Papers by Ylva A E Bäckström
Vaxmyra - tva boplatser vid en back : Valbevarade huslamningar och ett gravomrade fran aldre jarn... more Vaxmyra - tva boplatser vid en back : Valbevarade huslamningar och ett gravomrade fran aldre jarnalder
Vid utgravningen av boplatsen Vaxmyra (Raa 326) har analys utforts av lamningar efter insekter i ... more Vid utgravningen av boplatsen Vaxmyra (Raa 326) har analys utforts av lamningar efter insekter i jordprover fran anlaggningen brunn A9952. Ur brunnen blev sammanlagt tre lager provtagna, vilka numr ...
Hólarannsóknin Ragnheiður Traustadóttir var þá haegt að setja þaer beint inn í rafraenan kortagru... more Hólarannsóknin Ragnheiður Traustadóttir var þá haegt að setja þaer beint inn í rafraenan kortagrunn sem til er af Hólum. Miðað við reynsluna sem þegar hefur fengist mun þetta auðvelda alla teiknivinnu og kortagerð auk þess sem hún verður hárnákvaem. Fengnir voru maelingamenn frá Stoð á Sauðárkróki til að setja fasta hnitapunkta í landshnitakerfinu Ísnet. Voru settir út fastapunktar á Reykjum, Hofi, Hólum, Kálfstöðum og Kolkuósi, sem þjóna þeim tilgangi að vera viðmið við aðrar maelingar, t.a.m. við að maela upp og staðsetja rústir á jörðunum nákvaemlega. Uppgraftarsvaeðið var sett inn í hnitakerfið (Ísnet). Voru jarðlög, jarðfundnir munir, sýni og hleðslur maeld eftir hnitakerfinu, haeðarmaeld, teiknuð og ljósmynduð. Gripir, jarðlög, teikningar, ljósmyndir, greiningar o.fl. verða tölvuskráðar í Sarp, gagnagrunn Þjóðminjasafnsins.
Oxford Handbooks Online, 2018
This chapter addresses children’s lives and living conditions during the early modern period in S... more This chapter addresses children’s lives and living conditions during the early modern period in Sweden. A case study on the population at one of Sweden’s most important historical mines, the Sala Silver mine forms the basis for a discussion about children’s work, their diets, and how gender roles and social status may have affected their health. Two sources provide complementing and sometimes contradicting information about how children’s lives were shaped: the bioarchaeological material (skeletons and graves) and historical sources (archival material). The historical sources show that children were important economic actors in the mining community, and the bioarchaeological material indicates that their health was affected by the socioeconomic status of their families, as well as the unsanitary living and working conditions at the site.
The inhabitants of the archipelago of eastern central Sweden during the Stone Age – osteoarchaeol... more The inhabitants of the archipelago of eastern central Sweden during the Stone Age – osteoarchaeological patterns by Jan Storå, Ylva Bäckström, Carina Olson. The new stretch of the E4 highway affected several sites with Stone Age finds, subsequently leading to archaeological investigations. At 14 of those sites bone material was found, mainly consisting of small burnt fragments. This study discusses the fauna material collected at the different locations and the aim is to throw light on the character of and the activities on the sites. A comparison is made with previously investigated sites in similar environments and where sufficient osteological material has been found. The sites are dated to approximately 4 500 – 2 500 BC and were all situated in an archipelago in close proximity to the sea. In view of this location it is hardly surprising that the material is dominated by bones from seal and fish. This corresponded to the sites used for comparison in the region. The study of the fauna material as a whole reveals that humans have visited the region in order to hunt, both on land and at sea. Of the 14 sites in the study, only five display a somewhat larger element of hoofed or fur-bearing animals. This does not, however, change the overall representation of the sites’ character, but rather reflects an adaptation to local conditions. In these comparisons, materials from the different locations are presented as a whole, something that might be criticised. Our aim has therefore been a detailed illustration of the fauna material’s origin or its taphonomic history. In the study, we use an alternative mode of quantifying the fauna material by examining how many times various species or body parts occur on different parts of the sites. For example, our comparisons demonstrate that the importance of fish in relation to seal tend to be more noticeable by this method of quantification. In addition, the representation of different species of fish has a tendency to differ. By observing deposition events instead of fragment statistics, there is also a marked change in the anatomical distribution of seal. This has consequences for the description of the subsistence economy on the sites, even though we can not wholly evaluate the significance of this. The study implies that it is imperative to closely integrate the osteological analyses in the study of spatial patterns on Stone Age sites.
