|Keywords:||Iron Age; Middle age; mass grave; beowulf; social identity; warfare; violence; weapon deposition; Järnålder; Medeltid; Massgrav; Beowulf; våld; sociala identiteter; krigföring; vapendeponi; Humanities; History and Archaeology; Archaeology; Humaniora; Historia och arkeologi; Arkeologi|
|Full text PDF:||http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-243653|
This master thesis deals with the subject of mass graves as a result of war and violence; how, where and why they are created, what they represent and how they are used throughout the Scandinavian Iron Age and Middle Ages. To analyze and discuss these questions, I have used nine case studies as well as several literary sources such as Beowulf, Tacitus and Jordanes. To further increase the depth of this discussion and to help us understand the mass graves themselves, I have also included subject of warfare in the form of a walkthrough of violence and social psychology. Together, these pieces have helped me form the basis for an analysis and discussion of the three acts I have created: The Ingroup act of deposition, The Outgroup act of deposition and the Triumph act of deposition.