Rescue excavations of a Vendel era boat-grave in Salme, Saaremaa

ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK IN ESTONIA 2008 RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA BOAT-GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA MARGE KONSA [email protected] RAILI ALLMÄE [email protected] Tartu Ülikool (University of Tartu) Lossi 3, 51003 Tartu Estonia Tallinna Ülikool, Ajaloo Instituut (Institute of History, Tallinn University) Rüütli 6, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia LIINA MALDRE [email protected] JÜRI VASSILJEV [email protected] Tallinna Tehnikaülikool (Institute of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology) Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn Estonia Kp" Ugrvgodgt" 422:." cp" knnwokpcvgf" e{enkpi" vtcem" ycu" iqkpi" vq" dg" dwknv" cnqpi" vjg" U txg" tqcf." dgvyggp" Vgjwoctfk" cpf" Ucnog" qp" vjg" kuncpf" qh" Ucctgocc0"Yjkng"cp"gngevtkecn"ecdng"vtgpej"ycu"dgkpi"fwi"hqt"vjg"nkijvkpi"qh" the track, a large number of human bones were found near the border qh"vjg"Ucnog"xknncig0"Kp"cffkvkqp"vq"vjg"dqpgu."vjg"yqtmgtu"hqwpf"c"urgct/ head, a sword blade, a knife, some gaming pieces, two dice1 and half a dozen of iron rivets. The construction work was stopped, and rescue excavations Þpcpegf" d{" vjg" Pcvkqpcn" Jgtkvcig" Dqctf" cpf" cttcpigf" d{" Ucctgocc" Museum were initiated. The excavations directed by Jüri Peets (AI) and M¯nnk" Tkmcu" *UOK+." ncvgt" d{" Octig" Mqpuc" *V⁄+" tgxgcngf" vjg" tgockpu" qh" a 7th century ship. The workers digging the cable ditch had dug into the stern of the ship. ON BOAT-GRAVES IN ESTONIA AND ELSEWHERE Burials in boats became more and more common among the elite of north/ gtp" Gwtqrg" htqo" vjg" 8vj" egpvwt{" CF." cu" c" yc{" qh" dwtkcn" uwkvcdng" hqt" vjg" noble social standing. There were different ways of conducting such burials. The most common way was burying an unburned boat in a trench or placing it on the ground with supports. The boats were either covered with wood vq"hqto"c"àcv"uwthceg."qt"eqxgtgf"ykvj"c"dcttqy"*O¯nngt/Yknng"3;96."3;9+0" Usually the body was placed in the middle of the boat, sometimes also into a specially built chamber with rich grave goods – weapons, household items, horses, dogs and other animals and birds. The most famous boat burials of Xgpfgn"Gtc"*kp"Guvqpkcp"rgtkqfkucvkqp"cnuq"Rtg/Xkmkpi"Cig+"ctg"X“nui“tfg" 1 "Wphqtvwpcvgn{."uqog"uejqqndq{u"ujqykpi"vjgkt"kpvgtguv"vq"vjg"Þpfu"nquv"vjg"fkeg0 53 MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE & JÜRI VASSILJEV cpf"Xgpfgn"kp"gcuvgtp"Uygfgp."cpf"vjg"tq{cn"9vj"egpvwt{"dqcv"dwtkcn"qh"Uwv/ vqp"Jqq"kp"Gpincpf0"Vjg"itgcvguv"pwodgt"qh"uwej"dwtkcnu"jcu"dggp"fkueqx/ gtgf"qp"vjg"hlqtf/tkej"Pqtygikcp"eqcuvnkpg0"Vjg"pwodgt"qh"kpjwocvkqp"cpf" etgocvkqp"dwtkcnu"htqo"vjg"Xgpfgn"Gtc"ku"oqtg"qt"nguu"gswcn."dwv"fwtkpi"vjg" following Viking Age, the cremation is dominant in such graves. All the Ven/ fgn"Gtc"dqcv"dwtkcnu"mpqyp"kp"Hkpncpf"ctg"etgocvkqpu"*Cpfgtuqp"3;85."7+0" Vjgtg" ctg" crrtqzkocvgn{" 62" rtgjkuvqtke" dwtkcn" ukvgu" cnqpi" Guvqpkcp" coastline and on the islands, where iron rivets have been found. Usu/ ally, the number of rivets collected from a site is very small. The mini/ owo"pwodgt"qh"tkxgvu"pgeguuct{"vq"dwknf"c"dqcv"ku"72"*O¯nngt/Yknng"3;96." 