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From handle to head : Öremölla and the oldest male depiction in the Scanian Iron Age

Larsson, Lars LU orcid and Ekengren, Fredrik LU orcid (2026) In Lund Studies in Historical Archaeology 23. p.161-166
Abstract
Since its discovery in 1872, the grave at Öremölla in southern Scania, containing a cremated male with a Roman cauldron and other drinking utensils, has been considered one of the richest graves in Scania from the Roman Iron Age. The cauldron is particularly noteworthy, since it has been modified in an intricate way; the original handle has been removed and replaced with ring handles, and the handle attachments fitted with male face masks in local style. In the 1940s, an original suspension loop from a Roman bronze cauldron of the same type was discovered in a nearby gravel pit. Some years ago, the authors brought this suspension loop to Stockholm, where the Öremölla find is currently stored. Remarkably, it fitted perfectly onto the rim of... (More)
Since its discovery in 1872, the grave at Öremölla in southern Scania, containing a cremated male with a Roman cauldron and other drinking utensils, has been considered one of the richest graves in Scania from the Roman Iron Age. The cauldron is particularly noteworthy, since it has been modified in an intricate way; the original handle has been removed and replaced with ring handles, and the handle attachments fitted with male face masks in local style. In the 1940s, an original suspension loop from a Roman bronze cauldron of the same type was discovered in a nearby gravel pit. Some years ago, the authors brought this suspension loop to Stockholm, where the Öremölla find is currently stored. Remarkably, it fitted perfectly onto the rim of the cauldron. The aim of this contribution is to introduce and re-analyse the find, particularly the cauldron, and place it in a wider context. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Öremölla, brandgrav, romersk import, germanska ansiktsmasker, Öremölla, Cremation grave, Roman imports, Germanic face masks
host publication
Skärvor ur det förflutna : en vänbok till Mats Roslund - en vänbok till Mats Roslund
series title
Lund Studies in Historical Archaeology
editor
Hansson, Martin ; Ahlström, Torbjörn ; Bergqvist Rydén, Johanna ; Carelli, Peter ; Gustin, Ingrid ; Håkansson, Anders and Monié Nordin, Jonas
volume
23
pages
161 - 166
publisher
Institutionen för arkeologi och antikens historia, Lunds universitet
ISSN
1653-1183
ISBN
9789190055540
9789190055533
project
Öremölla – A Roman Iron Age High-Status grave from Scania
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
128c0687-da10-4b8c-8ed1-079198343186
date added to LUP
2026-04-25 13:24:45
date last changed
2026-04-30 13:04:20
@inbook{128c0687-da10-4b8c-8ed1-079198343186,
  abstract     = {{Since its discovery in 1872, the grave at Öremölla in southern Scania, containing a cremated male with a Roman cauldron and other drinking utensils, has been considered one of the richest graves in Scania from the Roman Iron Age. The cauldron is particularly noteworthy, since it has been modified in an intricate way; the original handle has been removed and replaced with ring handles, and the handle attachments fitted with male face masks in local style. In the 1940s, an original suspension loop from a Roman bronze cauldron of the same type was discovered in a nearby gravel pit. Some years ago, the authors brought this suspension loop to Stockholm, where the Öremölla find is currently stored. Remarkably, it fitted perfectly onto the rim of the cauldron. The aim of this contribution is to introduce and re-analyse the find, particularly the cauldron, and place it in a wider context.}},
  author       = {{Larsson, Lars and Ekengren, Fredrik}},
  booktitle    = {{Skärvor ur det förflutna : en vänbok till Mats Roslund}},
  editor       = {{Hansson, Martin and Ahlström, Torbjörn and Bergqvist Rydén, Johanna and Carelli, Peter and Gustin, Ingrid and Håkansson, Anders and Monié Nordin, Jonas}},
  isbn         = {{9789190055540}},
  issn         = {{1653-1183}},
  keywords     = {{Öremölla; brandgrav; romersk import; germanska ansiktsmasker; Öremölla; Cremation grave; Roman imports; Germanic face masks}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{161--166}},
  publisher    = {{Institutionen för arkeologi och antikens historia, Lunds universitet}},
  series       = {{Lund Studies in Historical Archaeology}},
  title        = {{From handle to head : Öremölla and the oldest male depiction in the Scanian Iron Age}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/248858169/larsson_ekengren_2026_s161-166.pdf}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}