Stenungsund excavations

Archaeological excavations in Stenungsund, Sweden have led to the discovery of a series of burial sites. The sites contained ceramic shards from vessels developed in the Roman Empire, as well as burned bones. The graves, overall, have been dated to between AD 1 and 300. The evidence shown at the burial sites could alter academic assumptions pertaining to contacts between the inhabitants of Sweden and the Romans. [ [http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=5450 The Local: Sweden's News in English - Graves Hint at Contact with Romans (8 Nov 06 19:18 CET)] "Archaeologists excavating ancient graves in western Sweden have found shards from ceramic vessels made in the Roman Empire, in a find that could challenge assumptions about contacts between people in Sweden and the Romans. The graves in Stenungsund, around 45 kilometres north of Gothenburg, have been dated to between the years 1 and 300 AD. The remains of burned bones from two people were found, along with the pieces of ceramic. "There are pieces from four or five vessels in each grave, and we have never previously found so many in Sweden," said Bengt Nordqvist, who is leading the dig for the National Heritage Board (Riksantikvarieämbetet). "They were possibly made in northern Italy or France. Over in Europe this kind of discovery is normal, but in Sweden it is very unusual." "The discovery shows that contact between Sweden and the Roman Empire was possibly much greater than we used to believe." The excavations have been going on for around a month. They are being carried out because of plans to use the ground for football pitches."]

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* [http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=5450 The Local: Sweden's News in English - Graves Hint at Contact with Romans (8 Nov 06 19:18 CET)]