Introduction to ecofacts
Otto Frödin’s excavations
Ecofacts from these excavations are discussed by Hans Browall (2011: tabell 178;180-191; p. 339ff). These finds have not all been registered in the museum database. Hans Browall has included nuts, apples and fungi and other fruits under the key word fruit. Cereals and seeds have their own key words. Shells and insects are included under the heading “other faunal specimens” (p. 336ff).
Fig. 1. Fruit, i.e. apples, fungi and nuts, from Frödin’s excavations
Mats P. Malmer’s excavations
In the Alvastra project 2015-2019 ecofacts have been registered in the following way.
| Type | Type- Swedish | Sub-type | Material | Find type |
| Fruit | Frukt | Apple, pear, fruit (if species not identified) | Organic material | Find |
| Seeds | Frö | Cereal, Chenopodium album, seed (if species not identified) | Organic material | Find |
| Nut | Nöt | Hazelnut, walnut, nut (if species not identified) | Organic material | Find |
| Shell | Snäcka | Oyster, cowry shell, shell (if species not identified | Shell | Find |
| Fungus | Svamp
|
Tinder fungus, fungus (if species not identified) | Organic material | Find |
| Insect | Insekt | Beetle, fly | Organic material | Find |
| Sample | Prov | Radiocarbon sample (CP), soil sample (JP), wood sample (TP) pollen sample (PP), botanical sample (BP), bark sample, clay sample, carbon sample | Wood, carbon, organic material, soil, etc | Sample |
Fig. 2. Registration of ecofacts from Mats P. Malmer’s excavations
Unfortunately, in the current project we have not been consistent in the way we have registered quantity. Sometimes we have used weight and sometimes number. Sometimes no quantity has been registered at all. This means that further research is needed if comparative studies are to be undertaken.
The following references cited on this page have no web link:
Browall, H., 2011. Alvastra pålbyggnad, 1909-1930 års utgrävningar. Kungl. Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien. Handlingar. Antikvariska serien 48. Stockholm.