To Dwell in the Centre of the Vorld

On the Life-History of a Gallery Grave in Småland, SE Sweden

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to integrate a long-term cultural biographical perspective with a short-term social biographical perspective. To elucidate the long-term perspective a gallery grave in Telestad, Småland, SE Sweden, is studied from the Middle Neolithic to the Late Iron Age. The short-term perspective is elaborated through a discussion of two Late Neolithic bracelets that were found in the grave. Through the integration of the long-term archaeology of place and the short-term archaeology of artefacts, we present a dynamic picture that shows consideration for both space-bound activities as well as societal action in a wider space. Different spatial and temporal levels are thus integrated in a pluralistic spatial-temporal perspective.