Viking ship burying woman with dog found under her feet

A ship grave excavated on the island of Senja in northern Norway, containing the remains of a Viking woman with her dog at her feet. In addition to the eternal loyal companion, the woman buried several high status objects, including brooch, bone or amber beads and a hoop pendant.

The funeral was discovered two years ago by metal detectors who found two bronze bowl brooches, and several ribs buried only 20 cm (7.9 inches) under the soil surface. The brooch design sets the date of the grave from 900-950 AD, which is the Viking era, when bowl broochs like this were worn as fasteners.

The discovery is on private property, and archaeologists at the Norwegian Arctic University Museum were able to ensure approval for a thorough excavation only when landowners began to expand their garage expansion. Under that thin layer of topsoil, they unearthed a skeletal remains of Viking women buried on a 5.4-meter (17.7-foot) boat. The dog at her feet carefully placed a precious pet instead of a sacrifice. The wood has broken down and only the dark imprints on the ship remain on the beach, but the imprints identify it as a sewn ship, meaning a ship that is not riveted together but is secured with another material.

A slender object appears to be made of whales, probably a weaving sword – a textile tool.

“It’s not well preserved and is removed with a lot of surrounding soil, so we need to check it further before we can determine it,” Niemi said.

“But so far, this is the most likely explanation.”

They also found something that might be the spindle spiral. According to NIEMI, overseeing the production of textiles has traditionally been part of the responsibility that the family wife bears.

The woman was also buried by grindstone made of snow stone and iron sickle, both of which are related to agriculture.

The larger bones of women’s bones are in good condition because bronze is antibacterial, as are ribs in contact with brooch. An analysis of the bones will confirm that the deceased is a female and answer other questions about her age, health, the work she does and any harm she may suffer. A stable isotope analysis will reveal whether she spent her childhood in the area or came there from elsewhere.