Difference between revisions of "Viking burials found in Scotland"

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===Scotland, Orkney, Sanday: Scar===
 
===Scotland, Orkney, Sanday: Scar===
 
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<hr>
:Status-  
+
:Status- {{Accepted}}
 
:Type- Viking boat burial including a man, woman and child  
 
:Type- Viking boat burial including a man, woman and child  
 
:Find date- 1985
 
:Find date- 1985
:Bodies-   
+
:Bodies-  3 skeletons. Male, Female and a 10 year old child
 
:Dated to- AD 875-950
 
:Dated to- AD 875-950
 
:Museum-
 
:Museum-
 
:Publications-  
 
:Publications-  
:*{{ListRef|Owen & Dalland 1999}}
 
 
:*{{ListRef|Graham-Campbell & Batey 1998|p.138-140}}
 
:*{{ListRef|Graham-Campbell & Batey 1998|p.138-140}}
:'''Grave goods'''  
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:*{{ListRef|Owen & Dalland 1999}}
:*''sword, comb, playing pieces, arrows with quiver remains, whale bone plaque, equal armed brooches, shears, cooking spit''
+
:*{{ListRef|Redmond 2007|p.78}}
 +
:'''{{Male|Grave goods}}'''  
 +
:*''sword with scabbard''
 +
:*''arrows with quiver remains''
 +
:*''playing pieces'' - whale
 +
:*''weights'' - lead
 +
:'''{{Female|Grave goods}}'''
 +
:*''equal armed brooch''
 +
:*''whale bone plaque''
 +
:*''comb''
 +
:*''shears''
 +
:*''sickle''
 +
:*''spindle whorl'' - steatite
 +
:*''spindle whorl'' - sandstone
 +
:*''cooking spit''
 +
:'''{{Unknown|Child Grave goods}}'''  
 
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Revision as of 18:15, 17 December 2016

Viking burials found in Scotland
Burial map.jpg

Viking Age burials

Found in Britain


Burial map.jpg

Viking Age burials
More Found in Britain pages

Completion Rating
This article's completion rating is 1 out of 5. Article planned for future work. No real progress to date.
Completion Rating
This article's completion rating is 1 out of 5. Article planned for future work. No real progress to date.
Viking Age Compendium articles on Burials in Britain:
VA Burials in Scotland.JPG
Burials found in Scotland
Viking Age Compendium articles on Burials in Britain:
VA Burials in Scotland.JPG
Burials found in Scotland


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

Mainland

The Islands

Northern Isles

Mainland

Scotland, Caithness: Langhills


Status-
Type-
Find date- 1840
Bodies-
Dated to-
Museum-
Publications-
 Grave goods Female  
  • Oval brooches (pair) -

Scotland, Caithness: Reay


Status-
Type-
Find date- excavated in 1913 and 1926
Bodies-
Dated to-
Museum-
Publications-
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, 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, 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

The Islands

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, 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, Argyll and Bute, Colonsay: Kiloran Bay


Status-
Type-
Find date- excavated in 1882
Bodies-
Dated to-
Museum-
Publications-
Grave goods
  • --

Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Islay: Ballinaby



Grave 1772

Status-  Possible  
Find date- excavated in 1772
Bodies- Male
Dated to- ?
Museum-
 Grave goods Male  

Grave 1778

Status-  Possible  
Find date-
Bodies- Female
Dated to- ?
Museum-
Publications-
 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-
 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, Argyll and Bute, Oronsay: Carn a' Bharraich


Status-
Type-
Find date- April 1891 and 1913
Bodies- burials
Dated to-
Museum-
Publications-
Grave goods:
  • --

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, 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, 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, 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

Northern Isles

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-
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, 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, 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, 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, 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-
 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-
 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, 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-
 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-
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
Group: Rendall 1849 "near the Sea-shore"

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].

