholes of a similar nature
to Burial IV at Litlu-Núpar. This is taken
to reinforce the notion that Burial IV at
Litlu-Núpar originally contained a
human burial.
It is proposed that the postholes
around Burial IV and between Burials III
and IV must indicate some form of
superstructure connecting the burials. The
scale or longevity of that structure is
unknown. Although the fills of both
Burial III and IV contain some quantity of
stone, perhaps the remains of a simple
partial stone covering, neither burial
seems to have had any significant burial
mound. The post holes may indicate a
temporary stmcture covering the graves,
perhaps a light timber constmction or
even perhaps a tented or curtained space.
Together with the broader shallow cut
around Burial IV, the absence of human
bone (despite the preservation of dog
bone) and the presence of personal
artefacts it may be proposed that Burial IV
was a temporary human intemment, prior
to reburial within the boat grave Burial III.
This suggestion must however remain no
more than speculation, but the cluster of
associated features is surely indicative of a
burial rite of some complexity.
It is noted that the boat grave Burial III
contains the bones of three people, and
that the associated horse graves contain
(probably) the remains of three horses.
The placement of the horse graves might
however suggest that these were not all
dug simultaneously. Are Burials VI and
VII perhaps indicative of secondary
intemments? Is the boat grave Burial III
therefore some variety of mausoleum?
With all due caveats accepted, the
following narrative is lightly proposed.
The boat itself is a high status object, an
artefact of substantial value, and the grave
of a notable individual. Its inclusion in a
burial includes an element of conspicuous
display - the funeral is a performance.
That performance would require some
preparation, both of the grave itself, the
grave goods and for the attendance of the
required community members.
Whilst these preparations are
underway, the first deceased is temporarily
intemed in a shallow grave, along with a
dog (Burial IV). The boat is relocated to
the grave field, the boat grave dug and
prepared, along with a horse grave (Burial
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