Viking burials found in Scotland

Viking Age Compendium articles on Burials in Britain:

Found in Britain

Burials found in England

Burials found in Scotland

Burials in the Isle of Man

Burials in Wales

Viking Age Compendium articles on Burials in Britain:

Found in Britain

Burials found in England

Burials found in Scotland

Burials in the Isle of Man

Burials in Wales

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.

This article is primarily based on the work of:

Graham-Campbell, James, and Batey, Colleen E. (1998) Vikings in Scotland, an archaeological survey. Edinburgh University Press.

This article is primarily based on the work of:

Graham-Campbell, James, and Batey, Colleen E. (1998) Vikings in Scotland, an archaeological survey. Edinburgh University Press.

Index by County

Argyll

Carn a' Bharraich, Oronsay
Swordle Bay, Ardnamurchan

Caithness

Langhills

Inverness-shire

Kildonan, Isle of Eigg

Lewis

Kneep, Uig

Orkney

Pierowall, Westray
Scar, Sanday
Westness, Rousay

Skye

Tote, Skeabost

Sutherland

Balnakeil

List by Find Date

Scotland, Argyll and Bute: Ardnamurchan

Also known as Swordle Bay, Ardnamurchan

Viking boat burial excavated in 2011

Late 9th/early 10th century AD

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?

Publications-

Harris, Cobb, Gray & Richardson (2011) 'Viking Boat Burial, Swordle Bay, Ardnamurchan'. Ardnamurchan Transitions Report no.17. (Available Online)

Scotland, Sutherland: Durness, Balnakeil

Viking child burial (aged 8 to 13) found in 1991

?AD

Grave goods:

Sword, shield, spear, ringed pin, beads, strap end

Publications-

Scotland, Orkney, Sanday: Scar

Viking boat burial including a man, woman and child found in 1985

875-950AD

Grave goods-

sword, comb, playing pieces, arrows with quiver remains, whale bone plaque, equal armed brooches, shears, cooking spit

Publications-

Scotland, Outer Hebrides, Isle of Lewis: Uig, Cnip

Also known as Kneep

Viking woman burial found in 1979

?AD

Grave goods:

--

Publications-

Scotland, Orkney, Westness: Rousay

excavated between 1968 and 1984

AD

Grave goods-

--

Publications-

Graham-Campbell, James, and Batey, Colleen E. (1998) Vikings in Scotland, an archaeological survey. Edinburgh University Press. p.135-138

Scotland, Shetland, St. Ninian's Isle:

excavated in 1958

Viking babies

Grave goods-

Hoard of Pictish silver bowls, cups and jewellery found in a box. Dated to just prior to 800AD.[OLIVER 2012:p.187]

Publications-

Oliver, Neil (2012) Vikings. p.187

Scotland, Orkney, Mainland: Broch of Gurness

excavated in 1932

AD

Grave goods-

--

Publications-

Graham-Campbell, James, and Batey, Colleen E. (1998) Vikings in Scotland, an archaeological survey. Edinburgh University Press. p.127-129

Scotland, Highland, Isle of Skye: Skeabost, Tote

Cairn containing a cremated? male. Excavated in 1922?

?AD

Grave goods:

Axe head and part of the wooden shaft; hone; copper alloy pin; ivory bead; possible shield fragments of iron and wood.

Publications-

Lethbridge, T. C. (1920) 'A Burial of the Viking Age in Skye '. Archaeological Journal 77, pp. 135-136. (Available Online)

Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Oronsay: Carn a' Bharraich

3 burials. 2 found in April 1891 and 1 in 1913

AD

Grave goods:

--

Publications-

Scotland, Caithness: Reay

excavated in 1912 / 1920?

AD

Grave goods-

Axe

Shield Boss

Knife

+ more

Publications-

Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Colonsay: Kiloran Bay

excavated in 1882

AD

Grave goods-

--

Publications-

Scotland, Highland, Eigg

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-

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);