64 (171)

122 The Viking Age in Denmark

Figurc 30 Distribution of wealth in three cemeteries as measured by thc numbcr of different artefacts in the gravcs. RF = Ris Fattigg&rd, northjylland, basically ninth century (Ramskou 1950, 144f.). S = Stengadc, island of Langcland, tcnth ccntury (Skaarup 1976). T = Trelleborg, west Sjaelland, tcnth ccntury (N^rlund 1948)

even a single artefact.

Apart from the provinces inJylland mentioned already, cremations occur rarely. Inhumations are found all over the country, but they are few in northernmost Jylland. The northjylland cremations may well correlate with a tribal area, geographically well circumscribed.

Traditionally, furnished graves are considered pagan; but it is a fact that a number of interments with Christian crosses of the tenth century contain other grave-goods too.² Not until the close of the tcnth century do furnishings actually disappear, perhaps in connection with the establishment of burial grounds around churches. On the other hand, the majority of inhumations are poor anyway, and in addition they usually follow the ‘Christian’ east-west orientation (though not rigorously), with the head to the west, and a supine position of the body.³ Few graves have the head to the east or the body in a crouched position. A prominent group of burials, almost all from Skane and Bornholm, however, lie north-south. Mounds, some of them old Bronze Age mounds, are relatively rare, but they occur freąuently on the island of Bornholm, which, incidentally, has most of the north-south and crouched graves. Bornholm may also be seen

Figurę 31 Tenth-century cavalry grave from Kasmusm0lle, southjylland. Notę spurs (d), handle tor wooden bucket (h), spearhcad (a), heavy bit (f), stirrups (e), etc. (Hcight of stirrups circa 26 cms). (After Bnpndsted)

as a scparate ‘tribal’ area.

A tenth-ccntury cemetcry from Stcngade on Langeland⁴ (cf. Fig. 30) displays the diffcrent types of cover for the body in usc in Viking Age Denmark: a simple wrapping, a wooden coffin, or a chamber. The chambers are all from about 900 or the tenth century⁵ and, apart