En tidigkristen gravplats och en medeltida kyrklamning. Gravar och kyrkor i Sura 900-1800 : Arkeo... more En tidigkristen gravplats och en medeltida kyrklamning. Gravar och kyrkor i Sura 900-1800 : Arkeologisk for- och slutundersokning. RAA 140:1-3, Sura gamla kyrka, Sura socken, Vastmanland
... Title: Raä 547, Matsgården: I maktens närhet. Två boplatsundersökningar i Gamla Uppsala. Depa... more ... Title: Raä 547, Matsgården: I maktens närhet. Två boplatsundersökningar i Gamla Uppsala. Department: Uppsala University, Humanistisk-samhällsvetenskapliga vetenskapsområdet, Faculty of Arts, Department of Archaeology and Ancient History. ...
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome
In 2016, archaeological excavations undertaken by the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica, Pir... more In 2016, archaeological excavations undertaken by the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica, Piraeus and Islands 3.8 km south-west of Athens, Greece, revealed mass burials of 79 skeletons in three rows. The burials are dated to the 7th century BC. The anthropological field documentation was undertaken by The Swedish Institute of Athens, and followed established bioarchaeological protocols regarding taphonomic processes, age, sex, injuries, and pathological changes. The descriptions and interpretations should be regarded as preliminary field observations. A majority of the individuals were young adult or juvenile males, most of them without signs of active disease and with a generally good oral health status, but with corroded iron shackles around their wrists. Cause of death could not be determined although extensive and likely perimortem fractures were observed. The only object related to injury and/or possible cause of death was an arrowhead found in the chest of one of the skele...
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
Objectives: Sala Silver Mine in central Sweden was an important manufacturer of silver from at le... more Objectives: Sala Silver Mine in central Sweden was an important manufacturer of silver from at least the 16th till the early 20th century, with production peaking in the 16th, mid 17th and 19th centuries. The job opportunities offered by the mine attracted people to the area resulting in the development of a small township with an associated cemetery in the vicinity of the mining center. People affiliated to the mine were buried on the cemetery for around 150 years. Written sources reveal that common criminal convicts from Sweden-Finland and war prisoners from the numerous wars fought by Sweden during the time were exploited in the mine, and some of them were likely buried on the cemetery. The cemetery has been excavated on several occasions and the recovered human remains were divided into two different groups based on burial custom, demography and biochemical results. One group was believed to contain war prisoners; the aim of this study was to produce and interpret genomic data from these individuals to test if their genetic ancestry is consistent with the hypothesis that they were non-locals. Materials: Teeth from seven different individuals were sampled for dentine. Results: Three of the analyzed teeth contained sufficient amounts of endogenous human DNA for the generation of genomic sequence data to a coverage of 0.04, 0.19 and 0.83, respectively. Discussion: The results show that despite seeming heterogeneity the three individuals grouped within the range of genetic variation of modern and contemporary Swedes, yielding no statistical support to the hypothesis that they were foreign captives. However, due to the lack of contemporary or modern Danish genomic data we cannot refute these individuals originated in Denmark which was suggested as one of possible sources of the 17th century Swedish prisoners of war. (Less)
Journal of Archaeological Science
Historical documents record the operation of a silver mine from the 16th century AD located near ... more Historical documents record the operation of a silver mine from the 16th century AD located near the former village of Salberget in central Sweden. The historical record describes several categories of inhabitants, including local families, workers and miners, foreign engineers and mining specialists, as well as war captives and criminals used as forced labor in the mines. A church yard in the vicinity of the village served as a burial ground. Archaeological evidence indicates two distinct grave types (coffin and earthen) and physical anthropology documents differences in age and sex between these grave types, as well as harsh conditions of life. Strontium and oxygen isotopes have been used previously to investigate the place of origin of the cemetery inhabitants and clear differences among the types of graves were seen in the isotope results. Place of origin was more difficult to ascertain however. Here we utilize lead isotopes as an additional isotopic tracer to identify origins. The lead isotope investigations pinpoint several areas outside of the Sala region where some of the inhabitants originated. In addition, the study documents the benefits of using lead isotopes in human proveniencing studies.