3;3+."cpf"vjgtg"ctg"nguu"vjcp"32"dwtkcn"ukvgu"kp"Guvqpkc."htqo"yjkej"uwej" a number has been found. Among these sites, a remarkable one is Viltina uvqpg" itcxg" Þgnf" kp" Ucctgocc0" Fwtkpi" vjg" gzecxcvkqpu" qh" vjg" ukvg." oqtg" than a thousand rivets were found, half of which were collected from a uvqpg/htgg" ctgc" cdqwv" 37" ogvtgu" nqpi" cpf" 4" ogvtgu" ykfg" *Xcuuct" 3;62+0"" Regretfully, the shape and possible construction of the boat has remained unknown. There were no artefacts or burials clearly related to the boat and so the dating of the boat has remained uncertain as well. Vjg"dgvvgt/rtgugtxgf"ujkr/Þpfu"htqo"Guvqpkc"ctg"htqo"c"ncvgt"gtc0"C" cog found from the Pärnu River has been dated to late 13th to early 14th century. The Maasilinna shipwreck that was raised from the strait Väike X“kp" pgct" Ucctgocc" qtkikpcvgu" htqo" vjg" 38vj" egpvwt{" *Tqkq" 4228+0" Vjku" ogcpu"vjcv"vjg"Ucnog"ujkr"ku"vjg"qnfguv"qh"c"mkpf"kp"Guvqpkc."cpf"kp"ugxgtcn" curgevu." cnuq" c" tgoctmcdng" Þpf" kp" vjg" ykfgt" eqpvgzv" qh" vjg" ewnvwtcn" cpf" octkvkog"jkuvqt{"qh"vjg"Dcnvke"Ugc0 LOCATION OF SALME SHIP-FIND Vjg"Ucnog"ujkr"ycu"nqecvgf"422"o"vq"vjg"pqtvj"qh"vjg"Ucnog"Tkxgt."yjkej" ugrctcvgu" U txg" Rgpkpuwnc" htqo" vjg" uqwvj/yguvgtp" Ucctgocc0" Vjg" ukvg" is situated about 230 m away from the contemporary coastal line, and 607:" o" cdqxg" vjg" ugc" ngxgn0" Vjg" ycvgt" ngxgn" tgeqpuvtwevkqpu" hqt" Ucctg/ maa, based on the databases of shoreline and buried organic sediments fcvc" *Ucctug" et al. 2003; 2006) indicate that the sea level in the 7th cen/ vwt{" CF" Ucctgocc" oc{" jcxg" dggp" pq" oqtg" vjcp" 409" o" jkijgt" vjcp" kp" ewttgpv"vkog."cpf"uq."vjg"dqvvqo"qh"vjg"Ucnog"ujkr"*50:;"o"cdqxg"rtgugpv/ day sea level) was about 1.2 m above the sea level. Hence, the sea water/ eqwnf"tgcej"vjg"Ucnog"ujkr"qpn{"fwtkpi"uvqtou0"Kp"vjg"9vj"egpvwt{."U txg" Rgpkpuwnc"ycu"cp"kuncpf."ugrctcvgf"htqo"Ucctgocc"d{"c"pcttqy."cdqwv"92" vq"322"o"ykfg"uvtckv"*Hki0"3+0"Vjg"Ucnog"ujkr"ycu"ukvwcvgf"kp"vjg"xgtvgz"qh"c" jgcfncpf."yjkej"ycu"lwvvkpi"ugcyctfu"htqo"vjg"gcuvgtp"rgcm"qh"Ucctgocc0" To the east of the headland was Livonian Bay and to the west, the Gulf of Ctkuvg."yjkej"gzvgpfgf"vq"cp"ctgc"vjcv"pqy"ku"c"jc{Þgnf"dgjkpf"vjg"Ucnog" schoolhouse, 200 m east from the ship. Vjg"dqcv"ycu"dwtkgf"kp"vjg"ugfkogpvct{"ucpf"qh"c"hqtogt"ugc"àqqt"cpf" ukvwcvgf" kp" vjg" PGÏUY" fktgevkqp." ykvj" cp" cduqnwvg" dgctkpi" qh" 6507³0" Kv" ku" 54 RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA BOAT-GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA Fig. 1. The location of the Salme ship-find. Jn 1. Salme laevaleiu asukoht. Drawing / Joonis: Jüri Vassiljev 14.0 m 12.5 m 10.0 m 7.5 m 5.0 m eqcuv/nkpg"922"CF"1" tcppclqqp"922"rMt 2.5 m 0.0 m rtgugpv"eqcuv/nkpg"1" tcppclqqp"v“pcr“gxcn – 2.5 m – 5.0 m 0 1 km present road / tänapäevane maantee eqooqp"vjcv"vjg"rtqy"qh"vjg"dqcvu"kp"vjg"dqcv/itcxgu"rqkpvgf"pqtvjyctfu." which evidently had ideological and religious meanings. It has also been no/ ticed, that the weapons, especially spears, have often been found from the stern of the boat (Larsson 2007, 275). Considering similar examples, it is nkmgn{."vjcv"vjg"rtqy"qh"vjg"Ucnog"ujkr"ycu"rqkpvgf"vq"pqtvj/gcuv0 DATA ABOUT THE SHIP When the excavations began, a part of the prow, about 7 m long and 1.3 m wide, was extant. Digging the trench had destroyed the stern. Luckily, a 35 cm piece of the sternpost had been spared in one side of the trench. This piece made it possible to determine the length of the ship, and the orientation of its horizontal axis. The endmost distance between the rivets found from the prow and from the stern was 10 m. The amidships had been preserved for about 0.5 m in height. The part of the ship above it, as well as the stem, had been destroyed. In the sternpost part, untouched by the construction workers, the rivets were situated right below the turf, only a couple of centimetres deeper. Vjg"yqqfgp"jwnn"qh"vjg"ujkr"ycu"cnoquv"eqorngvgn{"ft{/tqvvgp0"Qpn{" some very thin strips of softwood planks and pieces of the support beam of the frame made of pine2 had been preserved. Most of the data about the shape and the construction of the ship were gathered by taking bearings 2 "Vjg"urgekgu"ycu"fgvgtokpgf"d{"Tgikpq"Mcum"htqo"Guvqpkcp"Wpkxgtukv{"qh"Nkhg"Uekgpegu0 55 MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE & JÜRI VASSILJEV Fig. 2. View towards prow at stern. The support beam of the fifth frame in the foreground. 