Archaeologists from the University of Oslo in Norway have analyzed a Viking burial site found in the 1980’s with the bodies of 10 people inside. Some of the bodies were beheaded before being buried, and evidence suggests that they were probably slaves that might have been sacrificed to spend eternity with their master.
Archaeologists from the University of Oslo in Norway have analyzed a Viking burial site found in the 1980’s with the bodies of 10 people inside.
Some of the bodies were beheaded before being buried, and evidence suggests that they were probably slaves that might have been sacrificed to spend eternity with their master.
There is some evidence to support this theory, including the fact that multiple bodies were found occupying the same grave.
Vikings reportedly used slaves for agriculture and might have participated in ritual sacrifice.
Elise Naumann, an archaeologist at the University of Oslo and co-author of the study said: “There are other examples of sacrifice in burials, where individuals had tied hands and feet and were sometimes beheaded, or in other ways treated in ways that indicates sacrifice. It is assumed that such persons were grave gifts, and would follow their masters in death.”
Analysis of data taken from DNA samples shows that the diet of the individuals varied, with the ones who were beheaded showing evidence of having eaten more protein from fish while the others probably ate more land based meat as their source of protein.
This finding indicates a difference in the social or economic status of the deceased.