Status-  Accepted  
Type-
Find date- before 1849
Dated to-
Museum- LOST
Publications-

Grave 6 - 1849/a-1

Bodies- half a skull
Quote- "No. 1. The grave had been previously disturbed. Found so much of skeleton as to show that the body was lying north and south, rather inclining to the right side, with the face toward the sea. Only half of the skull was found, and, from its appearance, may have been cleft before being buried. Found a small iron hatchet lying before the body ; also several small pieces of iron were found round the grave, plainly showing that there had been armour * attached to the person buried. Half of a helmet was also found." William Rendall, 18th Oct 1849 [Anderson 1880:p.85]
 Grave goods Male  
  • Axe -
  • Shield boss -
  • Fragments - iron

Grave 7 - 1849/a-2

Bodies- part of a human skeleton, a horse skeleton and part of a dog skeleton
Quote- "No. 2. Found a grave containing part of a human skeleton, with that of a horse. The horse was laid on its belly, with its head towards the sea, and directed northeast, with its hinder part towards the south-west. The horse's head was resting on the nose, and quite entire, of rather a small size. After removing it a piece of iron was found between its jaws, plainly showing that it had been a bit, with one of the rings for the bridle. Found immediately before the horse's head part of a human skeleton lying with the feet toward the north No head could be found. The thigh bones were crossed. Found much remains of iron rust, with a small piece of iron, either a spear-head or small sword. A buckle was found on the right side; also a piece of bone, which hud been attached to metal. Part of the skeleton of a dog was also found in the grave." William Rendall, 18th Oct 1849 [Anderson 1880:p.86]
 Grave goods Male  
  • Horse bit - still in horses mouth
  • sword or spear -
  • Buckle -

Grave 8 - 1849/a-3

Bodies- part of a human skeleton and part of a horse skeleton
Quote- "No. 3. Found a grave containing part of a human skeleton, with a small dagger lying beside it. The position could not be ascertained. Part of the skeleton of a horse was also in the grave, with remains of bits of iron." William Rendall, 18th Oct 1849 [Anderson 1880:p.86]
 Grave goods Male  
  • Horse bit - still in horses mouth
  • spear - described as a dagger

Grave 9 - 1849/a-4

Bodies- human skeleton
Quote- "No. 4. Found a skeleton a considerable way towards the north, lying on its right side, with the knees drawn up toward the abdomen. No remains of armour were found." William Rendall, 18th Oct 1849 [Anderson 1880:p.86]
 Grave goods Unknown  
  • None
Group: Rendall 1849 "at a distance from the Sea"

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.

Status-  Accepted  
Find date- before 1849
Dated to-
Museum- Batemann Collection, Lomberdale House, Derbyshire? [Grieg 1940]
Publications-

Grave 10 - 1849/b-1

Type- Stone-cist
Bodies- Skeleton
Quote- "No. 1. Found on the southmost site of the mound a large male skeleton, nearly entire, lying north and south, having large stones set round it in a square form. After carefully removing the sand the skeleton was lying rather on its left site, with the knees drawn up and the arms crossing over the breast. About two inches from the top of the head was found a cup-like piece of iron, evidently the part of a helmet.

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 goods Male  
  • Sword -
  • Shield boss -
  • Comb -
  • Beads - glass
  • Whetstone -

Grave 11 - 1849/b-2

Type-
Bodies- Skeleton
Quote- "No. 2. Found on the north side of the mound a small skeleton lying north and south, having two hollow copper ornaments on the breast,5 with a circular piece and pin a little lower down, right over the region of the stomach. Supposed to be of a female. No remains of iron or rust was found near it." William Rendall, 18th Oct 1849 [Anderson 1880:p.86]
 Grave goods Female  
  • Oval brooch (Pair) -
  • Trefoil brooch -

Grave 12 - 1849/b-3

Type-
Bodies-
Quote- "No. 3. Found on the north side of the mound, between a row of small stones, a small skeleton, with two hollow ornaments and a small pin, as the former. No remains of iron were found. Two long combs, with ornamental carving on each side, were found, [one] above each shoulder. The teeth of the combs were fastened between two plates of bone riveted together with copper nails. Supposed to be a female." William Rendall, 18th Oct 1849 [Anderson 1880:p.86-87]
 Grave goods Female  
  • Oval brooch (Pair) -
  • comb -
  • comb -

Grave 13 - 1849/b-4

Type-
Bodies- Skeleton
Quote- "No. 4. Found part of a skeleton on the north side of the mound, but had been previously disturbed." William Rendall, 18th Oct 1849 [Anderson 1880:p.87]
Comments- Grieg lists this grave as having the same items as grave 11
Grave goods
- None

Grave 14 - 1849/b-5

Type-
Bodies-
Quote- "No. 5. Found part of a small skeleton on the north-east side of the mound, with ornaments, pin, and combs as formerly described, and evidently a female." William Rendall, 18th Oct 1849 [Anderson 1880:p.87]
 Grave goods Female  
  • Oval brooch (Pair) -
  • Ringed pin -
  • comb -
  • comb -
Group: Rendall 1839

