A housewife’s jewellery

An unusually rich female grave from the Roman Iron Age was uncovered in a burial cairn during excavations in 1979. The items, dating from around the 2nd century AD, shed light on Iron Age society in south-eastern Västergötland.

Bronze Age
1700 BC – 500 BC
Iron Age
500 BC – AD 1100
Viking Age
AD 800 – AD 1100

Gold pendants and pearls — Photo: Ulf Bruxe, The Swedish History Museum/SHM (CC BY 4.0).

The housewife whose grave was mentioned, lived in a forested area where cattle farming formed the backbone of the local economy. It is possible that the gold for her jewellery came from the sale of hides to Roman military forces in continental Europe. The grave yielded items made of gold, copper alloy, wood, iron, and glass. The gold pendant and beads may have been given to the woman upon marriage, when she assumed responsibility for the household. A bronze key also symbolises her role as the lady of the house. Two decorated rings, made from copper alloy, were also found.

Among the grave goods were a glass spindle whorl and an iron spindle rod, indicating that she was expected to spin. A small bronze duck may once have adorned a wooden casket fitted with iron mounts.

Grave finds, such as gold pendants, copper rings, an iron spindle rod, a spindle whorl and a small bronze duck.

The grave finds from Dalstorp

On view at Historiska museet in the exhibition Guldrummet

Summary

A wealthy woman’s grave from the Roman Iron Age was discovered in Dalstorp in 1979. She lived in a forested area where people kept livestock, and the gold for her jewelry may have come from selling animal hides to the Roman army. Her grave contained gold beads, a pendant, rings, a bronze key, and tools for spinning thread. There was also a small bronze duck that may have decorated a wooden box. These objects are now part of the Swedish History Museum’s collections.

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