Viking Burials — The Viking Rune

Viking burials are important sources of information on the Viking Age culture. Impressive ship burials in Gokstad and Oseberg (Norway), even though looted by grave robbers, preserved hundreds of objects, several of which were decorated. These were kitchen utensils, a sledge, riding equipment, tents, a chair and several smaller items. Often the burials are accompanied by skeletal remains of dogs, horses and oxen. Male graves often have weapons like swords and shields buried together with their owners. Sometimes the burial sites are mass graves of theVikings fallen in battle or executed after their defeat, like the site in Cumwhitton or the graves in Weymouth and Oxford.