Gribshunden

Human skeleton belonging to the burial F2

The context 623 corresponds to the skeleton found articulated in primary position in the burial F2. Its preservation is good, but the fall of some stones from the cover (c626, c614, c618). Other anomalies seem to have been caused by animals.

The skeleton belong to a young adult (need to be confirmed with osteological analysis) in flexed position on its left side, facing north. Its left arm lay along its body in semi-flexed position, whereas its right arm is bent in 90° angle crossing the torso. The legs are flexed and the right foot is in a natural position (the left foot is missing). Like the rest of the body, the head is on the left side, framed by two stones (c637). Its right shoulder was probably initially resting on the southern stone c637 - the right scapula was found right behind it. The mandibula is closed, bloked by humerus head. The upper part of the spine and the right hand were disturbed, probably by animal burrows. Part of the right ribs were missing. However, the ribs found in the upper deposit (c621) may have belong to the individual and moved by animal as well (to be confirmed by osteological analysis of the deposit). The position of the left fingers are difficult to explain (closed hand or disturbance by animal ?).  Finally some stones from the cover (c614) were found directly on the left coxal bone and against the right coxal bone, the heavy central stone c626 were found in quasi vertical position right above the left femur, broke in 4 pieces in a concave curve. An animal burrow may have cause this anomalie by creating a void under the femur. Some linear effects have been noticed, especially along the right upper arm and the right scapula in quasi vertical position and along the mandibula and the left arm. It is difficult to state on the presence on wrapping material. According to these first observations (need to be confirmed with specialists), we suppose that the burial was not filled with soil right after the inhumation but maybe closed with a light cover of organic material (branches ?), on which were disposed the cover made of stones and soil (c614, c618, c626, c629). No find were clearly associated with the indivual, however, a flint (c619 #6), a tooth (619 #14), six shells (619 #13, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26) found in the area of the mandibula, neck and shoulder, have been recorded separtely. Also, two sherds of pottery (c624 and 619 #9) have been recorded separately because of their peculiar position in the burial.