En ovärdig död? : En studie om de kistlösa gravarna vid gruvgravfältet i Sala

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this essay, is to investigate a grave phenomenon with earthen graves, located at the graveyard north of the preindustrial mining village in Sala, Sweden. It was during an excavation by Societas Archaeologica Upsaliensis of the graveyard, which has been dated to been in use during the 16th and beginning of the 17th century, that the earthen graves were discovered. The earthen graves stood out in the report since most of the graves excavated turned out to be coffin graves. Coffin graves is also seen to be the norm during this period of time. I have delimited my research to analyse the four theories that are mentioned in the excavation report from SAU, regarding the earthen graves. I will also present a theory of my own. The main source material of this essay will be the earthen graves, and I will work on the basis that a grave can reflect the individual's position in society. As a result, I found that the“prisoner of war” theory gives the best answers to the questions that arise with the earthengraves.