In one grave lie 30 human skeletons. There are 20 more in two others. There are no marks on them to show that they were wounded when they died. But something dramatic must have happened. The researchers believe that they died at the same time. What has happened? That is what the researchers will now try to find out. In summary, 50 skeletons have been found in two mass graves on Trænaøyene, but no one knows who they were or how they died. The skeleton, which was discovered in 1937, has hardly been touched since then and has now been moved to the University of Tromsø for research. All age groups are represented among the skeletons The researchers will review all archaeological documentation, make new analyzes of gender and age, look for traces of illness or injury, and take DNA tests to reveal kinship. Objects have been found together with the skeleton, including a sword which is believed to have been made in France between 1250 and 1350. The researchers believe that the skeleton may be from the time around the Black Death and will investigate whether plague could be the cause of death. Untouched for ninety years, the Træna Islands lie furthest out to sea from the Helgeland coast in Nordland. There have been people here for a long time. Researchers have also found bone remains there that are 10,000 years old. But at some point, perhaps the entire local community was exterminated. – It is a special material that has untapped potential for research, says Katharina Lorvik, who is an archaeologist at the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU). She works with the analysis of skeletons, and is now starting a research project where she will try to find out more about the remains found at Træna. In one of the graves, the skeletons lie systematically next to each other. Archaeologist Lorvik believes that suggests that they were buried within a short period of time. Photo: The National Library There are three mass graves on the island of Sanna. In total, 50 skeletons have been found. The graves were discovered by the local population by chance, and later excavated by the archaeologist and ethnologist Gutorm Gjessing in 1937. In one grave, in Kirkhelleren, 30 skeletons were found. In addition, he found two other mass graves near the water’s edge with a total of around 30 more skeletons. But 10 of these were lost during transport at sea. Trænafestivalen has a concert in Kirkhellaren on the island of Sanna every year. Sivert Høyem and Ingrid Olava play here in 2009. Photo: Tore Meek / SCANPIX But since then the skeleton has hardly been touched. Apart from a few tests in the 80s, they have a doctor at the University of Oslo. Now they have moved to the University of Tromsø. – In recent years, we have had completely new methods of looking at kinship and social relations, dating and diet, for example. Marianne Skandfer, professor of archeology at Norway’s Arctic Museum, says it is very important for research that information about how the skeleton was laid is also well taken care of. Photo: The National Library This is according to Marianne Skandfer, professor of archeology at Norway’s Arctic Museum. – If this material had not been taken care of in the way we have done, it would not have been possible to conduct research. The project at Træna has been waiting for the skeleton to return to them. Now this is the first project that has the opportunity to research the material. – Now we can try to tell a story about these individuals and place them in a historical and cultural context, says Lorvik. Lie with your head the same way There are several strange things about the graves. All the 30 skeletons that were found in Kirkhellaren lie in the same road, with the head towards the opening of the cave. In one of the graves by the water’s edge, the dead lie systematically next to each other. In another, they appear to have been stacked randomly on top of each other. It was the Norwegian archaeologist Gutorm Gjessing who found the skeletons at Træna and excavated them between 1937 and 1939. Photo: Billedbladet Nå / Riksarkivet And there are several mysterious things about the graves, according to Lorvik. – It is special that all age groups are represented. Everything from infants to old people, she says. It may therefore appear to be a cross-section of the population. In the past, human bones have been stored at the archaeological department in Oslo, and animal bones have been stored in Bergen. It is only in recent years that the departments in other parts of the country have regained the legs that belong to their area. Photo: The National Library In Kirkhellaren, the remains of two grown men have been found together with a child under one year old. – Beside the one man there was a long sword which was probably made sometime between 1250 and 1350. In addition to that, several other items were found with the remains, including a bear tooth pendant. The skeleton does not appear to be damaged, but the researchers have found abrasion damage in the back of some of them. Some of the children had acid damage to their teeth. Why do you think 50 people died on Træna I think it must have been the Black Death I think they were struck by another disease I think they were killed in a way the researchers didn’t think of Show result Maybe the Black Death wiped out the population In the research project the researchers will go through everything that exists of archaeological documentation. Hopefully they will say something about when and how the people were buried. – We will carry out new analyzes of gender and age, and we will see if there are traces of disease or damage to the skeleton, says Lorvik. In addition, they will see if there is any connection between the two locations, and do a DNA analysis of the skeleton to see what kind of relationship they have. About 500 people live in Træna municipality. The house foundations at Sanna are the remains of some of the oldest houses that have been found in Norway. The oldest settlements were 10,000 years ago. Photo: House by the Sea According to the researcher, it is likely that the mass graves date from the Middle Ages. – We think they are from the time around the Black Death. – We investigate whether there is a resident population with an acute situation of illness and death. It may be that most of the population perished from it. It will therefore be important for researchers to investigate whether they can prove whether plague is the cause of death. Træna is a popular tourist destination. The municipality has more than 418 islands, islets and reefs. The permanent settlement is limited to the islands of Husøy, Selvær, Sanna and Sandøy. About 500 people live in the municipality. Photo: Billy Jacobsen – It is our roots that are now being uncovered, says mayor Trond Vegard Sletten on Træna. He has also eagerly followed the excavations of the finds 10,000 years ago last year. – It is of course very exciting considering the history of Træna. It is interesting to know that there have been people here for so long, and what life has been like. Archaeologist Katharina Lorvik believes the findings could become a unique source of knowledge about the people who lived in northern Norway a long time ago. In addition, it can contribute with historical data on how disease is spread in the population. She thinks we can also benefit from that today. – How does it feel to try to solve this mystery now? – It’s exciting, but also a little awe-inspiring. One must bear in mind that they are actually the remains of a person who has lived a life. – But will we get the answer to what happened to them? – Yes, I think so. We will get some answers if the skeleton is as well preserved as we think.
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Mysterious mass graves at Sanna by Kirkhelleren on Træna – to be re-examined after 90 years – news Nordland
