” The mound was built in around 700 CE. This is called the Merovingian duration and precedes the Viking Age. This dating is really interesting due to the fact that it presses the entire custom of ship burials quite far back in time,” said Geir Grønnesby, an archaeologist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) University Museum.
This map reveals the approximate locations of the large burial mounds situated in central Norway. Map: Kolbjørn Skarpnes/NTNU.
The Vikings had abundant mythological beliefs, with elaborate stories of gods, goddesses, and other worlds. Ship burials were connected to these beliefs, functioning as a journey to legendary places of the afterlife, such as Valhalla, the hall of slain warriors. Ship burials were typically scheduled for high-status people such as chieftains, nobles, and warriors. The size and richness of the burial ship served as a status sign as well– somewhat similar to pyramids in Egypt and South America.
Its truly surprising to find a ship burial mound from before the Age of the Vikings.
Herlaugshaugen is discussed in Snorres royal legends as the final resting place of King Herlaug. Photo: Hanne Bryn, NTNU University Museum
Sailing through history
The Vikings were renowned for numerous factors, however perhaps above all, they were amazing seafarers. They went all the method to America and strolled Europe from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. The history of Vikings is elaborately tied to ships. In fact, the Age of Vikings began when they began constructing large, potent ships. This new ship burial puts a brand-new spin on that.
This does not always mean that we have to press back the start of the Viking age, but it does put a new viewpoint on it. The burial mound itself is a sign of excellent wealth– wealth that would not have actually come from farming. “I believe individuals in this area have been engaged in trading goods, maybe over country miles,” the archaeologist discusses.
You dont build a ship of this size just for the burial. You d develop it in advance and after that utilize it. This is an indication that Vikings could construct large ships an extremely long time back.
” It tells us that people from this area were knowledgeable seafarers– they could construct big ships– much earlier than we formerly believed.”
Representation of what a ship burial mound would have appeared like. The mound was built around the ship. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
The ship burial mound
The mound itself is popular. It was excavated 3 times during the 1700s, and used to feature a wall, iron rivets, a bronze cauldron, animal bones, and a seated skeleton with a sword. Nevertheless, although the skeleton was shown at Trondheim Cathedral School for a time, nobody really knows what took place to it afterwards. In truth, nobody truly understands where many of the findings in the mound went. “It is said that the bronze cauldron was melted down and made into shoe buckles,” states Grønnesby.
Ship burials were linked to these beliefs, serving as a journey to mythical places of the afterlife, such as Valhalla, the hall of slain warriors. The size and richness of the burial ship served as a status sign as well– somewhat comparable to pyramids in Egypt and South America.
Representation of what a ship burial mound would have looked like. You do not develop a ship of this size just for the burial. The earliest ship burials, such as those at Vendel and Valsgärde in Sweden, took place throughout this time.
All the other finds have likewise disappeared, that makes it harder to paint a detailed photo of it. Nevertheless, archaeologists do understand that the Herlaugshaugen burial mound go back to the Merovingian Period. Historical discoveries from this period are fairly unusual. However, the earliest ship burials, such as those at Vendel and Valsgärde in Sweden, took place during this time. These noteworthy burials featured individuals laid to rest on down pillows, accompanied by elaborately crafted helmets and weapons.
Especially, this burial mound has some resemblances to the famous ship burial in Sutton Hoo in England. The Sutton Hoo burial is likewise dated to the Merovingian Period, and is considered the oldest huge ship burial.
“Should the ship in Herlaugshaugen burial mound be seen in connection with the burial mounds in Namdalen, Vendel, Valsgärde and Sutton Hoo, or is it a different phenomenon? This is an extremely exciting conversation, and something we desire to check out even more,” concludes Grønnesby.
