Tools of Their Trades?

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Objects in the tombs enable archaeologists to speculate as to the deceased’s likely profession. A warrior was buried with his iron weapons, including a sword, knife, ax, spear and several arrowheads. Two figurines of soldiers mounted on horses in one tomb suggest that a cavalry officer was buried there. A jeweler or goldsmith was laid to rest with his bronze scale pans and numerous pieces of fine jewelry, including colorful beads, precious stones, and silver earrings or pendants. A silver ring was also found in the tomb. More puzzling are the clay figurines of drummers and flautists—were the deceased musicians, or do these represent a cultic performance for the dead?