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
This study explores the relationship between dietary patterns and social structure in a pre-indus... more This study explores the relationship between dietary patterns and social structure in a pre-industrial mining community in Salberget, Sweden c. 1470 to 1600 A.D. using a combination of different research approaches and tools, including archaeology, osteology, bone chemistry and history. The correlation between demographic criteria (sex and age) and archaeological variables (burial type and burial location) shows that Salberget was a highly stratified community. Group diets were investigated through analyses of stable isotopes (carbon, δ 13 C, and nitrogen, δ 15 N) of bone collagen from a sub-sample of individuals buried at the site (n = 67), interpreted alongside data from human dental lesions and deficiencies, animal bone waste and information on eating habits extracted from the extensive historical documents regarding mining activities at Salberget. These integrated analyses provide a clear association between social status and diet and confirm that social status, and to a lesser extent sex, gender and age, likely governed food choice and opportunity in this diverse community.
Tekniska och administrativa uppgifter 2 Inledning 4 Undersökningarna och deltagarna 4 Utåtriktad ... more Tekniska och administrativa uppgifter 2 Inledning 4 Undersökningarna och deltagarna 4 Utåtriktad verksamhet 5 Topografi 5 Fornlämningsmiljö 6 Stora Logen 7 Kulturhistorisk bakgrund och tidigare undersökningar 10 Förundersökning 12 De arkeologiska förutsättningarna 12 Målsättning och frågeställningar inför förundersökningen 12 Genomförande och resultat av den arkeologiska förundersökningen 12 Kunskapsläge efter förundersökningen 15 Slutundersökning 17 Forskningsläge 17 Målsättning och frågeställningar inför slutundersökningen 17 Genomförande av den arkeologiska slutundersökningen 18 Metod och dokumentation 19 Undersökningsresultat 22 Förundersökningsschakten i och runt logen 22 Schakt utan indikation 22 Schakt med indikation 23 Slutundersökningsområdena A, B och C 31 Anläggningar och lager 32 Vedarts-och 14 C-analys 37 Fynd 39 Benmaterial 39 Pärlor 39 Övriga dräkt-och smyckesdetaljer samt personlig utrustning 41 Kammar 42 Järn 43 Nitar 44 Keramik 44 Brandgravarnas keramik 45 Övriga fynd 47 Osteologisk analys 48 Resultat 51
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2016
The early modern period has so far received little attention from archaeologists and anthropologi... more The early modern period has so far received little attention from archaeologists and anthropologists in Sweden. This study explores demographic patterns, social differences, family structure and mobility in a 16th-century skeletal population (n = 102) from a preindustrial mining community (Salberget) in Bergslagen, Sweden, using a bioarchaeological perspective. Methodologically, the results of strontium and oxygen isotope analysis in tooth enamel (n = 38) were added to archaeological, anthropological and documentary evidence to detect demographic and/or social differences in mobility. Historical documents provided some indications of the kinds of people working at the mine. Archaeological evidence indicated two distinct grave types and the anthropological analysis documented differences in the age and sex of these individuals. The analysis of strontium, oxygen and carbon isotopes in teeth was used to infer possible place of origin information about these individuals. Various lines of evidence suggest that the cemetery held a mix of family groups, foreign workers and prisoners of war, all associated with the Sala silver mine. Together, the archaeology, osteology and isotope chemistry confirmed the documentary evidence of internal and external migration in the region. Furthermore, this study displays signs of matrilocality and a socially stratified society.