56 Jn 2. Vaade väljapuhastatud laevale ahtrist vööri suunas. Esiplaanil on näha viienda kaare tugitala. Photo / Foto: Maili Roio RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA BOAT-GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA of the outline of the ship and the placement of the rivets in the site (Fig. 2). Altogether, 275 rivets were found during the exca/ xcvkqpu0"Vjg"gzcev"nqecvkqp"qh"37;"qh"vjgo"ycu"rkprqkpv/ ed. Following the distance between the rows of the riv/ ets, it can be said, that 30 cm wide planks were used, and vjcv"vjgug"ygtg"lqkpgf"ykvj"ktqp"tkxgvu"d{"enkpmgt"rncpm/ ing, in which the edge of one plank slightly overlays the other. The rivets were about 3 –4 cm long, which means that the planks used were very thin, about 1.5 – 2 cm in thickness. In the middle of the northern part of the ship there was a keel, about 15 cm wide and narrowing towards the prow. On both sides of the prow, planks were riveted – a keel strake next to the keel and a side strake added to it. Xgnnq" O“uu" *422:=" 422;+." yjq" cpcn{¦gf" vjg" eqp/ struction of the vessel, came to a conclusion, that the Ucnog"ujkr"okijv"jcxg"dggp"3307"o"nqpi."ykvj"c"oczk/ mum width of 2 m (Figs. 3; 4). The sea gauge of the ship, with a low skid keel, may have been 0.4 m and the height of the boardside in the middle of the ship 0.75 m. The rows of rivets on the upper edge of the side strake showed that the ship had also had a third side strake, cpf"rquukdn{"gxgp"c"hqwtvj"qpg"Ï"c"ycuj/uvtcmg0"Vjg"ujkr" had eight frames and these were probably attached by ncujkpi0"D{"kvu"v{rg"vjg"Ucnog"ujkr"ku"c"vygnxg/qct"tqy/ ing ship, its sophistication ranging between the log boat cpf"vjg"xkmkpi"ujkr0"Vjg"ujcrg"qh"vjg"Ucnog"ujkr"ycu" characteristic to a military vessel – it was fast, light and easily manoeuvrable. It can be considered to be an gzcorng"qh"vjg"Dcnvke"Ugc"gcuv"eqcuv"ujkrdwknfkpi"vgej/ nology and tradition. ARTEFACTS Most of the artefacts and human bones were collected from vjg"uvgtp."htqo"cdqwv"507"o"nqpi"ctgc0"Vjgug"qdlgevu"ygtg" gathered by shifting through the soil removed from the trench, and so, the exact locations of the artefacts remain wpmpqyp0" Vjg" ygcrqp" Þpfu" htqo" vjg" uvgtp" eqpukuvgf" qh" two spearheads (Fig. 5) and artefacts related to swords. Fig. 3. Reconstruction of the hull’s shape. Crosses mark the location of rivets and numbers mark the frames at the excavated area. Jn 3. Salme laeva kuju rekonstruktsioon. Ristidega on tähistatud neetide asukohad ja numbritega kaared kaevatud alal. 1 2 3 4 5 0 1m Drawing / Joonis: Marge Konsa 57 MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE & JÜRI VASSILJEV Fig. 4. The cross-section of the ship at the third frame. The height of the rivets is in meters above sea level. Jn 4. Ristlõige laevast 3. kaare kohal. Neetide kõrgused on meetrites üle mere pinna. Drawing / Joonis: Marge Konsa 0 1 cm Fig. 5. Spearhead from stern found by the workers. Jn 5. Teetööliste leitud odaots laeva ahtrist. (SM 10601: 1.) Photo / Foto: Mirja Ots 0 1 cm Fig. 6. Sword hilt found from stern. Jn 6. Mõõga käepide laeva ahtrist. (SM 10601: 228.) Photo / Foto: Mirja Ots 58 Vjg"ctvghcevu"kpenwfgf"c"uyqtf"jknv"ykvj"vjtgg/ukfgf"rqo/ ogn"*Hki0"8+."c"W/ujcrgf"uecddctf"gpf."cpf"htciogpvu"qh" vyq"uyqtf"dncfgu"*qpg"ykvj"c"fqwdng/gfigf"dncfg"cpf"cp/ qvjgt"ykvj"c"qpg/gfigf"dncfg+0"Htqo"vjg"3:"mpkxgu"hqwpf" htqo"vjg"ujkr."35"ygtg"htqo"vjg"vtgpej."cu"ygnn"cu"Þxg"qwv" of eight whetstones and three arrowheads out of six. The two dice (Fig. 7: 1) and most of the gaming pieces were also from the stern. The actual number of dice in the ship remains unclear, but the preserved ones are elongated and rectangular in shape, all of their sides marked with cp" g{g" oqvkh" *vyq" ektengu" kpukfg" qpg" cpqvjgt+0" Vjg" jcnh/ sphere shaped gaming pieces are made of bovine bone and whalebone. The set of gaming pieces consists of 72 uq/ecnngf"ÓycttkqtÔ"rkgegu"cpf"qpg"ÓmkpiÔ"rkgeg0"Vjku"icokpi" rkgeg"ku"fgeqtcvgf"ykvj"cp"kpvgt/vykpgf"qtpcogpv."cpf"jcu" an image of a man cut into it (Fig. 7: 2). The exact location of the artefacts and bones in the rest of the ship has been documented after its discov/ ery. Prior to that, the upper horizontal layer of the ship, about 20 cm thick, was dug off. Above the sixth frame of the ship, in the bank of the trench, three skulls with some bones of upper body had been left. An accumu/ lation of human bones was also discovered in the area between the third and the fourth frame. Above the third frame, 26.7 cm from the bottom of the boat, a slab of limestone (40 cm in diameter) with an unknown func/ tion was discovered. There was a human skull next to it. RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA BOAT-GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA 1 0 2 Fig. 7. Dice (1) and game piece with human figure (2). Jn 7. Täring (1) ja inimese kujutisega mängunupp (2). (SM 10601: 211, 222.) Photo / Foto: Mirja Ots 1 cm During the excavation of the inside layer the ship (30 cm thick), a 10–14 cm layer of gravel was discovered. It had settled into the bottom of the boat and contained no artefacts. A thin dark brown layer of organic matter overlaid it. The dark brown layer may have been the remains of the boards of a burial platform. Above this layer, there was a gravel layer, containing artefacts and animal bones. The artefacts were situated in three zones. Two arrowheads were dis/ eqxgtgf" pgct" vjg" Þtuv" htcog" qh" vjg" rtqy." uvctdqctf." cpf" c" yjgvuvqpg" cpf" a knife from the port side. Next to the abovementioned limestone slab, c"icokpi"rkgeg."c"fkeg."cp"cttqyjgcf"cpf"hqwt"rkgegu"qh"àkpv"ygtg"hqwpf0"Vjg" third assemblage of artefacts was found amidships in the area between the hqwtvj"cpf"vjg"Þhvj"htcog0"C"mpkhg"cpf"c"uq/ecnngf"uyqtf/ujctrgpkpi"uvqpg." 15.7 cm in length, were discovered there. Near these, a piece of resin, 5.3 cm kp"fkcogvgt."ycu"hqwpf."c"rkgeg"qh"rnckp"ygcxg"uvwem"vq"kv0"Pgzv"vq"vjg"Þhvj" frame, port side, a small iron tool with a socket was found. Animal bones were found in smaller or bigger accumulations in the bow, on an area about 2.5 m in length. There was also a clearer accumulation of animal bones near vjg"Þhvj"htcog."yjgtg"vyq"rkgegu"qh"ktqp"cpf"c"dtqp¦g"Þvvkpi"ygtg"hqwpf0 In the sternpost of the ship, two knives were found from under vjg"vwth."cpf"rkgegu"qh"c"eqod"32"eo"dgnqy"vjgo0"Kv"ycu"c"vjtgg/rctv"qpg/ ukfgf"eqod"ykvj"ykfg"lqkpkpi"rncvgu."fgeqtcvgf"ykvj"cp"g{g"oqvkh"cpf"nkpg" ornament (Fig. 8). Ugxgtcn" kvgou." nkmg" vjg" uyqtf/ujctrgpkpi" uvqpg." qt" vjg" ugv" qh" icokpi" rkgegu"cpf"fkeg."ctg"wpkswg"coqpi"vjg"ctvghcevu"htqo"Okffng"Ktqp"Cig"Guvq/ pkc."dwv"ejctcevgtkuvke"vq"vjg"itcxg"iqqfu"qh"gnkvg"dqcv/itcxgu"kp"Uecpfkpcxkc" *g0i0"Ctpg"3;56="Ctykfuuqp"3;76="Uvqnrg"("Ctpg"3;34="Yjkvvcmgt"4228+0"Vjg" itcxg"iqqfu"qh"vjg"Ucnog"dqcv/itcxg"ncem"cp{"jqwugjqnf"kvgou."rqvvgt{."qt/ pcogpvu."jqtug"jctpguu"gve0"vjcv"ctg"ejctcevgtkuvke"vq"vjg"dqcv/itcxg"dwtkcnu" of the local elite. The whole assemblage of the artefacts can be related to the equipment needed by armed seafarers. PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF OSTEOLOGIC ANALYSES Unfortunately during the rescue excavations the exact location of human dqpgu" ycu" pqv" Þzgf0" Vjwu" oquv" qh" vjg" jwocp" dqpgu" ygtg" eqookpingf" 59 MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE & JÜRI VASSILJEV Fig. 8. Fragments of comb found nearby sternpost. Jn 8. Ahtertäävi juurest leitud kammi katkendid. (SM 10601: 272, 271.) Photo / Foto: Mirja Ots 0 1 cm cp{yc{."qpn{"hgy"rctvu"qh"umgngvqpu"ygtg"kpvcev0"Kv"ku"fkhÞewnv"vq"uc{"yjgp" the skeletons were disturbed, because there have been several former road constructions and cabling works carried out in the past. During the archaeological excavations it was noticed, that human bones were in somewhat higher level in comparison with animal bones, of course we cannot say anything about the bones in the cable trench area, which were collected before archaeological rescue excavations. The bone material was mainly fragmentary; especially craniums and long bones were broken. Preliminary osteologic analyses of the human bones collected main/ ly from the cable trench and soil heaps were conducted on the 3rd of November, 2008 on site (before the beginning of archaeological rescue ex/ cavations). The results of preliminary osteologic analyses referred to at ngcuv" vjg" umgngvcn" tgockpu" qh" Þxg" rgqrng0" Ncvgt" qp." hqnnqykpi" vjg" tguewg" excavation and in laboratory conditions, two additional skeletons were determined. Hence the results of osteologic analyses indicated the remains of seven men inside the ship contour. The number of men was determined on vjg"dcuku"qh"hcekcn"rctvu"qh"etcpkwou."jkr"dqpgu."vkdkcn"dqpgu"cpf"jggn/dqpgu0" The usual method of recurrent bone fragments was used, which is common for analysing commingled bones. The number of human skeletons – 7 – found inside one burial boat ku"gzegrvkqpcn0"Rtkqt"vq"vjg"Ucnog"dqcv"itcxg."vjgtg"ku"pq"kphqtocvkqp"cdqwv" dwtkcn"dqcvu"ykvj"kpjwocvkqpu"kp"Guvqpkc0 Wpvkn" vqfc{" qpn{" vyq" dwtkcn" dqcvu" ctg" mpqyp" kp" pqtvjgtp" Gwtqrg" yjgtg" vjg" pwodgt" qh" umgngvqpu" hqwpf" kp" ku" oqtg" vjcp" vyq0" Vjg" Þtuv." ku" vjg" dqcv/itcxg" qh" Pcddgt t" fkueqxgtgf" kp" 3;5:" qp" vjg" kuncpf" qh" £ncpf" kp" Uygfgp"*Ncoo"4224."69:+"yjgtg"6"umgngvqpu"ygtg"hqwpf"kpukfg"vjg"dqcv." cpf" vjg" ugeqpf" ku" vjg" Xkmkpi" Cig" dqcv" dwtkcn" hqwpf" kp" Uect." Qtmpg{." kp"Ueqvncpf"kp"3;;3"yjgtg"vjg"umgngvqpu"qh"vjtgg"rgqrng"ygtg"hqwpf"kpukfg" vjg"dqcv"tgockpu"*Itcjco/Ecordgnn"("Dcvg{"3;;:.35;+0 Vjg"cpkocn"dqpgu"ygtg"eqnngevgf"htqo"vjg"rtgugtxgf"rctv"qh"vjg"Ucnog" ship and from the cable trench area. No animal bones were found outside vjg"ujkr"eqpvqwt"pqt"kp"vjg"rtqÞngu"ocfg"ctqwpf"vjg"ujkr."vjwu"yg"oc{"con/ clude that all the animal bones were originally inside the ship. 60 RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA BOAT-GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA Vjg" rtgnkokpct{" ctejcgq/¦qqnqikecn" cpcn{ugu" kpfkecvgf" ockpn{" vjg" remains of domesticated animals: bovine (Bos taurus), sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra hircus) and pig (Sus scrofa domestica), but also bird bones were present. The bovine bones dominated in the preserved part of the boat, in the cable trench area (the disturbed area) – the bones of sheep / goat were most common. No complete skeletons of animals were found, only the parts of skeletons, which indicated that the hashed car/ casses were placed into the boat. Vjgtg"ku"c"tgoctmcdng"fkhhgtgpeg"dgvyggp"vjg"ctejcgq/¦qqnqikecn"oc/ vgtkcnu" qh" Uygfkuj" dqcv/itcxgu" cpf" vjg" Ucnog" dqcv/itcxg0" Kp" pgctn{" cnn" Uygfkuj"Xgpfgn"cpf"Xkmkpi"Cig"dqcv/itcxgu"Ï"Xcnui“tfg"*Ctykfuuqp"3;64." 