Tim Sutherland: ‘Medieval-Viking Dead’ / „Keskaja viikingite surnud“

Описание: EN:

Comparing and contrasting conflict-related mass graves from Towton, Yorkshire, England and Salme, Saaremaa, Estonia.

Conflict-related mass graves from the Battle of Towton (AD1461) and eighth century Salme, Saaremaa, both exhibit human remains with extensive weapon-related trauma, reflecting armed conflict. The treatment of the individual they contain are, however, very different.

The Towton dead were placed in a simple trench following a known battle in a rigorously-Christian period. These were recorded little respect; some lying supine and some prone, some with their heads in the west in the Christian manner, but others with their heads in the east suggesting a less than Christian burial. Very few artefacts were found in the grave and these could easily have been missed by those interring the bodies. The overall impression of the grave is one of uncared for naked bodies filling a very limited space by an enemy in the aftermath of battle. Unfortunately, little can be said of their wealth or status in life. This grave represents a disrespectful common grave, the common form of mass burial.

Alternatively, the Salme burials exhibited much greater respect for the dead in ship burials in a non-Christian manner. Each burial was associated with a number of artefacts, some of which appear to denote relatively high status. These people were buried in two prestigious boats with care and reverence suggesting some form of deeply respectful association with those who buried them.
Unfortunately there is no direct evidence of respectful Christian Mass graves following conflict. Anyone who was deemed respect was almost always placed in a single burial.

Alternatively, the Salme ‘pagan’ graves are unique in that they display a deep respect for their recipients. Are we witnessing archaeological evidence of victory in battle with the victors burying their fallen comrades?
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The conference was supported by Enterprise Estonia from the European Regional Development Fund.

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ET:

Inglismaal Yorkshire’i maakonnas Towtoni linnas ja Eestis Saare maakonnas Salmel leiduvate, konfliktidega seotud massihaudade võrdlus ja vastandamine.

Nii Towtoni lahingust (1461) kui kaheksandast sajandist pKr Salmelt Saaremaalt pärinevates konfliktidega seotud massihaudades leidub ulatuslike relvatraumadega inimjäänuseid, mis viitab relvastatud konfliktidele. Maetud isikuid on aga koheldud väga erinevalt.

Towtoni surnud maeti pärast tuntud lahingut kristlikul perioodil lihtsasse kaevandisse. Nende vastu näidati üles vähe austust: mõned lamavad selili ja mõned on püstises asendis, mõnel on pead kristlikul kombel lääne suunas, teistel ida suunas, mis viitab mittekristlikule matmisele. Hauas oli väga vähe esemeid ning need võisid olla matjatel kergesti kahe silma vahele jäänud. Üldmulje järgi on haud hooldamata alasti kehade kogum, millele vaenlane on lahingu järel vähe ruumi jätnud. Kahjuks saab nende inimeste jõukuse või staatuse kohta väga vähe öelda. See haud on lugupidamatust ilmutav ühishauad, mis viitab tavapärasele massimatusele.

Salme haudade puhul on mittekristlike laevamatuste näol surnute vastu näidatud palju rohkem austust. Iga matmiskohaga kaasnes hulk esemeid, millest mõned näivad tähistavat üsnagi kõrget staatust. Need inimesed maeti hoole ja aupaklikkusega kahes uhkes paadis, mis viitab sügavale austusele neid matnute poolt.

Kahjuks ei ole otseseid tõendeid lugupidavatest kristlikest konfliktijärgsetest massihaudadest. Kõik, keda peeti lugupeetavaks, maeti peaaegu alati üksi.

Salme „paganate“ hauad on aga ainulaadsed selle poolest, et viitavad sügavale austusele maetute vastu. Kas oleme arheoloogilise tõendi tunnistajateks, mille järgi lahingu võitjad matsid oma langenud kaaslased?
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Konverentsi rahastas EAS toetusmeetmest Euroopa Regionaalarengu Fond.