Balladoole Viking Boat Burial Grave Goods

Date made: Medieval: 410-1540

Description: Buried in his flat-bottomed, coastal trading boat, the Viking of Balladoole took many of his possessions to the grave with him. Finds from Bersu's excavations in the 1940s found ironwork, ornate copper alloy horse-riding equipment, cremated animal remains, ship nails and human remains. No sword was found.

The boat was placed on the ground upright and covered by a mound made of earth, cremated animal remains (horse, ox, pig, sheep/goat, dog and cat) and turf, with white quartz boulders around the edge and topped with a mast. The burial had disturbed an existing Christian cemetery, at the highest point of the hill. Those burying the Viking would have known this and speculation remains as to whether this was a deliberate slight on that Christian community, or a desire to share that same sacred space.

Gerhard Bersu was an eminent archaeologist and a wartime internee. He was encouraged to lead excavations of many of the Island's most prominent archaeological sites, including the substantial hillfort at Balladoole. It was whilst investigating the hillfort entrance, Bersu discovered a previously unrecorded Viking boat burial.

See 1966-0372/0001 - /00034 for associated finds

Materials: copper alloy, flint, human bone, iron, stone, textile, wood

Date found: 1945

Collection: Archaeology Collection

ID number: 1966-0372

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