Beyond the Binary? A Multi-Method Approach to Sexing Children at the Viking Age Site of Ihre, Gotland

Abstract

The assessment of sex is fundamental in osteoarcheological analysis, yet traditional morphological methods are less reliable for children due to the incomplete development of sexually dimorphic traits. This study applies a multi-method approach—integrating morphological, metric, and genetic data—to assess sex and, through analysis of burial assemblages, explore gender expression as an interpretative complement. While analytically distinct, gender and sex are deeply intertwined, and considering both can offer a fuller understanding of identity. The study focuses on the Viking Age (c. 750–1050 ce) burial site of Ihre, Gotland, with particular attention to individuals under 20. Results reveal strong alignment between metric and genetic sex. Mandibular odontometric analysis proved more consistent than traditional morphological traits when compared to genetic sex, offering an accessible and effective supplement for sex estimation in children. In adolescents, pelvic traits were most informative, while cranial traits showed limited reliability. Genetic sexing provided a critical reference, highlighting misclassifications in morphological assessments, particularly among genetic males. Burial assemblage analysis indicates that gender expression often corresponded with biological sex but varied with age. Female graves typically included dress items such as brooches and pendants, especially after adolescence, while male graves more frequently featured tools and weapons. These patterns suggest that gendered roles and identities were materially expressed and changed over the life course. The findings underscore the importance of a multi-method approach in sex estimation, particularly for children, and demonstrate the value of contextual archeological analysis in interpreting past identities. At Ihre, the interplay between sex, gender, and social identity in mortuary practices suggests a framework that, while broadly organized around binary distinctions, was shaped by age and culturally specific factors—highlighting identity as dynamic, layered, and context-dependent.