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Excavations in south-eastern Norway have uncovered a unique prehistoric burial field containing graves belonging almost exclusively to children.
In November 2023, archaeologists from Norway’s Museum of Cultural History working in the municipality of Fredrikstad came across 41 circular formations composed of stones arranged on the ground, often in a spiral or wheel pattern, ranging from 1m to 2.5m in diameter. Further investigation revealed them to be cremation graves, with some remains buried in ceramic urns, while others had been placed directly in pits or on the ground beneath the stone circles. Surviving grave goods were scarce, consisting mostly of ceramics, and one metal object that may have been a brooch. Several ancient roadways ran beside the burial ground, and cooking pits and hearths found around the site provide evidence of gatherings and celebrations associated with the cemetery.
Following excavation, osteological analysis of the burnt bones led to a surprising revelation: all except two of the individuals buried at the site were infants or young children, as many as 16 of them possible newborns. Burial fields marked with stone circles like this are common in Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Norway – indeed, several contemporary burial sites of this type are known nearby – but this is the only example of a burial ground specifically for children found to date in Scandinavia. At present, we can only guess why the local community chose to bury these children here, separately from the rest of their dead.
Radiocarbon dating of the remains indicates that the burials span from 1300 BC to AD 200, but most date to between 800 and 400 BC. However, a plateau in the radiocarbon calibration curve makes it impossible to determine their exact ages. This raises the question: was the site in continuous use as a children’s burial ground for several centuries, or did most of these individuals die within a short period of time, perhaps due to some sort of natural disaster or epidemic? It is hoped that future C14 modelling will shed more light on this.
Post-excavation analysis is ongoing and it is hoped it will help to answer some of the questions surrounding this mysterious discovery. Meanwhile, an exhibition about the site called In Memory of the Children is on display at the Historical Museum in Oslo until 26 September.
Text: Amy Brunskill / Image: Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo
