Acta Archaeologica6

The author has discussed the previously published dendro-dates on several occasions (Randsborg 1993b; 1996; even 1991a; 1993a). The graves holding typologically datable bronze artefacts are of the (15th-)14th Century (sometime after ca. 1468 BC) and the (earlier) 13th century BC (the youngest grave being of ca. 1266 BC). These dates have not changed much. Possibly, a very late grave is even of ca. 1150 BC. In rounded figures, the border between Periods II and III can be placed rather precisely around 1300 BC (in fact, ca. 1330, or between ca. 1344 and ca. 1319); after 1290, at least, classic Period III is in action. Incidentally, this is also close to the date of the famous Kivik4 grave, Skåne/Scania - a very large stone cist decorated with evocative rock-carvings, sitting in the middle of a huge cairn, 75 metres in diameter, placed right on the beach of the Baltic. The find is of early Period III but from an eastern cultural environment to an extent still characterized by Period II norms (Randsborg 1993a; cf. 1968). The rock-carvings are almost “historical” in character, comprising both cosmological symbols, symbols of power and cult or ritual, and several scenes with processions, including a chariot, blowers of lur-trumpets, parading men, cloaked and masked figures, likely women, and wild animals.5

In an earlier study, an attempt was also made to use the dendro-dates to suggest micro-divisions of the archaeological periods on question (Randsborg 1996). Highly important, due to so-called “imports” (or imi-tations thereof) in the graves, the dendro-dates relate directly to European, as well as Nordic stages. Thus, items linked to Phase Reinecke C2, the phase prior to Reinecke D, occur around 1350 BC, in fact, between ca. 1365 and ca. 1344 BC.In Tables I-II are given both the novel and the revised

4 Swedish and German place-names are used instead of traditional Danish ones when beyond the present boundaries of the kingdom.

5 If the motive at the top of Slab 8 (Randsborg 1993a, 11ff. & 107ff.) in the Kivik cist is in fact depicting a solar eclipse, such was actually taking place in the area in (-1310 &) -1300 BC. Cf. http://Sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEatlas/SEatlas.html & http://Sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEatlas/SEatlas-2/SEatlas-1319.GIF, courtesy of C. & M. Brinch.

dendro-dates, along with other information; most of the grave inventories - clothing generally excluded - are displayed as a sequence in Pls. 1-24. The general problems of dendro-dating, as well as difficulties relating to individual samples were discussed in detail between K. Christensen and the author before finishing the present contribution.

Interestingly, the coffins of several burial mounds (the older No. 5. Guldhøj, and the contemporary Nos. 21. Trindhøj and 2. Borum Eshøj) are now so close to one another in date that we may suppose contem-poraneity within each burial mound. This pattern is the result of the recent revision of the dendro-dates, including identification of tree-rings on the coffins younger than previously supposed. Likely, the same phenomenon of contemporaneity is indicated by those archaeological contexts where several coffins are standing next to each other on the old surface under the mound. In other words, the graves may be-long to the same archaeological and historical series of events or episodes. Already early in research his-tory, contemporaneity was suggested for, e.g., Borum Eshøj: a mature couple and an adult son, and for Gul-dhøj, and Trindhøj: families (Boye 1896, 62, 79 & 94). A recent note by Kyvik also suggests contemporary burial, without adding new evidence (Kyvik 2004).

A parallel to the recently excavated “highly promising” (but unfortunately plundered) oak-cof-fin mound of Skelhøj on the Kongeå (river) in South Jylland is evident. At Skelhøj the whole mound was clearly made at one of the same time. Actually, it is possible to follow the building of Skelhøj very closely, even down to individual work-teams (Holst, Rasmus-sen & Breuning-Madsen 2004) (Fig. 1). Still, the ques-tion remains whether single “contemporary” coffins might not, in other cases, have been covered by in-dividual “wet” mounds (etc.), and only when all the members of “the family” had died, the larger mound was built. This is not to exclude later burial in the same monument.

True double graves (same coffin or thelike) are re-corded from many localities. These include two inter-ments from Schülp, Rendsburg County (Kersten 1935, Taf. XLI,5 & XL left, bottom, cf. Hachmann 1957,

II. DATES & “HISTORICAL EVENTS”

Opening the Oak-Coffins 7

Taf. 14;46 & 48-59), dated to Period I; at Karlstrup, København County (AK I 518) is a double-grave of Period II/III. Other joint events involves two or more armed men, perhaps casualties of battle, like the pair with swords from Period II at Norby, Eckernförde County (AK IV 2538), or the four with swords from Period III at Bornhöved, Segeberg County (Kersten 1935 Taf. X,1).

Burial mounds with graves from several Early Bronze periods are common, including the above ones from Karlstrup and Schülp (cf. Kersten 1935, Taf. XL). Multi-period mounds thus refer to differ-ent archaeological-historical situations, likely dynastic

phenomena, the larger mound gradually taking on the form of a cemetery for more than one generation. In the Late Bronze, many Early Bronze mounds were still in use as cemeteries (e.g., Becker 1941; Broholm 1943f., Vol. I Grave 1313 (= AK I 533) with Vol. III Graves 126-159). Also the huge Borum Eshøj, with famous oak-coffins (No. 2), was used for burial in the Late Bronze Age, including a couple of princely graves with gold of Period IV, or around 1000 BC (Broholm 1943f., Vol. III Graves 784 & 785) (Fig. 2). The location is obviously very important, surrounded as it is by a dense but structured cluster of other early Bronze Age barrows, indeed a whole settlement clus-ter for which we may even recognize the main track-ways (cf. Fig. 18).

Fig. 1. Stages in the “one-phase” construction of the Early Bronze Age Skelhøj mound, Føvling parish, Ribe County (cf. AK VIII 3918). This mound was recently excavated as an oak-coffin hopeful; unfortunately, it was plundered, likely in the 19th century. After

Holst, Rasmussen & Breuning-Madsen (2004).

Fig. 2. Secondary princely grave (with very large miniature sword, razor, tweezers, and double button, all with gold) of Period IV in the huge Borum Eshøj mound (cf. Period II graves under No. 2 here).

A similar grave was found nearby. After Broholm III (1943f.).