This thesis focuses on a large warrior grave (nr 6) found in a Merovingian cemetery in Uden, North-Brabant. In 2014 this cemetery was discovered when a road was constructed. An archaeological...Show moreThis thesis focuses on a large warrior grave (nr 6) found in a Merovingian cemetery in Uden, North-Brabant. In 2014 this cemetery was discovered when a road was constructed. An archaeological excavation was carried out by Archol bv in cooperation with Leiden University. Besides 26 inhumation graves, the excavation also uncovered a settlement dating from the Merovingian period to the central Middle Ages. This makes the site of Uden-Schepersweg special as it is one of the few Merovingian cemeteries studied in relation to a settlement. Several graves were lifted en bloc and brought to the Restaura restauration laboratory in Haelen (NL). The X-ray photographs made there revealed the true nature of the finds. Grave 6 stood out as it contained a sword, a seax , a lance, two glass vessels, pottery, silver inlaid mounts of a belt but above all a large set of elaborately silver inlaid iron mounts of horse gear. The thesis is based on the research question what the meaning is of grave 6 in the context of the cemetery and in a supra-regional context. After discussing the development of Uden and the surrounding area, the Schepersweg site and previous research there, the thesis continues to discuss the Merovingian period (450-750 AD) and its burial rituals. Next, the thesis describes the contents of grave 6 in detail and compares them with other graves selected on the presence of similar horse gear mounts from Oexle’s Studien zu merowingerzeitlichem Pferdegeschirr am Beispiel der Trensen and Van Es’ and Hulst’s publication on the cemetery of Lent (Netherlands). The following chapters present the date and interpretation for grave 6. They also discuss whether the grave can be seen as a founders’ grave and what the meaning of the grave is both in the context of the cemetery and in a supra-regional context. Grave 6 is one out of a small number of graves spread over Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands that contain horse gear with silver inlay decorations in the geometric style. The horse gear causes grave 6 to be dated to the (early) seventh century, although it includes a few objects that are much older. The grave is part of the second phase of the cemetery, making it different from a traditional founders’ grave. Because it meets all other requirements it is still regarded a founders’ grave. One reason is that there may not be a continuity of burial on the site after the first phase of (two) burials in the middle or third quarter of the sixth century. The presence of a second round of founders’ graves in a cemetery could have different meanings. For example, maybe a new community settled here and reused an older cemetery.Show less