Status-  Accepted  
Type-
Dated to-
Museum-
Comments-
Publications-

Grave 1 - 1939/1

Find date- 25th April 1839
Bodies- skeleton
Quote- "April 25, 1839.— Upon an elevated circular mound, a skeleton nearly entire; the head to the west, the feet to the east; the knees considerably bent upwards, and turned rather to the left, resembling the position of a person resting on a bed. In this posture its length was live feet six inches. The right hand rested upon the right thigh, and the left lay upon the abdomen ; the head was elevated a little, and the face turned towards the left. A large stone stood at the back of the head. A dagger lay at the right, with its point turned upwards towards the arm-pit. A bone comb, ornamented with a carved interlaced pattern in the centre, and the rivets of which are of iron lay opposite the right shoulder. "The top of a helmet" is stated to have been found about a span behind the back part of the skull, and directly above the right shoulder. A sword, three feet long, was on the left side ; the hilt under the cheek, and the point close to the thigh. It is added that " on removing the armour, the sword was broken in one place, and the same misfortune happened to the dagger," both presumed, from the passages in subsequent notes, to be of iron." [Crofton Crocker 1846]
 Grave goods Male  
Sword -
Spear -
Shield Boss -
Comb -

Grave 2 - 1939/2

Find date- 25th April 1839
Bodies- skeleton
Quote- "On the same day, that gentleman found a second skeleton a few yards to the north of this grave, lying the head to the south, the feet to the north; the skull on its face, and all the bones much decomposed. Two ornaments, described by Mr. Kendall as "resembling large muscle shells" were found lying a little below the head, and distant the one from the other about two inches. Something like a sword or dagger was observed lying at the right side, but it was no sooner handled than it mouldered into a rusty-coloured mass of dust. On the left, a sharp pointed metal instrument, scarcely a span in length, was observed protruding from below the face, having a ring of the same substance for the head." [Crofton Crocker 1846]:p.331-332
 Grave goods Female  
Oval brooch (Pair) -
Ringed-pin -
Weaving sword? -

Grave 3 - 1939/3

Find date- 1st May 1839
Bodies- skeleton
Quote- "On the 1st of May, Mr. Rendall found in nearly the same place, another skeleton on its back, but rather turned towards the left. The knees were considerably bent upwards. Both arms were lying along the sides, and the fore arms were crossed on the abdomen. A semicircular piece of iron lay on the side of the left arm, and a comb rested on the elbow joint of the same arm. " Two metal joints, resembling large muscle shells, were found, one lying on each collar-bone. A small circular perforated stone was found on the breast as if it had been suspended from the neck by a cord. "A circular ornament of about two inches in diameter, appearing to be the head of a large pin, was found lying in the angle, formed by the right elbow joint. A small cylindrical piece of bone, with something like an iron rod in it, was found lying under the chin, between the two ornaments resembling muscle shells. The bones were much decomposed, and appeared to have been those of a person in the middle of life." [Crofton Crocker 1846]:p.332
 Grave goods Female  
Oval brooch (Pair) -
Ringed-pin -
Needle case - with an iron needle
Spindle whorl -
Sickle -
Comb -

Grave 4 - 1939/4

Find date- 2nd May 1839
Bodies- skeleton
Quote- "The following day, Mr. Kendall discovered a skeleton about thirty yards east of the graves described, with its feet north, and its head south ; lying on its left shoulder, the face rather turned upwards. " The upper part of the skeleton was considerably bent forward. The right arm lay by the right side, half bent, while the fore arm and hand were lying on the pelvis. A large comb, apparently two spans in length, lay across the right elbow joint. On removal, however, it was found that instead of one comb, there were two; each being a span long. Left side — The left arm lay under the left side of the skeleton ; the fore arm was bent at right angles, and lay stretched out at the left side. " Found two ornaments resembling large muscle shells, one lying on each breast, and close by the ornament upon the left breast lay seven beads. [Quere, were not these the objects affixed to the seven points of the ornament — the number corresponds with them?] A little below the chin lay a circular metal ornament of about an inch and a half in diameter. This article has evidently been the head of an ornamental pin. " A sharp-pointed metal instrument,- hardly a span in length, having a circular ring of the same metal for a head, was found lying upon the abdomen. This was the skeleton of an aged person of the ordinary size. It was nearly entire. Two bones of the pelvis have been preserved. This grave was both covered and surrounded by large flat stones." [Crofton Crocker 1846]:p.332-333
 Grave goods Female  
Oval brooch (Pair) -
7 beads -
Ringed pin -
Comb -
Comb -

