Difference between revisions of "Viking burials found in Scotland"
m (→Scotland, Orkney, Westness: Rousay) |
m (→Index by County) |
||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
|- style="vertical-align:top;" | |- style="vertical-align:top;" | ||
|style="width: 20%;"| | |style="width: 20%;"| | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | + | ===Mainland=== | |
− | + | *[[#Scotland, Caithness: Langhills]] | |
− | *[[# | + | *[[#Scotland, Caithness: Reay]] |
− | + | *[[#Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway: Ecclefechan, Torbeckhill]] | |
− | + | *[[#Scotland, Sutherland: Durness, Balnakeil]] | |
− | *[[# | + | |
− | *[[# | + | |
− | *[[# | + | |
− | + | ||
+ | |style="width: 20%;"| | ||
+ | ===Western Isles=== | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Argyll and Bute: Ardnamurchan]] | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Argyll: Loch Lomond, Boiden]] | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Colonsay: Kiloran Bay]] | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Islay: Ballinaby]] | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Oronsay: Carn a' Bharraich]] | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Highland, Eigg: Kildonnan]] | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Highland, Isle of Skye: Skeabost, Tote]] | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Outer Hebrides, Isle of Lewis: Uig, Cnip]] | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Sutherland, Dunrobin: Golspie]] | ||
|style="width: 20%;"| | |style="width: 20%;"| | ||
− | + | ===Northern Isles=== | |
− | *[[# | + | *[[#Scotland, Orkney, Mainland: Broch of Gurness]] |
− | + | *[[#Scotland, Orkney, Mainland: Buckquoy]] | |
− | + | *[[#Scotland, Orkney, Mainland: Stenness]] | |
− | *[[# | + | *[[#Scotland, Orkney, Mainland: from a neighbouring island]] |
− | + | *[[#Scotland, Orkney, Rousay: Westness]] | |
+ | *[[#Scotland, Orkney, Westray: Pierowall]] | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Orkney, Sanday: Scar]] | ||
+ | *[[#Scotland, Shetland, St. Ninian's Isle]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
Revision as of 16:19, 17 December 2016
This list of burials is currently a work in progress. More information will be added over time but it is hoped that even the meagre information supplied here will be of some use. Any list of Viking burials is going to be open to discussion. Many of these burials were discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries, long before modern archaeological practices came into use.
Our map of Viking Burials in Britain is derived from the following maps: [Bersu & Wilson 1966]:p.xii; [Wilson 1976:p.394]; [Graham-Campbell 1994]:p.p.134 & 153; [Graham-Campbell & Batey 1998]:p.115 & p.130; [Graham-Campbell 2001]:p.107; [Redknap 2000]:p.95; [Richards 2004]:p.191; [Redmond 2007]:p.70, p.77, p.87, p.93, p.107, p.117; [Harrison & Ó Floinn 2014]:p.225
We have recently discovered Angela Redmond's book, 'Viking Burial in the North of England' [Redmond 2007]. This gives a very good overview of of burials from the British Isles and is well worth acquiring if you are interested in this subject.
Status
The reliability of pagan graves varies. The 'Status' rating gives an indication of the current thinking relating to the finds reliability.
Accepted (A)
There is a good contemporary archaeological record of the find. Including a diagram of the grave and finds, etc.
Possible (P)
The contemporary archaeological record of the find is not as good but the grave goods would tend to indicate a pagan grave. The grave may be located in a mound or Church yard.
Discredited (D)
The argument in favour of this being a Viking grave has now been discredited although it has previously been published as such in the past. These are most probably just stray finds.
Index by County
List by Find Date
Scotland, Argyll and Bute: Ardnamurchan
Also known as Swordle Bay, Ardnamurchan
- Status-
- Type- Viking boat burial
- Find date- excavated in 2011
- Bodies-
- Dated to- Late 9th/early 10th century AD
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Male sketeton
- Axe with traces of wooden handle
- Sword of type K or P, bone / antler or ivory grip. Copper alloy and silver decoration on hilt fittings
- Spear. Iron type E.
- Shield boss.
- Knife
- Saucepan/ladle with a 1m long handle.