Tor, 1995
Résumé/Abstract La mise au jour d'un établissement du Néolithique rattaché à la culture des ... more Résumé/Abstract La mise au jour d'un établissement du Néolithique rattaché à la culture des gobelets en entonnoir (TRB= Trichterbecher) sert de base à la discussion exposée dans cet article qui concerne les paysages culturels et les formes sociales TRB. L'analyse spatiale de ce site suggère qu'il n'était pas qu'un lieu côtier de chasse mais aussi comme un lieu rituel commun. De plus, d'autres établissements côtiers de type étaient structurellement reliés aux groupes de fermiers et de chasseurs de l'intérieur du pays
Stenåldern i Uppland. Uppdragsarkeologi och eftertanke. Volym 1. Arkeologi E4 Uppland – studie. Niklas Stenbäck (red). Riksantikvarieämbetet. UV GAL, Societas Archaeologica Upsaliensis, Upplandsmuseet. Uppsala., 2007
Humans and animals in motion – a critical examination of the prerequisites for seasonal assessmen... more Humans and animals in motion – a critical examination of the prerequisites for seasonal assessments of Central Swedish Stone Age bone material
It is beyond question that the composition of the bone material, the role of osteology, is and has always been important in determining the seasonal use of Stone Age settlements. However, in this article I want to focus on various aspects of source criticism. There are several reasons for highlighting these in order to understand the poor foundations on which interpretations of Neolithic settlements are often based. Also, by visualising these problems, I hope to inspire future research efforts within the subject. The source critical aspects include several of the osteological methods that are often used, as well as the ethnographical, historical and ethological analogies that are often referred to when discussing seasonal migration and settlement duration during the late Stone Age.
First and foremost, it is important to be aware of the fact that the methods for determining age have been developed and applicable for young animals, and that they seldom are applicable for burnt material. Also, there are no reliable methods to determine the age of adult individuals, and age determination methods for wild species are limited. Finally, it is important to remember that age determination, in combination with the birth time of various species, does not give any exact times in a year, only a time interval when the animals can have been hunted.
One of the problems of using analogies with ethology and ethnography is that the hunting seasons of historical times do not necessarily correspond to Neolithic hunting patterns. Another problem is the selection of game. Since we are unable to say why Neolithic Man chose to hunt certain species and not others, the economical perspective, which automatically is the guiding principle in a season analysis, will be even more misleading by these analogies. Moreover, it is difficult to predict to what degree migration patterns and propagation have been affected by climate change and Man’s influence on the landscape. Another fact that cannot be overlooked is that practically every species represented in a bone material could have been hunted at any time of the year.
The main point of departure for the season analysis of the settlements has been which season is indicated by the presence of various species. A compilation of suitable times for hunting, based on a plethora of sources, forms the basis of this assessment. Based on species occurrence alone, only one year-round settlement can be indicated, the Anneberg settlement in Uppland. Also, activities seem to have taken place more or less continuously throughout the year at the sites Korsnäs in Södermanland, Fräkenrönningen and Södra Mårtsbo in Gästrikland, Högmossen in Uppland, and also Äs and Fågelbacken in Västmanland. At other sites the “settlement length” varies between three to six months.
Other variables, such as the amount of bone, the number of species, and the distribution of meaty and non-meaty parts of the skeleton in the material have been analysed to see if these can complement the seasonal assessment of species. However, statistical computations show that, above all, burnt Neolithic material is affected, since this constitutes lower weight, more fragments, fewer species and possibly shorter settlement seasons as well. Therefore, the analysis of the variables was conducted separately for burnt and non-burnt material in order to minimise sources of error. The question is whether the anatomical representation of meaty and non-meaty parts in the material is affected by the material being burnt or not. Possibly, this variable might prove fruitful in the future. Statistical computations show that the material used in this article is too small to render statistically certain assumptions possible.
Taking all investigated variables into account, it seems as if Skogsmossen, Skumparberget, Anneberg, Högmossen, Korsnäs, Äs, Södra Mårtsbo and Fräkenrönningen should be perceived as per- manent year-round settlements. Also, at Fågel- backen there are indications of long-terms settlement, or more plausibly a site which has been visited on a number of occasions, for funerals and rituals connected with these. The other sites have been deemed to be hunting stations, utilised during shorter periods. I have not included other types of archaeological finds in this investigation, for example remains of house constructions and finds of grain, which should be included in a seasonal assessment of Stone Age sites.
