Archaeologists from the Arctic University Museum of Norway have uncovered a rare Viking-age boat burial on Senja Island, along Norway’s northern coast. The grave, dated to around 900–950 CE, contained the skeleton of a woman with her dog, buried in what scientists believe was the ceremonial grave of a high-ranking person.
The discovery initially began in 2023 when metal detectorists excavating a low embankment on Senja unearthed two bronze bowl-shaped brooches and rib bones just 20 centimeters below the surface. The artifacts, typical of the Viking Age and commonly used to fasten the straps of pinafores on women’s garments, immediately pointed toward a Viking burial. Their discovery triggered a complete excavation in May 2025.
Archaeologists at the site identified the imprint of a boat approximately 5.4 meters (about 18 feet) long. Although the wood had decomposed over time, the clear outline and form attested to the fact that it was a sewn boat—one with no iron rivets but using organic bindings. This ship held a woman’s skeletal remains, who had been interred on her side with bent knees and her arms crossed in front of her body. At her feet lay a small dog skeleton, which had been interred with great care.
Archaeologists said that although dogs in graves are not unknown, their occurrence is still comparatively rare. Viking literature reflects the close connections between humans and their dogs, and although not common, the presence of a dog in a grave was not entirely uncommon. Researchers consider that the animal was a cherished pet rather than a ritual offering.
The woman was interred with several high-status grave goods, including two brooches, a hoop pendant, and bone or amber beads. A few of the more practical items were an iron sickle, a slate whetstone, and textile tools, including a possible spindle whorl and a whale bone weaving sword.
The skeletal remains are relatively well-preserved, particularly the larger bones and ribs in contact with the brooches. The bronze material is assumed to have preserved the ribs due to its antibacterial properties. Scientists plan to conduct further analysis to confirm the woman’s sex, estimate her age at the time of her death, assess her health, and perhaps identify whether she was from the Senja region or had migrated from somewhere else. Stable isotope analysis also may inform us about her early life and diet.
According to the archaeologists, this woman was clearly held in high regard, perhaps a matron who ruled over household or textile production, and her grave goods reveal both practical expertise and prestige. While not among the highest elite, the nature of the burial indicates that she must have had considerable influence.
Excavators believe the site could have other graves. The discovery gives a unique glimpse into the social structure of Viking society in northern Norway.
More information: The Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiT
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