Kammargravar på Orkneyöarna. Jämförande analys av arkitektur, gravfynd och skelettrester i de olika gravtyperna

Abstract

This study examines three types of Neolithic chambered cairns located on the Orkney Isles. These are called Cromarty-type cairns, Maeshowe-type cairns and the Hybrid cairns. The material that was used for this study consist of reports, books and articles. Throughout this study, diffusionism and middle-range theory are used to discuss possible architectural grave influences between the Orkney Isles, Scotland and Ireland. However, one of the main purposes of the study was to investigate correlations between grave type and grave finds. The second purpose was to see if there were any evidence for possible cultural influence within the architecture of the grave. 14C dates from human and animal bone material showed signs of reuse of the graves. Two different types of ceramics indicate that the grave types were built by two different groups of people. Grooved Ware can possibly be connected to the Maeshowe-type and the Unstan Ware to the Cromarty-type. A trading network existed between the Orkney Isles and other locations based on some artefacts with no natural occurrence to Orkney found within the graves.