32;Ï335="Ctykfuuqp"3;76."342Ï343="Htkfgnn"3;52+."Xgpfgn"*Uvqnrg"("Ctpg" 3;34+." |td{" *Ctdocp" 3;58." 46;Ï473+" cpf" Vwpc" kp" Cnukmg" *Ctpg" 3;56+" Ï" vjg"dqpgu"qh"fqiu"cpf"jqtugu"jcxg"dggp"hqwpf="kp"vjg"Ucnog"ujkr"tgockpu" the bones of dogs and horses are totally absent. RADIOCARBON DATINGS A piece of wood that had preserved of a plank on the port board of the ujkr"ycu"fcvgf"kp"vjg"tcfkqectdqp"COU"ogvjqf03 The results showed that vjg"rkpg"wugf"hqt"vjg"rncpm"ycu"ewv"fqyp"dgvyggp"822Ï892"CF"*Hki0";+0" Vjg"ygkijvgf"cxgtcig"qh"vjg"ecnkdtcvgf"fcvg"ku"85;"CF0"Cpqvjgt"ucorng4 was taken from a tibia of a bovine (Bos taurus), and dated to 656–773 AD, ykvj"vjg"ygkijvgf"cxgtcig"qh"vjg"ecnkdtcvgf"fcvg"qh"92;"CF0"Cnuq"vyq"uco/ ples5"qh"jwocp"dqpgu"ygtg"fcvgf"d{"vjg"COU"ogvjqf0"Ykvj"vjg"rtqdcdknkv{" qh";706"'"dqvj"ucorngu"kpfkecvgf"vjcv"jwocp"dwtkcnu"fcvgf"htqo" 3 4 "Jgnc/3;390 "Jgnc/3;380 Fig. 9. Radiocarbon datings. Jn 9. Radiosüsiniku dateeringud. 61 MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE & JÜRI VASSILJEV vjg" rgtkqf" 872Ï9:2" CF0" Hqt" dqvj" ucorngu" vjg" Þtuv" rgcm" qh" ecnkdtcvgf" dating was of higher probability (41.4%; 51.8% respectively) in comparison with the second and any later ones ( 26.8%; 16.4% respectively), thus the most plausible calibrated dating of human bones is between 650–720 AD. Kp" eqpenwukqp." eqpukfgtkpi" vjg" tguwnvu" qh" ectdqp" fcvkpi" cpf" vjg" ejtqpq/ nqi{"qh"vjg"ctvghcevu."vjg"Ucnog"dqcv/itcxg"qtkikpcvgu"htqo"vjg"Xgpfgn"Gtc" *Rtg/Xkmkpi" Cig+." rtqdcdn{" htqo" vjg" rgtkqf" 872Ï942" CF0" Vjg" ujkr" wugf" hqt" vjg" dwtkcn" ycu" rtqdcdn{" dwknv" kp" vjg" Þtuv" jcnh" qh" vjg" 9vj" egpvwt{." cpf"jcf"jcf"kvu"ujctg"qh"xq{cigu"dghqtg"eqokpi"vq"kvu"Þpcn"rqtv"kp"Ucnog0 Another sample6 was taken from outside the ship, from a coal found in a thin layer of clay 20 cm below the bottom of the ship. The result was 2.–3. centuries AD, when shallow water covered the site. CONCLUSIONS Eqorctgf"vq"qvjgt"mpqyp"dqcv/itcxgu"htqo"vjg"Xgpfgn"Gtc"cpf"vjg"Xkmkpi" Cig." vjg" Ucnog" ujkr/Þpf" jcu" ugxgtcn" fkhhgtgpv" ejctcevgtkuvkeu0" Vjg" oquv" qdxkqwu" qpg" ku" vjg" itgcv" pwodgt" qh" jwocp" umgngvqpu" hqwpf" kp" vjg" dqcv/ itcxg0"Cpqvjgt"ku"vjg"cdugpeg"qh"cpkocnu"eqooqp"kp"Uygfkuj"dqcv/itcxgu"Ï" jqtug"cpf"fqi0"Cnuq."vjg"cuugodncig"qh"ctvghcevu"ku"urgekÞe"cpf"ecp"dg"tg/ lated to the equipment used by a warship crew. The events surrounding the men, who found their burial place in Ucnog."ctg"wpmpqyp0"Yjgvjgt"vjg{"ygtg"nqecn"qt"hqtgkipgtu."fkgf"d{"ceek/ dent, disease or violence, are questions not yet answered. The grave goods tgugodnkpi" vjqug" htqo" Uecpfkpcxkc." cu" ygnn" cu" vjg" yc{" qh" dwtkcn" fkhhgt/ gpv" htqo" qvjgt" Guvqpkcp" dqcv/itcxgu" qh" vjg" rgtkqf" *etgocvkqpu" kp" uvqpg" graves) may refer to people from overseas. At the same time, the boat itugnh"uggou"vq"dg"eqpuvtwevgf"oqtg"ceeqtfkpi"vq"vjg"ujkr/dwknfkpi"vtcfkvkqp" qh"vjg"gcuvgtp"ujqtg"qh"vjg"Dcnvke"Ugc0"Cnuq."vjg"qeewttgpeg"qh"Uecpfkpcxkcp" ctvghcevu" kp" Ucctgocc" ku" kp" pq" yc{" gzegrvkqpcn0" Vjg" uqekgv{" qh" Ucctgocc" has had international characteristics and been related to different cultural traditions for a long time. Thus the local origin of the deceased or mourners can not be excluded. Hopefully, the results of ongoing analysis will soon en/ cdng"wu"vq"ujgf"oqtg"nkijv"qp"vjg"o{uvgt{"qh"vjg"Ucnog"dqcv/itcxg0 Acknowledgements: this study was supported by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (Center of Excellence CECT) and by the research grants from Estonian Uekgpeg"Hqwpfcvkqp"*pq0"8:;;"cpf"8958+0 5 6 "Jgnc/3;36."Jgnc/3;370 "Jgnc/3;3:0 62 RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA BOAT-GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA References Anderson, G. 1963. Boatgraves in Finland. – Uwqogp"Owugq."NZZ."7Ï450 Arbman, H. 1936."D‹vitcx"xkf"|td{"i‹tf" i Rasbokil socken, Uppland. – Fornvännen, 53."46;Ï4730 Arne, T. J. 1934. Das Bootgräberfeld von Tuna in Alsike, Uppland. Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien,"420"Uvqemjqno0 Arwidsson, G. 1942. Xcnui“tfg"80"Fkg"It“dgt/ funde von Valsgärde I. Acta Musei Antiquitatum Septentrionalium Regiae Universitatis Upsaliensis, 1. Uppsala. Arwidsson, G. 1954. Xcnui“tfg":0"Fkg"It“dgt/ funde von Valsgärde II. Acta Musei Antiquitatum Septentrionalium Regiae Universitatis Upsaliensis, 4. Uppsala. Fridell, A. 1930. Fgp"h tuvc"d‹vitcxgp"xkf"Xcnu/ gärde i Gamla Uppsala socken. – Fornvännen, 25, 217–237. Graham-Campbell, J. & Batey, C. E. 1998. Xkmkpiu"kp"Ueqvncpf<"cp"ctejcgqnqikecn"uwtxg{0" Gfkpdwtij"Wpkxgtukv{"Rtguu0 Lamm, J. P. 2002. Nabberör. – Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde. Hrsg. von H. Beck, F0"Igwgpkej."J0"Uvgwgt0"¥ygkvg"Cwàcig0"Dcpf"420" Fg"Itw{vgt."69:Ï69;0 Larsson, G. 2007. Ujkr"cpf"uqekgv{0"Octkvkog" kfgqnqi{"kp"Ncvg"Ktqp"Cig"Uygfgp0"*Cwp."490+ Uppsala. Mäss, V. 2008. Ucnog"ncgxcngkw"gjkvwuvgjpqnqqiknkpg interpretatsioon. (Manuscript in Eesti Meremuuseum) jvvr<11ngrq0kv0fc0wv0gg1'9Goctigm1Xgnnq24342:0rfh0" 320280422;0 Mäss, V. 2009. Ucnog"ncgxcngkw"vgcfwunkmwuv." mwnvwwtknkuguv"lc"vwppgvwunkmwuv"curgmvkuv0"Ï"Gguvk" ncgxcpfwug"ccuvctccocv."422;0"Gguvk"Ogtgogguvg" Nkkv."Vcnnkpp."368Ï36;0" Müller-Wille, M. 1974. Dqcv/itcxgu"kp"pqtvjgtp" Gwtqrg0"Ï"Vjg"Kpvgtpcvkqpcn"Lqwtpcn"qh"Pcwvkecn" Ctejcgqnqi{"cpf"Wpfgtycvgt"Gzrnqtcvkqp."5<"4." 187–204. Roio, M. 2006. Investigation of underwater jgtkvcig"kp"Guvqpkc0"Ï"Ctejcgqnqikecn"tgugctej"kp" Guvqpkc"3:87Ï42270"Gf0"d{"X0"Ncpi"("O0"Ncpgocp0" Estonian Archaeology, 1. Tartu, 301–310. Saarse, L., Vassiljev, J. & Miidel, A. 2003. Ukowncvkqp"qh"vjg"Dcnvke"Ugc"ujqtgnkpgu"kp"Guvqpkc" and neighbouring areas. – Journal of Coastal Tgugctej."3;<"4."483Ï48:0 Saarse, L., Vassiljev, J., Miidel, A. & Niinemets, E. 2006. Holocene buried organic sediments kp"Guvqpkc0"Ï"Rtqeggfkpiu"qh"vjg"Guvqpkcp"Cecfgo{" qh"Uekgpegu0"Igqnqi{."77<"6."4;8Ï5420 Stolpe, H. & Arne, T. J. 1912. Graffältet vid Vendel. Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien, 3."Uvqemjqno0 Vassar, A. 1940. Kaevamisaruanne Pöide kihk. Nckolcnc"xn0"Xknvkpc"mn0"Rggtpc"vn0"äTwvkt“picnÒ" 350XKÏ490XKK"3;620"(Manuscript in AI.) Whittaker, H. 2006. Icog/dqctfu"cpf"icokpi/ rkgegu"kp"vjg"Pqtvjgtp"Gwtqrgcp"Ktqp"Cig0"Ï"Pqtfnkv." 20, 103–112. 63 MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE ja JÜRI VASSILJEV SALME EELVIIKINGIAEGSE LAEVAMATUSE PÄÄSTEKAEVAMISED SAAREMAAL 422:0"c"ugrvgodtku"tclcvk"Ucctgoccn"U txg"occpvgg" ““tfg." VgjwoctfkÏUcnog" xcjgnkugn" n kiwn" xcniwuvc/ vwf" lcnitcvvcvggf0" Ucnog" cuwncrkktk" lwwtgu" jcmmcu" mccdnkmtccxk"mcgxcokugn"x“nlc"vwngoc"tqjmguvk"kpko/ nwkf0"Gfcukugf"vggv f"ugnngu"mqjcu"rgcvcvk"pkpi"l“ti/ pgukf" Owkpuwumckvugcogvk" Þpcpvuggtkvwf" lc" Ucctg/ maa Muuseumi korraldatud päästekaevamised (kae/ xcokuvg"gukoguv"gvcrrk"lwjcvcukf"L¯tk"Rggvu"lc"M¯nnk" Tkmcu."ncgxc"x“nlcmcgxcokuk"lwjcvcu"Octig"Mqpuc+0 Ucnog"ncgxc"ngkwmqjv"l““d"U txg"rqqnucctv"Ucctg/ occ" gfgncqucuv" ncjwvcxc" Ucnog" l g" ““tfg." ugnnguv" 422"o"r jlc"rqqng"*lp"3="32+0"Ncgx"rckmpgu"nkkxcu"mkt/ fgÏgfgnc/uwwpcnkugnv" cukowwfkic" 65.7³0" Ncgxc" x t" oli arvatavasti suunatud kirdesse. Kaevamiste algu/ ugu"qnk"ncgxcuv"u“knkpwf"w"9"o"rkmmwpg"lc"3.5"o"nckwpg" x