Archaeologists Stumble on a Rich Burial Ground From the Viking Age on a Small Rocky Knoll, May Have Belonged to Women

Recent excavations in Norway have brought to light several Viking-era graves containing a host of precious artifacts and jewelry that most likely belonged to women of high status, stated Science Norway. The discovery from the fall of 2023 revealed an intricate network of trade connections and the prestigious roles women held in Viking society. Formal excavations have now been concluded, which started when amateur metal detectorists came upon the site in Fitjar, southwestern Norway, in late 2024. The graves date between 800 and 850 C.E. and yield a fascinating collection of artifacts that vividly paint a picture of Viking life during this period. According to Søren Diinhoff, an archaeologist with the University Museum of Bergen, there could be as many as 20 graves at the site.

One of the most striking discoveries was a rare "Hedeby coin" minted in southern Denmark during the early ninth century, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The research team also found ten other coins from the time of Louis I, son of Charlemagne, which indicates extensive trade. One of the most interesting items was a book clasp that had probably originally been stolen from a Christian monastery in England or Ireland and then reused as an ornamental brooch.

Indeed, the excavations have proved that burials were exceptionally well-attested in items that denote their high social standing. For instance, one burial contained a necklace with 46 glass beads with trefoil brooches, offering evidence of having been made from Carolingian sword belt clasps. Furthermore, certain textile production tools, such as the spindle whorl, the weaving sword, and the wool shears, all attest to the prestigious nature of textile manufacture in the Viking world.

The coastal location of the site allows much to be learned about Viking commerce. Diinhoff believes that the farm probably operated as a lodging stop for maritime travelers, which was run with royal patronage. His idea is supported by the discovery in one of the graves of a pattern of stones in the form of a ship, which is a common way that important Viking individuals were buried, stated Popular Science.

Curiously enough, no human remains were found in these graves, which is not so strange considering the highly acidic conditions of the soil in western Norway. But other interpretations may be closer to the truth, considering a number of the findings. Some point to the fact that at least some of these finds indicate these so-called graves could have been cenotaphs, or memorial graves of some sort for people buried elsewhere—hence the carefully laid items, such as the necklace found in what seemed to be a leather pouch.

The origins of the artifacts are from all over Europe, from England to the Frankish Empire, which suggests these women either had significant international contacts or even could have come from abroad themselves. "Both of these women had contacts outside Norway," Diinhoff said to Science Norway. "Perhaps they came from abroad and married into the local community."