Borderland-stalkers and stalking-horses: Horse sacrifice as liminal activity in the early iron age

Abstract

This paper investigates the fact that many Early Iron Age wetland sacrifices were deliberately placed in liminal zones. The sacrifice of horses as well as the manipulation of their heads, hoofs and tails turned them into liminal creatures. In this way they imitated the liminal creature, in particular the Miögarö Serpent that bites its tail in the ocean surrounding the world, and the horses also became guards against dangerous powers from outside Miôgardr. The attention to tongues can also be seen on the bracteates that may have served as amulets, reminding their users of the creatures guarding the borderlands.