Grave 5 - 1939/5

Find date- 2nd May 1839
Bodies- skeleton
Quote- "On the 2nd of May, Mr. Kendall found in an adjacent grave a skeleton very much decomposed. " A sharp metal instrument of four or five inches in length, having a ring of the same metal for a head, and the remains of an iron instrument of about the same length, lay on the abdomen, or rather where the abdomen once had been." [Crofton Crocker 1846]:p.333
 Grave goods Unknown  
Ringed pin -
Spear? -


Scotland, Orkney, Sanday: Broch of Lamaness


Grave 1914

Status-  Accepted  
Type-
Find date- before 1914
Bodies-
Dated to-
Quote - "A pair of oval Viking Brooches of brass, a Jet Armlet, and an Amber Bead, found near the Broch of Laminess, south end of the Island of Sanday, Orkney." [Anon. 1915]:p.15
Museum- National Museum of Scotland
Publications-
 Grave goods Female  
  • Oval Brooch (Pair) - Type R654
  • Arm ring - Jet
  • Bead - amber
  • Pennanular brooch - copper-alloy. Dia-ring:2.3cm

Grave 1878

Status-  Accepted  
Type-
Find date- 1878
Bodies- None
Dated to-
Museum- National Museum of Scotland
Publications-
 Grave goods Male  
  • Sword
  • Spearhead
  • Axe - not mentioned by Grieg 1940?

Grave 1914 Braeswick

Status-  Accepted  
Type-
Find date- before 1914
Bodies-
Dated to-
Museum-
Quote - "A Viking oval Brooch of brass; two Beads of amber and a Bead of blue glass, all found together on the Island of Sanday, Orkney." [Anon. 1915]:p.14
Publications-
 Grave goods Female  
  • Oval Brooch - Copper-alloy. Type R648.
  • 3 Beads - amber, white glass, blue glass.

Scotland, Orkney, Sanday: Scar


Status-  Accepted  
Type- Viking boat burial including a man, woman and child
Find date- 1985
Bodies- 3 skeletons. Male, Female and a 10 year old child
Dated to- AD 875-950
Museum-
Publications-
 Grave goods Male  
  • sword with scabbard
  • arrows with quiver remains
  • playing pieces - whale
  • weights - lead
 Grave goods Female  
  • equal armed brooch
  • whale bone plaque
  • comb
  • shears
  • sickle
  • spindle whorl - steatite
  • spindle whorl - sandstone
  • cooking spit
 Child Grave goods Unknown  

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]

References

Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 [Grieg 1940] ^ *
Owen, Olwyn, and Dalland, Magnar (1999) SCAR, A Viking Boat Burial on Sanday, Orkney. Tuckwell Press. [Owen & Dalland 1999] *

Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 [Bersu & Wilson 1966] ^ *
Graham-Campbell, James; Batey, Colleen; Clarke, Helen; Page, R.I. and Price, Neil S. (1994) Cultural Atlas of the Viking World. [Graham-Campbell 1994] ^ *
Graham-Campbell, James, and Batey, Colleen E. (1998) Vikings in Scotland, an archaeological survey. Edinburgh University Press. [Graham-Campbell & Batey 1998] ^ *
Graham-Campbell, James; Hall, Richard; Jesch, Judith and Parsons, David N. (eds.) (2001) Vikings and the Danelaw. Select Papers from the Proceedings of the Thirteenth Viking Congress. Viking Congress: 13 [Graham-Campbell 2001] ^ *
Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 [Harrison & Ó Floinn 2014] ^ *
Redknap, Mark (2000) Vikings in Wales. An Archaeological Quest. [Redknap 2000] ^ *
Redmond, Angela Z. (2007) Viking Burial in the North of England. A Study of Contact, Interaction and Reaction between Scandinavian Migrants with Resident Groups, and the effect of Immigration on Aspects of Cultural Continuity.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR 429 [Redmond 2007] ^ 1 2 3 *
Richards, Julian D. (2004) Vikings in England. [Richards 2004] ^ *