Abstract
The period of use for the Swedish medieval churchyard of Westerhus has been estimated by the maximum likelihood method. Raw data consist of 30 calibrated '4C-dates of some of the skeletons from the site. Bias and other properties of the maximum likelihood estimator are analyzed via a number of Monte Carlo simulations. The point estimates imply that the site was used in the period 1073-1356, that is, a somewhat longer period than previously assumed. The estimated length of the period of use affects the interpretation ofthe great number ofburied children. Population calculations lead to the conclusion that the six agglomerations of children's graves cannot be interpreted as mass graves.
Highlights
Churchyard inThe period of use for the Swedish medieval churchyard of Westerhus has been estimated by the maximum likelihood method
The true point in time when the churchyard was in use according to Skog's experiment is almost 40 years later than the estimated one. This difference may be due to four interacting causes: (1) we have not used the correct functional form of the probability density functions of the errors but approximated those with the normal distribution; (2) the maximum likelihood method in this case gives a negatively biased estimator; (3) Skog's figures are rounded to the closest multiple of 10; and (4) random errors
Skog assumed a larger standard deviation in his OxCal simulation than the average standard deviation of the 30 calibrated observations from Westerhus. This means that the measurement errors and, the possible bias of using the normal distribution connected with his simulation are larger than that connected with our estimate of the duration of use of the churchyard
Summary
The period of use for the Swedish medieval churchyard of Westerhus has been estimated by the maximum likelihood method. Redin (2000) focuses his analysis on social history and the method of archaeological excavation He discusses the time period during which the churchyard was used, whether a wooden church preceded the stone chapel and, the relationship between Westerhus and the nearby Frösö Church. Of the medieval population of Westerhus is the question of how to interpret the six grave agglomerations with children, see Iregren & Redin (1999). Given the number of graves, a shorter period of use implies a larger living population and a greater likelihood of finding many children buried during the same season. Redin (2000) uses Kyhlberg's & Strucke's result, but adds information about burial customs (the positions of the upper extremities) He suggests a shorter period (200 years) of use than Gejvall (1960). Do the agglomerations of children's graves represent mass burials?
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