18th December 2005, 11:22 PM
I agree on the 'danger' of jumping to conclusions. But if it is taken as true that the 'warrior' class of, for example, the Anglo-Saxons were 'high-status', then it would stand to reason that they (the warriors) would be jealous of that status and would, therefore, be reluctant to bestow it upon anyone without good reason. Using the sword, shield and spear as grave goods speaks, in my opinion, loudly that the person in the grave must have earned the right, in the eyes of those who placed them there, to carry those weapons.