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome
In 2016, archaeological excavations undertaken by the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica, Pir... more In 2016, archaeological excavations undertaken by the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica, Piraeus and Islands 3.8 km south-west of Athens, Greece, revealed mass burials of 79 skeletons in three rows. The burials are dated to the 7th century BC. The anthropological field documentation was undertaken by The Swedish Institute of Athens, and followed established bioarchaeological protocols regarding taphonomic processes, age, sex, injuries, and pathological changes. The descriptions and interpretations should be regarded as preliminary field observations. A majority of the individuals were young adult or juvenile males, most of them without signs of active disease and with a generally good oral health status, but with corroded iron shackles around their wrists. Cause of death could not be determined although extensive and likely perimortem fractures were observed. The only object related to injury and/or possible cause of death was an arrowhead found in the chest of one of the skele...
SKÄLBY Bilden av byn växer fram Fortsatta undersökningar av boplatslämningar från äldre järnålder Särskild arkeologisk undersökning RAÄ 865:2, 951:1 & 1020:1 Västerås 2:42, 2:50 Västerås (f d Lundby socken) Västerås kommun Västmanland
A study focused on the animal bones as source for settlement archaeology in Skälby (Iron Age), Vä... more A study focused on the animal bones as source for settlement archaeology in Skälby (Iron Age), Västerås, Sweden. A summary in English of the full excavation results is inlcuded.
Opuscula Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome 12 2019 STOCKHOLM SVENSKA INSTITUTEN I ATHEN OCH ROM INSTITUTUM ATHENIENSE ATQUE INSTITUTUM ROMANUM REGNI SUECIAE, 2019
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Papers by Ylva A E Bäckström
It is beyond question that the composition of the bone material, the role of osteology, is and has always been important in determining the seasonal use of Stone Age settlements. However, in this article I want to focus on various aspects of source criticism. There are several reasons for highlighting these in order to understand the poor foundations on which interpretations of Neolithic settlements are often based. Also, by visualising these problems, I hope to inspire future research efforts within the subject. The source critical aspects include several of the osteological methods that are often used, as well as the ethnographical, historical and ethological analogies that are often referred to when discussing seasonal migration and settlement duration during the late Stone Age.
First and foremost, it is important to be aware of the fact that the methods for determining age have been developed and applicable for young animals, and that they seldom are applicable for burnt material. Also, there are no reliable methods to determine the age of adult individuals, and age determination methods for wild species are limited. Finally, it is important to remember that age determination, in combination with the birth time of various species, does not give any exact times in a year, only a time interval when the animals can have been hunted.
One of the problems of using analogies with ethology and ethnography is that the hunting seasons of historical times do not necessarily correspond to Neolithic hunting patterns. Another problem is the selection of game. Since we are unable to say why Neolithic Man chose to hunt certain species and not others, the economical perspective, which automatically is the guiding principle in a season analysis, will be even more misleading by these analogies. Moreover, it is difficult to predict to what degree migration patterns and propagation have been affected by climate change and Man’s influence on the landscape. Another fact that cannot be overlooked is that practically every species represented in a bone material could have been hunted at any time of the year.
The main point of departure for the season analysis of the settlements has been which season is indicated by the presence of various species. A compilation of suitable times for hunting, based on a plethora of sources, forms the basis of this assessment. Based on species occurrence alone, only one year-round settlement can be indicated, the Anneberg settlement in Uppland. Also, activities seem to have taken place more or less continuously throughout the year at the sites Korsnäs in Södermanland, Fräkenrönningen and Södra Mårtsbo in Gästrikland, Högmossen in Uppland, and also Äs and Fågelbacken in Västmanland. At other sites the “settlement length” varies between three to six months.
Other variables, such as the amount of bone, the number of species, and the distribution of meaty and non-meaty parts of the skeleton in the material have been analysed to see if these can complement the seasonal assessment of species. However, statistical computations show that, above all, burnt Neolithic material is affected, since this constitutes lower weight, more fragments, fewer species and possibly shorter settlement seasons as well. Therefore, the analysis of the variables was conducted separately for burnt and non-burnt material in order to minimise sources of error. The question is whether the anatomical representation of meaty and non-meaty parts in the material is affected by the material being burnt or not. Possibly, this variable might prove fruitful in the future. Statistical computations show that the material used in this article is too small to render statistically certain assumptions possible.
