Abstract
Social and economic aspects of the Birka chamber-graves are presented, based on a statistical analysis. An economic differentiation between the chamber-graves is discerned by virtue of estimates of e. g. grave values. The "upper-class people" in chamber-graves apparently can be divided into various levels. There are, however, chambers with low values but which signal social status by their construction. Of interest is the high ranking of some female graves as to wealth and to complexity of grave goods. It is not possible to prove that the graves were intended for foreigners. The chamber-graves at Birka were constructed during a brief period in the 9th and 10th centuries, and should be seen as an ancient international tradition to enhance the status of the leading class - an archaic element connected with periods of incipient urbanization and state formation.
Highlights
Nils Ringstedt, Författatvä gett 5, SE-167 77 Bromma, Sweden, The Birka cemeteries on the island of Björkö in Lake Mälar in middle Sweden contain 111 known chamber-graves
"in some inhumation and cremation burials the character of the grave goods indicates great wealth; while in some chamber-graves the absence of rich grave goods may be belied by a construction of the grave which suggests that the deceased belonged to a high social stratum"
The Birka Chatnher-Groves — Econotnic and Social Aspects t 33 the royal hird —and Steuer asserts that rich and poor equipment in chamber graves rather reflect a difference in property owned or a Christian influence
Summary
Nils Ringstedt, Författatvä gett 5, SE-167 77 Bromma, Sweden, The Birka cemeteries on the island of Björkö in Lake Mälar in middle Sweden contain 111 known chamber-graves. Anne-Sofie Gräslund considers it likely that the chamber-grave custom is associated with a socially prominent element of the Birka population, though it is uncertain whether this group was distinguished by ethnic, economic, political or other factors, or a combination of them. The extent of the grave goods depended on many factors such as inheritance laws or Christian influence It is a question whether the chambers indicate "warrior's graves" and "merchant's graves". There are five definite and ten probable examples of early graves recorded Those chambers of known location dated to the Early Period were found in area I B: Bj. 854 and 850 inside the ramparts, 849 and 1151 — probably belonging to the Early Period — in the ramparts and Bj
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