tkrqqnpg"mgtgquc0"Ucowvk"qnk"cnngu"57"eo"rkmmwpg" v¯mm" ncgxc" cjvgtv““xk0" ⁄ngl““pwf" quc" ncgxc" cjvtkuv" oli kraavi kaevamisega purustatud. Laeva keskosa qnk" u“knkpwf" w" 72" eo" m tiwugnv." ugnnguv" ¯ngokpg" quc" laevast nagu ka vöörtääv olid hävinud. Laeva puit/ mgtg"qnk"rgccgiw"v“kgnkmwnv"m fwpgpwf0"U“knkpwf"qnkf" xckf" o pgf" x“ic" jwmgugf" tkdcf" qmcurwwuv" rncp/ iwncwfcfguv"lc"mcvmgpfkf"o“ppkuv"ncgxcmcctg"vwik/ vcncuv0"Xcnfcx" quc"cpfogvguv" ncgxc"mwlw"lc"gjkvwug" mqjvc"uccfk"ncgxc"l“nlgpfk"pkpi"ncgxcpggvkfg"rckmpg/ okug"fqmwogpvggtkokug"cdkn"*lp"4+0" Laeva ehitustehnilise analüüsi teinud Vello Mäs/ uk"jkppcpiwn"x ku"Ucnog"ncgx"qocn"clcn"qnnc"33.7"o" rkmmwpg."uwwtkoc"nckwugic"4"o"*lp"5."6+0"Ncgxc"u¯xku" mqqu"ocfcnc"rcmm/mkknwic"x ku"qnnc"62"eo"pkpi"rct/ fc" m tiwu" ncgxc" mgumqucu" 97" eo0" M¯nlgrncpiw" ¯ng/ misel serval asunud needirida osutas, et laeval oli xggn"mqnocu"m¯nlgrncpm"lc"knougnv"mc"pgnlcumk"Ï"rct/ davöö. Kaari oli laevas kaheksa ning need olid ar/ xcvcxcuvk"mkppkvcvwf"ukfwokuoggvqfkn0"Ucnog"mcjg/ vgkuvcgtwnkug" u wfgncgxc" mwlw" qnk" u lcncgxcfgng" kug/ nqqownkmg" qocfwuvgic<" ugg" qnk" mkktg." mgtig" lc" j“uvk" lwjkvcx"cnwu0" Gpcokm" gugogvguv" lc" kpkonwwfguv" r“tkpgu" ncgxc" cjvtkqucuv0" Mwpc" pggf" uccfk" mtccxkuv" x“nlcv uvgvwf" pinnase läbivaatamisel, siis polnud esemete täpset cuwmqjvc"gpco"x kocnkm"vwxcuvcfc0"⁄ngl““pwf"ncg/ xc"qucu"jcmcvk"ngkfwfg"lc"nwwfg"cuwmqjvk"v“rugnv"fq/ mwogpvggtkoc"cnngu"r“tcuv"ncgxc"cxcuvcokuv0"Ugnngng" ggnpgxcnv"l wvk"jqtkuqpvccnugnv"n“dk"mcgxcvc"nkikmcwfw" 64 20 cm paksune kiht laeva ülemisest osast. Laeva si/ ugowuguv"l“tik"l““pwf"mwpk"52"eo"rcmuwug"mkjk"mcg/ xcokugn"knopgu."gv"ncgxc"r jlc"qnk"ugvvkpwf"w"32Ï36" cm paksune kruusakiht, mis leide ei sisaldanud. Ugnng"mkjk"rgcn"qnk"vwogrtwwpk"x“txk"mkvucu"qticcpk/ mcxkkti." oku" x ku" r“tkpgfc" ncwfcfguv" oqqfwuvcvwf" ocvwugrncvxqtokuv0" Gugogf" lc" nqqocnwwf" cxcuvcvk" sellele tasapinnale ladestunud kruusakihist. Ucnog" ncgxcuv" ngkvk" mcmu" qfc/" lc" mwwu" pqqngqvuc." o mcfguv"qnk"u“knkpwf"mcmu"vgtcokmmw."¯mu"m“grkfg" mqqu"mqnopwtmug"pwrwic"pkpi"W/mwlwnkpg"vwrgqvukm" *lp" 7." 8+0" X“kmugocvguv" gugogvguv" qnkf" xggn" ncgxcu" 3:"pwic."mcjgmuc"nwkumw"lc"tcwcuv"rwvmgic"v tkkuv." pgnk"vwngmkxkv¯mmk"lc"x“kmg"rtqpmupccuv0"Ncgxc"cjv/ tkuv" ngkvk" mcvmgpfgkf" uctxguv" xcnokuvcvwf" lc" uknoc/ mguvgic" mcwpkuvcvwf" mcookuv" *lp" :+0" Okvogf" gug/ ogf." pciw" rggpgvgtcnkuguv" mkxkokuv" o icnwkum" x k" o“piwpwrrwfg" lc" v“tkpiwvg" mqorngmv" *lp" 9<" 3Ï4+." qp"Gguvk"mgumokug"tcwcclc"ngkwckpgugu"ckpwnccfugf." mwkf" kugnqqownkmwf" rcpwugf" Umcpfkpccxkc" gnkvcct/ ugvgu" ncgxcocvwuvgu0" Nqqocfguv" qnk" Ucnog" ncgxcu" gukpfcvwf"xgkug."ncodc."mkvug"lc"ugc"nwwf."ucowvk"qnk" nkppwnwkf0" ⁄nncvwunkmwnv" rwwfwukf" jqdwug" lc" mqgtc" luud, mis on väga tavalised Rootsi laevamatustes. Tcfkqu¯ukpkmw"lc"ngkwocvgtlcnk"fcvggtkpiwvg"r j/ lcn" r“tkpgd" Ucnog" ncgxcocvwu" xgpfgnkclcuv." knougnv" clcxcjgokmwuv"872Ï942"rMt"*lp";+0"Ocvwugmu"mcuw/ vcvwf"ncgx"qp"v gp“qnkugnv"xcnokuvcvwf"90"ucl"gukog/ ugn"rqqngn"pkpi"gppg"n rnkmmw"tcpfwokuv"Ucnogn"l wf/ pwf"o pfc"cgic"ogtf"m¯pfc0" Ucnog"ncgxc"p“qn"qp"vgigokuv"Gguvk"m kig"xcpgoc" laevaleiuga, mis on mitmete aspektide poolest tähe/ lepanuväärne ka laiemas Läänemeremaade kultuu/ tk/"lc"ogtgpfwuclcnqq"mqpvgmuvku0 X ttgnfgu" vgkuvg" vgcfcqngxcvg" ggnxkkmkpik/" lc" xkk/ mkpikcgiugvg"ncgxcocvwuvgic."qp"Ucnog"ngkw"lwwtgu/ m kig" uknocvqtmcxco" uwtpwvg" uwwt" ctx0" Vcxcnkugnv" on laevamatustes vaid üks väga rikkalike panustega m timncuuk"mwwnwpwf"kpkogpg."jctxc"qp"¯jgu"ncgxcu" mqno" mwpk" pgnk" ocgvwv0" Ucnog" ncgx" ugkvuog" ogjg" surnukehaga on omaaegsete laevamatuste hulgas erandlik.