An intriguing enigma has been presented to archaeologists following the unearthing of a Viking-age interment site in Trøndelag, Norway.
This remarkably well-preserved sepulchre contained the remains of a woman, accompanied by scallop shells meticulously and deliberately positioned adjacent to her mouth.
This practice not only represents a novel finding within pre-Christian Viking interments but also appears to lack any discernible parallels in the existing published archaeological literature.
“The most striking feature is the presence of two scallop shells positioned at the mouth of the deceased woman,” observes archaeologist Raymond Sauvage from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
“This is a custom previously undocumented in pre-Christian burials in Norway. The precise symbolic meaning remains elusive at this juncture.”
While the burial has not yet been formally documented in a scientific publication, an initial inventory of its contents only deepens the mystery surrounding the shells.
The initial indications of the grave’s existence emerged through the efforts of metal detectorist Roy Søreng, who discovered a bronze brooch characteristic of the Viking era while surveying a field in Bjugn, Trøndelag County.
He, along with the landowner Arve Innstrand, promptly notified the NTNU Museum and the Trøndelag County Council, prompting an expert investigation.
A more thorough examination of the field disclosed the burial of a woman dating to the Viking age – a discovery that is in itself uncommon, given that the acidity of Norwegian soil tends to extensively and rapidly deteriorate organic remains.
Although a significant portion of the burial had indeed succumbed to decay over the centuries following the individual’s demise, sufficient remnants persisted for archaeologists to ascertain several key characteristics of her attire – specifically, two oval brooches that would have adorned the shoulder straps of a dress, and a ring buckle utilized to fasten the woman’s undergarment.
“The Viking Age grave contains what we interpret as a woman, interred with a typical Viking Age costume and jewelry ensemble from the 800s,” explains Sauvage.
“This suggests she was a free and likely married woman, possibly the matriarch of the homestead.”
The presence of scallop shells, however, remains without established precedent. They were positioned on either side of the woman’s jaw, with the exterior surface of the shell oriented outwards, the hinge lines directed towards her cheekbones, and the ventral edges positioned closer to her neck.
The grave also contained a quantity of bird bones, arranged with care, possibly representing wings – a burial inclusion that possesses a somewhat greater historical precedent. Perhaps the most well-known instance is the 6,000-year-old Danish burial of a mother and infant, where the child was carefully placed atop a swan’s wing.
While scallop shells have held symbolic significance across various historical periods and cultures, no such associations are documented within 9th-century Scandinavia.
During ancient Greek and Roman times, for instance, the scallop shell was linked to Aphrodite/Venus and carried connotations of fertility, procreation, and femininity.
It was not until approximately the 11th century that the shell evolved into a potent Christian emblem representing pilgrimage and spiritual journeys.
Although this later symbolism might be pertinent to burial rites, its emergence centuries after the period of this interment precludes its direct application to 9th-century Norwegian practices.
Numerous other burials globally have incorporated shells and shell fragments, occasionally discovered at locations distant from maritime environments. In burial contexts from Neolithic and Bronze Age Poland, for example, bivalve shells such as Spondylus were associated with affluence, elevated status, and extensive trade networks.
Consequently, while archaeologists are currently unable to elucidate the specific reason for the inclusion of scallop shells in this particular burial, other historical evidence demonstrating the frequent symbolic importance of marine shells, coupled with their deliberate placement in this interment, strongly suggests a profound significance for the community that laid her to rest.
The research team is presently endeavoring to gather further insights into the woman’s identity, hoping to uncover any potential connection she may have had to a previously identified burial, dating from the 700s, found within the same field.
“We will undertake an examination of the skeletal remains, meticulously preserve the artifacts, and collect samples for dating and DNA analysis,” states Sauvage.
“The objective is to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the individual and to ascertain any potential familial links to the earlier discovery at this locale.”
