Buried Viking woman covered her mouth with scallop shells –

Archaeologists have unearthed a 9th-century skeleton in Trøndelag, Norway, which was buried with two scallop shells on each side of its mouth.. This feature is unique in the Norwegian archaeological record. The only possible examples are scallop shell fragments found in seven or eight graves in western Norway more than a century ago. They are so small and scattered that they are probably a natural part of the sandy soil.

The grave is shallow, only 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) below the surface. It had been damaged in the 1960s or 1970s when a trench was dug for the foot of the tomb, but only the legs of the skeleton were harmed. The remainder of the skeleton has been preserved despite threats from increasingly acidic soil and ongoing agricultural work on private land.

The deceased was most likely a married woman of high status, as evidenced by the presence of a pair of large oval cup brooches in the tomb. They are used to secure the shoulder straps of women’s slip dresses. There is also a small ring brooch to close the gap in the petticoat.

Small bones from birds, most likely the remains of wings, were found around the skeleton. Archaeologists believe the bird’s wings may have been sewn onto clothing or blankets, leaving only the bones. Another possibility is that she was placed on a bed with feathered wings, but not attached to textiles. Bird wing remains have been found in an ancient tomb in Norway before, but they were found in a cremation tomb where the remains of 29 different bird species were found.

“The most striking thing is the placement of two scallops near the mouth of the deceased. This was never done in pre-Christian graves in Norway. We don’t yet know its symbolic meaning,” said [NTNU Science Museum senior engineer Raymond] Sauvage is also the project manager for the study.

The curved sides of the shells face outwards and the straight sides face upwards, so they partially cover the mouth.

Earlier this year, a second skeleton from the 8th or 9th century was discovered just 30 feet away from the Scallop Lady. Archaeologists will conduct DNA testing on both skeletons to see if they are related. Stable isotope analysis will reveal whether they came from the area or spent their childhood elsewhere.