Mysterious Viking Woman and Her Loyal Dog Unearthed in Norway’s Ancient Boat Grave After 1,100 Years
A Viking Boat Burial On Senja Island
The Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiTThe site of the Viking boat grave on Senja Island.
Two years ago, metal detectorists were exploring Senja Island when they discovered a pair of bronze, bowl-shaped brooches and exposed rib bones beneath a thin layer of topsoil. That discovery prompted local archaeologists to carry out a full excavation of the area last month.
The archaeological dig led to the discovery of the boat grave, the elite Viking woman’s body, and the skeleton of a small dog that was likely her pet.
“The dog appears to have been placed with great care,” archaeologist Anja Roth Niemi told Science Norway. “While dogs in graves aren’t unheard of, their presence is still relatively rare. This one adds a deeply personal touch to the burial.”
The Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiTThe skeleton of the Viking dog buried alongside the woman.
The boat itself measured around 18 feet in length. According to Niemi, this sort of grave is indicative of a person of high status in Viking society, as “only the elite would receive a burial like this.”
“We believe the woman buried here held significant status locally, and perhaps even across the region,” Niemi added. “She wasn’t at the very top of the social ladder, but she was clearly an important figure.”
The Grave Goods Buried With The Elite Viking Woman
The Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiTThe skeleton likely belonged to an elite member of Viking society.
Viking literature also makes note of the deep bond between Vikings and their dogs, so a dog being buried alongside the woman is unsurprising, if somewhat rare.
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