1,200-year-old Viking cemetery with ‘stone boat’ burials discovered in Sweden

While digging for an ancient settlement in southern Sweden, archaeologists made a completely unexpected discovery: a huge Viking Age cemetery with more than 100 graves and several ship-shaped burial mounds.

From the start of the excavations, “we realized that there was a large Viking cemetery that we had to focus on,” explains the project leader. Petra Nordinarchaeologist at the National Historical Museums of Sweden, said in a statement. “We’ve only searched six percent of the cemetery.”

The cemetery was initially discovered in 2017 in the village of Tvååker in southwest Sweden, ahead of a planned road construction. Although Tvååker is mentioned in historical sagas, the aerial remains of this particular cemetery were lost until recently.

“The problem is that the land was plowed and leveled to create pastures,” Nordin said, “so all levels of occupation, surface remains and burials were torn to pieces.”

During excavations conducted from 2017 to 2019, archaeologists located the remains of 139 tombs, many of which included human and animal bones, metal accessories and ceramic vessels, in addition to large stones strategically placed around several shaped tombs. boat. .

One grave was particularly well laid out, according to Nordin. “In the tomb were 17 vessels, human and animal bones, as well as woven weights and iron arrowheads,” she said. “We interpreted the square pit as a construction to create good air circulation for an above-ground (cremation) pyre.”

Picture 1 of 2

A carved gold buckle clasp — A golden buckle clasp that archaeologists found in the Viking Age cemetery. (Image credit: The Archaeologists, National Historical Museums, Sweden; CC BY)

In this common funeral ritual from the Viking Age (793 to 1066 AD), the body would have been burned on a funeral pyre. Then animals such as cows and pigs were placed on top as food sacrifices and the tomb was closed. A ring of large stones in the shape of a ship’s silhouette – known as a stone ship – may also have been erected around the tomb.

Archaeologists also discovered a fragment of an Arabian silver coin, dated between 795 and 806, giving a general date for the burial site. A full report of the cemetery excavations carried out to date was published in 2023.

However, the settlement associated with the cemetery has not yet been found.

“Is the village located at the mouth of the Tvååker river or near the cemetery? We don’t know,” Nordin said. “But it’s exciting to see what will emerge in the future.”

Mondor Festival

Mondor Festival

1,200-year-old Viking cemetery with ‘stone boat’ burials discovered in Sweden

Pabio

Sexism: “Find it eh hässlich, Arschloch”

Practicing forgiveness with the novel “The Sun and Its Flowers”

When will it feel like fall?

Georgian Regierungschef “liberal Faschismus auslöschen”

1,200-year-old Viking cemetery with ‘stone boat’ burials discovered in Sweden

Pabio

You Might Also Like

Sexism: “Find it eh hässlich, Arschloch”

Practicing forgiveness with the novel “The Sun and Its Flowers”

When will it feel like fall?

Georgian Regierungschef “liberal Faschismus auslöschen”