- Hammer head
- Tongs
- Ring Pin. Copper alloy.
- Wetstone. Norwegian schist.
- Drinking horn. Copper alloy rim with a possible iron base?
Scotland, Sutherland: Durness, Balnakeil
- Status-
- Type- Viking child burial (aged 8 to 13)
- Find date- 1991
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword, shield, spear, ringed pin, beads, strap end
Scotland, Orkney, Sanday: Scar
- Status-
- Type- Viking boat burial including a man, woman and child
- Find date- 1985
- Bodies-
- Dated to- AD 875-950
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- sword, comb, playing pieces, arrows with quiver remains, whale bone plaque, equal armed brooches, shears, cooking spit
Scotland, Outer Hebrides, Isle of Lewis: Uig, Cnip
Also known as Kneep
- Status-
- Type- Viking woman burial
- Find date- 1979
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- --
Scotland, Orkney, Mainland: Buckquoy
- Status- Accepted
- Type- in a late Norse building
- Find date- 1970
- Bodies- skeleton (Male)
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods Male
- Ringed-pin - copper-alloy. L:166mm
- Knife - iron. fragments of bone handle. L:120mm
- Whetstone - black shale. L:85mm
- Spearhead - iron, leaf shaped and socketed. L:87mm
- Mount - bone fragment with 2 iron rivets. L:45mm
Scotland, Orkney, Rousay: Westness
Graves 1968-1984
- Status- Accepted
- Type- Cemetery with 2 boat burials. 32 graves in total, 8 of which had grave goods.
- Find date- excavated between 1968 and 1984
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Kaland 1993 'The Settlement of Westness, Rousey. The Viking Age in Caithness, Orkney & the North Atlantic' - Not yet available to the authors
- Grave 11. Boat Burial Male
- Boat - 4 oar faering, clinker built oak vessel. L:5.5m
- Sword -
- Shield -
- Arrows -
- Spear -
- Axe -
- Sickle -
- Plough Shear -
- Whetstone -
- Strike-a-light -
- Grave 34. Boat Burial Male
- Boat - 4 oar faering, clinker built oak vessel. L:4.5m
- Sword -
- Sword - fragment of blade. Both parts may be from one sword.
- Shield -
- Arrows -
- Whetstone -
- Strike-a-light -
- Grave . Oval Grave Male
- Shield -
- Arrows -
- Sickle -
- Ringed-Pin -
- Comb -
- Gaming-pieces -
- Grave . Oval Grave Female
- Sickle -
- Comb -
- Pennanular Brooch -
- Spindle Whorl -
- Spindle Whorl -
- Grave 12. Male
- -
- Grave . Unknown
- -
- Grave . Unknown
- -
Grave 1963
- Status- Accepted
- Type-
- Find date- found in 1963
- Bodies- female skeleton with a full term infant
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Kaland 1993 'The Settlement of Westness, Rousey. The Viking Age in Caithness, Orkney & the North Atlantic' - Not yet available to the authors
- Grave goods Female
- Oval Brooch (Pair) -
- 40 beads
- Pennanular - silver, Irish.
- Mount - Insular.
- Strap-end -
- Strap-end -
- Comb - antler
- Sickle - iron
- Bowl - copper-alloy
- Weaving sword - iron
- shears - iron
- heckles -
Grave 1826 Sweindrow
- Status- Accepted
- Type-
- Find date- found in 1826
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave Goods Male
- Sword -
- Shield - possibly from the same grave?
Scotland, Shetland, St. Ninian's Isle
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- excavated in 1958
- Bodies- Viking babies
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Hoard of Pictish silver bowls, cups and jewellery found in a box. Dated to just prior to 800AD.[OLIVER 2012:p.187]
Scotland, Orkney, Mainland: Broch of Gurness
- Status-
- Type- Cemetery?
