Birgit Arrhenius

Birgit Arrhenius (née Klein, 25 August 1932 – 10 September 2023) was a Swedish archaeologist and professor emeritus at Stockholm University.

[3] She participated in the excavation and publication of finds from archaeological sites at Helgö and Björkö.

A 1983 paper suggested a reanalysis of the chronology of the graves found in Vendel,[4] and in 1992 she demonstrated through laser scanning that a dancing warrior on one of the Torslunda plates, cast bronze dies used to make helmet decorations, had had its eye sharply struck out in a possible invocation of the one-eyed Germanic god Odin.

[5] On 1 October 1991 Arrhenius was elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities,[1] and the following year she was awarded the Gösta Berg Medal, intended for those who have made "outstanding efforts" in the areas of cultural heritage, by the Royal Patriotic Society.

[9] A list of Arrhenius's publications through 1991 is contained in Holmqvist Olousson 1993; selected works appear below.

Black and white photograph showing one of the four Torslunda plates
One of the four Torslunda plates, showing a horned figure. His missing right eye, shown by Arrhenius to have been struck out, suggests that he is Odin .