Mysterious Viking Woman and Her Loyal Dog Unearthed in Norway’s Ancient Boat Grave After 1,100 Years
“There are stories of prominent people doing everything in their power when their dog became ill. So even back then, people had deep bonds with their animals,” Niemi said.
Alongside the bodies, the archaeologists also uncovered other objects often associated with high-status burials, including two beads made of either bone or amber and a pendant in the shape of a ring. There was also a whale bone object that might have been a textile tool known as a weaving sword.
Ida Fløystad Brevig/The Arctic University Museum of NorwayOne of the oval brooches uncovered in the grave.
“It’s poorly preserved and was removed along with a lot of surrounding soil, so we need to examine it further before we can be certain,” Niemi said. “But so far, that’s the most likely explanation.”
Now, researchers hope to put the skeletal remains through further analysis to determine the age and health of the woman and possibly even the type of dog she owned.
The Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiTArchaeologists believe there may be another grave nearby.
“The skeletal material can provide a wealth of information about the individual, but also about the society she lived in,” Niemi said. “We’ll learn about the kind of work she did, whether she went through periods of poor nutrition, and whether she lived in different places during childhood and adulthood.”
Niemi added that there is some evidence to suggest more graves could be lying undisturbed nearby. She said the team is eager to explore more of the site to find what secrets may be lurking just beneath the surface.
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