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Viking Age woman was buried with her dog in an elaborate 'boat grave,' excavations reveal
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Archaeologists have unearthed what they think are the remains of a Viking Age woman buried with her dog in the far north of Norway. The remains were found late last month in a well-preserved "boat grave" near the village of Sand on the island of Senja, which lies on the Arctic Circle, at a site first recorded by metal detectorists in 2023. The archaeologists don't yet know whether ancient DNA or sex-determined proteins can be extracted from the remains. But they suspect it was the grave of a Viking Age woman because it also contained two distinctive brooches, oval in shape and trimmed with silver wire, that have never been found in graves of Viking Age men. The style of the brooches indicates the grave dates to between 900 and 950, during the heart of the Viking Age. The researchers don't yet know how old the woman was when she died. A small dog was placed in the grave at the woman's feet, perhaps indicating the strength of the bond between them. Anja Roth Niemi, an archaeologist at the UiT The Arctic University of Norway who led the latest excavations, told Live Science that graves from this time throughout Europe often held the remains of dogs and horses. But while horse skeletons were often found in parts, suggesting the animals were sacrifices, dogs were usually buried whole. "This suggests that dogs and humans had a close and cherished relationship, even over 1000 years ago," she said in an email. Related: 7 myths about the Vikings that are (almost) totally false The researchers were surprised to find that the woman had been buried in a "boat grave" consisting of a "sewn boat" almost 18 feet (5.4 meters) long — the first such grave ever found on Senja. In these primitive "sewn boats," the wooden planks of the hull were fixed with something other than iron nails, such as wooden plugs, plant fibers or animal sinew. The boat has now rotted away, and only its shape can be seen. "So-called 'sewn boats' were, until a few years ago, very rare in northern Norway," Niemi said. "However, in recent decades, several such vessels have been found in Iron Age graves in the region." It's thus possible they were fairly common in the area, she added. Two similar boat graves had recently been excavated on the Norwegian island of Hillesøy, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Senja, she said. One of those burials was of a man, and the other was of a woman; both had lived a few generations before the woman in the Senja boat grave. The elaborate burial at Senja and rich grave goods indicate the woman had belonged to the social elite. "We believe the woman buried here held significant status locally, and perhaps even across the region," Niemi said. Image 1 of 3 A small dog was placed in the boat-grave at the woman's feet, perhaps indicating a strong bond between the woman and her pet. Image 2 of 3 The Viking Age grave was found in 2023 by metal detectorists on the island of Senja in the far north of Norway. Image 3 of 3 The researchers returned to the site late last month to excavate the Viking Age grave ahead of construction work near the site. The body of the woman was placed in the middle of the boat, with her head facing north, and the dog's body was placed near the woman's feet, Niemi said. The grave goods included the two brooches; an iron sickle; a slate "whetstone" for sharpening knives; a metal ring with bronze beads, which may have been for tying back hair; two disk-shaped beads, possibly made from amber; a spindle whorl; and what may have been a "sword" or batten used for weaving made from whalebone. Niemi said the sickle and whetstone suggest arming and harvesting, while the spindle and batten suggest spinning and weaving; tools for making textiles were often found in women's graves in Norway and often indicated that the buried individual held high status. RELATED STORIES —'If it was a man, we would say that's a warrior's grave': Weapon-filled burials are shaking up what we know about women's role in Viking society —1,000-year-old Viking Age hoard has a pendant that may be a cross or Thor's hammer —Hårby Valkyrie: A 1,200-year-old gold Viking Age woman sporting a sword, shield and ponytail It would have been important for the mistress of a house to ensure that high-quality textiles were produced. "Textiles were needed for clothing, blankets, and much more, but also for producing sails for boats and ships," she said. In addition, the mistress of a house also would have been expected to create fine clothes and elaborate tapestries that could be displayed during feasts and other visits, emphasizing the hosts' status, Niemi added.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Science
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Scientists issue urgent warning as Arctic data reveals alarming trends: 'Overwhelming amount of change happening'
According to experts, worrying developments in the Arctic are being compounded by current domestic and geopolitical events. Arctic sea ice levels are at record lows, and some areas will soon be ice-free entirely in the summer months. The Arctic is in terminal decline, and the loss of sea ice and thawing permafrost will have global consequences. Permafrost acts like a giant freezer for organic matter, including dead plants and animals. When it thaws, it releases harmful greenhouse gases instead of trapping them. The loss of sea ice is a death knell for the Arctic's wildlife and the 400,000 Indigenous people who call the Arctic home. Current events will make monitoring and mitigating this terminal decline far more difficult. The United States' position as a global leader in environmental science has been facing governmental cuts on the heels of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which monitors conditions in the Arctic, has been ordered to cut 10% of its workforce. Russia has almost half of the Arctic's landmass, but because of the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia is currently a pariah state in the global community. This diplomatic isolation means that vital Arctic research is essentially on pause until hostilities cease. As Kim Holmén, a climate and environment scientist at UiT the Arctic University of Norway, told Scientific American: "The lack of Russian data is a great loss for humankind and our ability to discover change and, in extension, build knowledge that allows robust prediction of future change." Twila Moon, deputy lead scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, describes the Arctic as "our planetary air conditioning system." The Arctic's sea ice acts as a mirror, reflecting the sun's energy away from the Earth. Without it, more energy is absorbed by the world's oceans, making climate conditions much worse. "There's just an overwhelming amount of change happening in the Arctic right now," Moon told CNN. One of the last bastions of Arctic sea ice will be an area covering parts of Greenland and Canada. The "Last Ice Area" will be the final refuge for several Arctic species, such as polar bears and walruses. Once it goes, scientists say, so will they. The long-term solution is to curb harmful pollution and replace fossil fuels with clean renewable energy. A bilateral agreement between Canada and Denmark (which oversees Greenland's foreign policy) to protect the Arctic would be another good step forward. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Understanding the problem is key to solving it, and though current conditions may make that difficult, there's still plenty that can be done at the local level. Additionally, contacting your local representative about the cuts to research can lead to positive change. There are some useful online tools to help with this. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