- Find date- excavated in 1932
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Comments- At least 6 graves [ROBERTSON 1969]
- Publications-
- Hedges 1987 - Not yet available to the authors
- More Grave Goods - Tower [Hedges 1987]
- Shield Boss -iron
- Shield Boss - iron
- More Grave Goods - Ditch [Hedges 1987]
- Linen Smoother - glass
- Folding balance - copper-alloy
- Bead (LOST) - jet
- Whetstone (LOST) -
- More Grave Goods - Ramparts [Hedges 1987]
- Ring-headed pin- copper-alloy
- Bead- amber
- More Grave Goods - West of Tower [Hedges 1987]
- 5 Finger rings- copper-alloy. Found on two skeletal hands.
- Grave 1932 Female
- Oval Brooches (Pair) - Type 51
- Necklace - of seashells (lobster shell fragments) [ROBERTSON 1969] or a string of amulets and pendants between them. One of the amulets was a Thors hammer.[REDMOND 2007]
- Sickle - iron
- Knife (Not survived) - iron with wooden handle.
- Pin - bone. Not mentioned by Robertson [ROBERTSON 1969]
Scotland, Highland, Isle of Skye: Skeabost, Tote
- Status-
- Type- Cairn containing a cremated? male
- Find date- excavated in 1922?
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods:
- Axe head and part of the wooden shaft -
- hone -
- copper alloy pin -
- ivory bead -
- Shield - possible shield fragments of iron and wood.
Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway: Ecclefechan, Torbeckhill
- Status- Possible
- Type- found in a mound by the River Mein
- Find date- found in 1913
- Bodies- None
- Dated to- c.900 [Redmond 2007]
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Publications-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword - [X.IL 340] Petersen type L (like Petersen p.116, fig.97a)
Scotland, Caithness: Reay
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- excavated in 1913 and 1926
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Edwards, Arthur J.H. & Bryce, Thomas H (1927) 'Excavation of Graves at Ackergill and of an Earth-house at Freswick Links, Caithness, and a Description of the Discovery of a Viking Grave at Reay, Caithness. With a Preliminary Note on the Skeletal Remains from the Various Graves.' (pp 196-209) (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.61
- found in 1928
- Strap-end - C7th
- Grave 1926 Male
- Axe
- Shield Boss
- Knife
- Sickle
- Buckle - Iron
- Ring-headed pin
- Whetstone
- Grave 1913 Female
- Oval Brooches (Pair) - not identical
- Ring-headed Pin - copper-alloy
- Buckle and plate
- Spindle whorl
- Horse Bit
- found near Grave 1913 Female
- Buckle - iron
- Tweezers - iron
Scotland, Orkney, Mainland: from a neighbouring island
Also known as 'Mainland: unprovenanced'
- Status- Accepted
- Type- mound
- Find date- excavated in 1902
- Bodies- Skeleton
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods Female
- Oval Brooch (Pair) - Type R654. Fragment of cloth, possibly linen. L:4", W:2½", Depth:1¼".
- Armlet - bone (or jet). Dia-inner: 2½", Thickness:½".
- Spindle-whorl - amber. Dia: 1", H:½".
- Pin - copper-alloy. fragment
Scotland, Orkney, Mainland: Stenness
- Status- Accepted
- Type- mound
- Find date- excavated in 1902
- Bodies- Skeleton
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods Female
- Ring-headed pin - copper-alloy. Length: original 6½" surviving 5¼"
Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Oronsay: Carn a' Bharraich
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- April 1891 and 1913
- Bodies- burials
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grieve, Symington (1924) 'Note upon Carn nan Bharraich, or Cairn of the Men of Barra, a Burial Mound of the Viking Time on the Island of Oronsay, Argyllshire, with an outline of the Political History of the Western Isles during the latter half of the Ninth Century'. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 48 (pp 272-91) (Available Online)
- Anderson, Joseph (1907) 'Notice of Bronze Brooches and Personal Ornaments from a Ship-burial of the Viking time in Oronsay, and other Bronze Ornaments from Colonsay. Presented to the National Musem by the Right Hon. Lord Strathcona and Mount-Royal, G.C.M.G. With Description, from Notes by the late William Galloway, of a ship-burial of the Viking time at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay' . Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 41 (pp 437-50) (Available Online)
- Grave goods:
- --
Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Colonsay: Kiloran Bay
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- excavated in 1882
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Anderson, Joseph (1907) 'Notice of Bronze Brooches and Personal Ornaments from a Ship-burial of the Viking time in Oronsay, and other Bronze Ornaments from Colonsay. Presented to the National Musem by the Right Hon. Lord Strathcona and Mount-Royal, G.C.M.G. With Description, from Notes by the late William Galloway, of a ship-burial of the Viking time at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay' . Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 41 (pp 437-50) (Available Online)
- Grave goods
- --
Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Argyll: Loch Lomond, Boiden
Also known as 'Lower Bridge of Froon, Boiden Mound
- Status-
- Type- found in a mound. Cremation?