Taking all investigated variables into account, it seems as if Skogsmossen, Skumparberget, Anneberg, Högmossen, Korsnäs, Äs, Södra Mårtsbo and Fräkenrönningen should be perceived as per- manent year-round settlements. Also, at Fågel- backen there are indications of long-terms settlement, or more plausibly a site which has been visited on a number of occasions, for funerals and rituals connected with these. The other sites have been deemed to be hunting stations, utilised during shorter periods. I have not included other types of archaeological finds in this investigation, for example remains of house constructions and finds of grain, which should be included in a seasonal assessment of Stone Age sites.
It is beyond question that the composition of the bone material, the role of osteology, is and has always been important in determining the seasonal use of Stone Age settlements. However, in this article I want to focus on various aspects of source criticism. There are several reasons for highlighting these in order to understand the poor foundations on which interpretations of Neolithic settlements are often based. Also, by visualising these problems, I hope to inspire future research efforts within the subject. The source critical aspects include several of the osteological methods that are often used, as well as the ethnographical, historical and ethological analogies that are often referred to when discussing seasonal migration and settlement duration during the late Stone Age.
First and foremost, it is important to be aware of the fact that the methods for determining age have been developed and applicable for young animals, and that they seldom are applicable for burnt material. Also, there are no reliable methods to determine the age of adult individuals, and age determination methods for wild species are limited. Finally, it is important to remember that age determination, in combination with the birth time of various species, does not give any exact times in a year, only a time interval when the animals can have been hunted.
One of the problems of using analogies with ethology and ethnography is that the hunting seasons of historical times do not necessarily correspond to Neolithic hunting patterns. Another problem is the selection of game. Since we are unable to say why Neolithic Man chose to hunt certain species and not others, the economical perspective, which automatically is the guiding principle in a season analysis, will be even more misleading by these analogies. Moreover, it is difficult to predict to what degree migration patterns and propagation have been affected by climate change and Man’s influence on the landscape. Another fact that cannot be overlooked is that practically every species represented in a bone material could have been hunted at any time of the year.
The main point of departure for the season analysis of the settlements has been which season is indicated by the presence of various species. A compilation of suitable times for hunting, based on a plethora of sources, forms the basis of this assessment. Based on species occurrence alone, only one year-round settlement can be indicated, the Anneberg settlement in Uppland. Also, activities seem to have taken place more or less continuously throughout the year at the sites Korsnäs in Södermanland, Fräkenrönningen and Södra Mårtsbo in Gästrikland, Högmossen in Uppland, and also Äs and Fågelbacken in Västmanland. At other sites the “settlement length” varies between three to six months.
Other variables, such as the amount of bone, the number of species, and the distribution of meaty and non-meaty parts of the skeleton in the material have been analysed to see if these can complement the seasonal assessment of species. However, statistical computations show that, above all, burnt Neolithic material is affected, since this constitutes lower weight, more fragments, fewer species and possibly shorter settlement seasons as well. Therefore, the analysis of the variables was conducted separately for burnt and non-burnt material in order to minimise sources of error. The question is whether the anatomical representation of meaty and non-meaty parts in the material is affected by the material being burnt or not. Possibly, this variable might prove fruitful in the future. Statistical computations show that the material used in this article is too small to render statistically certain assumptions possible.
Taking all investigated variables into account, it seems as if Skogsmossen, Skumparberget, Anneberg, Högmossen, Korsnäs, Äs, Södra Mårtsbo and Fräkenrönningen should be perceived as per- manent year-round settlements. Also, at Fågel- backen there are indications of long-terms settlement, or more plausibly a site which has been visited on a number of occasions, for funerals and rituals connected with these. The other sites have been deemed to be hunting stations, utilised during shorter periods. I have not included other types of archaeological finds in this investigation, for example remains of house constructions and finds of grain, which should be included in a seasonal assessment of Stone Age sites.