Gropar i sten - Arkeologi och folklore kring estniska skålgropsstenar

Abstract

The country of Estonia holds over 1800 known cup-marked stones, but their origin is clouded in mystery and even more questions. There is no way to accurately date these ancient monuments as of today, but there are different patterns to explore connected to other archaeological monuments, geographical scatter and folklore. This thesis explores the difference between cup-marked stones and other sacred stones around Estonia, in which social climate the folklore surrounding them has emerged and how the country’s intense history of occupations and segregation has influenced the archaeological work. Additionally, this thesis will also examine through a cultural heritage angle which place cup-marked stones have in contemporary Estonian society.