- Find date- found in April 1851
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum- LOST
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword (LOST) -
- Shield boss (LOST) -
- Spear head (LOST) -
Scotland, Caithness: Langhills
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- 1840
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods Female
- Oval brooches (pair) -
Scotland, Sutherland, Dunrobin: Golspie
- Status- Possible
- Type-
- Find date-
- Bodies- a number of graves
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods Female
- Oval brooches (pair) -
- Grave goods Male
- Spear head -
- other finds
- Axe head -
- Ring - iron
Scotland, Highland, Eigg: Kildonnan
Grave 1 1830
- Status- Accepted
- Find date- excavated in 1830
- Bodies- Male
- Dated to- C9th
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Bibliography-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword - Petersen type D
- Baldric - copper-alloy. Fastener and thin plates possibly from a baldric
- Small anvil - copper-alloy. Or possible foot of bronze vessel
Grave 2 1875
- Status- Accepted
- Find date- excavated in 1875
- Bodies- Male
- Dated to- C9th
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Bibliography-
- Grave goods Male
- Axe
- Spearhead - only socket remains with part of the wooden shaft
- Knife - iron. L:21cm W:3.5cm. Remains of wooden handle and wooden sheath?
- Penannular brooch - copper-alloy
- Buckle
- Hone
- Cloth - black wool & a little black fur
- Sickle
- Amber bead - 2cm
- Amber bead - 4cm with large hole
- bead or spindle whorl - grey rock 2cm
Grave 3 1875
- Status- Accepted
- Find date- excavated in 1875
- Bodies- Male
- Dated to- c.875-925
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Bibliography-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword- 12 fragments
- Penannular brooch - copper-alloy
- Buckle and strap plate - copper-alloy
- 2 jet beads
- Hone - slate
Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Islay: Ballinaby
Grave 1772
- Status- Possible
- Find date- excavated in 1772
- Bodies- Male
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword - Petersen type H
Grave 1778
- Status- Possible
- Find date-
- Bodies- Female
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Anderson, Joeseph (1880) 'Notes on the Contents of two Viking Graves in Islay, Discovered by William Campbell, Esq., of Ballinaby; with Notices of the Burial Customs of the Norse Sea-Kings, as recorded in the Sagas and Illustrated by their Grave Mounds in Norway and in Scotland'.pp.51-89. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.14
- Grave goods Female
- Oval brooch (Pair)-
Grave 1878
- Status- Accepted
- Find date- excavated in August 1878.
- Bodies- Double burial? Male & Female
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Anderson, Joeseph (1880) 'Notes on the Contents of two Viking Graves in Islay, Discovered by William Campbell, Esq., of Ballinaby; with Notices of the Burial Customs of the Norse Sea-Kings, as recorded in the Sagas and Illustrated by their Grave Mounds in Norway and in Scotland'.pp.51-89. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.14
- Grave goods Male
- Sword - Peteren type B
- Axe 1 - Wheeler type III
- Axe 2 - Wheeler type III
- Spear - Petersen type , with a possible iron ferrule
- Shield boss - type , with a copper-alloy handle
- Drinking horn terminal (copper-alloy).
- Hammer (iron); forge tongs (iron); adze (iron); cauldron (iron)
- Grave goods Female
- 2 Oval broochs - Petersen type
- Pin (silver); Flat chain of four-stranded wire (silver)
- 12 beads
- possible fragment of a Drinking horn rim (copper-alloy)
- 4 round plates (copper-alloy); ladle (copper-alloy); glass linen smoother; Teeth from a heckle (iron); needle-case (copper-alloy);
Grave 1932
- Status- Accepted
- Find date- excavated in 1932
- Bodies- Male
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword - Petersen type Q
- Axe
- sheild
- knife
- ring-headed pin
- buckle
Scotland, Orkney, Westray: Pierowall
Grave 17 - 1863
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- July 1863
- Bodies- Human skeleton and Horse bones
- Dated to-
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Publications-
- Anderson, Joeseph (1880) 'Notes on the Contents of two Viking Graves in Islay, Discovered by William Campbell, Esq., of Ballinaby; with Notices of the Burial Customs of the Norse Sea-Kings, as recorded in the Sagas and Illustrated by their Grave Mounds in Norway and in Scotland'.pp.51-89. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.14 p.79
- Grave goods Male
- Buckle - iron
- Buckle - iron
- Rivets - iron, from a boat? near by were found bits of oak.
- fragment - iron
Grave 15 - 1849-1851
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- between 1849 and 1851
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Publications-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword -
- Spear head -
Donations in 1851
Presented to the museum in 1851 by Mr William Rendall.
- Bodies- male human skull
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Comments-
- Publications-
- Anderson, Joeseph (1874) 'Notes on the Relics of the Viking Period of the Northmen'.pp.536-94. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.10 p.552 (oval brooch, pennanular brooch), p.570 (shield boss), p.573 (spear), p.574 (axe)
- Anderson, Joeseph (1880) 'Notes on the Contents of two Viking Graves in Islay, Discovered by William Campbell, Esq., of Ballinaby; with Notices of the Burial Customs of the Norse Sea-Kings, as recorded in the Sagas and Illustrated by their Grave Mounds in Norway and in Scotland'.pp.51-89. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.14 p.87-88
- Items
- Oval brooch - type R.647
- Penannular brooch - copper-alloy - type R.697
- Shield boss - iron, type R.564
- Axe head - iron
- Spear head - iron
Notes taken at Graves found near the Sea-shore on a line running north and south. A group of 4 graves excavated and described by William Rendall in 1849. [Anderson 1880:p.85-87].
Grave 6 - 1849/a-1
Grave 7 - 1849/a-2
Grave 8 - 1849/a-3
Grave 9 - 1849/a-4
|
Graves found round a mound of Sand and Small Stones, at a considerable distance from the Sea, in a line running north-west from the former Sites of Graves. A group of 5 graves excavated and described by William Rendall in 1849. [Anderson 1880:p.85-87]. Now in the Batemann Collection.
Grave 10 - 1849/b-1
On the left side was found a sword measuring about four feet in length. A large sharpening stone was found in the grave, with a comb and several glass beads. Bits of iron and wood, attached probably to the remains of a shield, were also found." William Rendall, 18th Oct 1849 [Anderson 1880:p.86]
Grave 11 - 1849/b-2
Grave 12 - 1849/b-3
Grave 13 - 1849/b-4
Grave 14 - 1849/b-5
|
Grave 1 - 1939/1
Grave 2 - 1939/2
Grave 3 - 1939/3
Grave 4 - 1939/4
Grave 5 - 1939/5
|
References
- Pages with broken file links
- Found in Britain
- 1 Star
- Graham-Campbell & Batey 1998
- Harris, Cobb, Gray & Richardson 2011
- Low N.D.
- Redmond 2007
- Owen & Dalland 1999
- Welander, Batey & Cowie 1987
- Ritchie 1976
- Żabiński 2007
- Oliver 2012
- Robertson 1969
- Lethbridge 1920
- Curle 1914b
- Wheeler 1927
- Grieg 1940
- Curle 1914a
- Edwards & Bryce 1927
- Charleson 1904
- Charleson 1905
- Grieve 1924
- Curle 1924
- Anderson 1907
- McNeill 1891
- Stewart 1854
- Anderson 1874
- Macpherson 1878
- National Museum of Scotland
- Scran
- Anderson 1880
- Edwards 1934
- Crofton Crocker 1846
- Graham-Campbell 2004
- Bersu & Wilson 1966
- Graham-Campbell 1994
- Graham-Campbell 2001
- Harrison & Ó Floinn 2014
- Redknap 2000
- Richards 2004
- Burials
- Sites