Ellen Grav / Norwegian University of Science and Technology
In Christian culture, shells were associated with pilgrimages to Santiago. However, the grave precedes the arrival of Christianity in Scandinavia, which deepens the mystery about its meaning.
A serendipitous discovery made by a metal detectorist in central Norway led archaeologists to a rare Viking Age burial with a ritual never before seen in pre-Christian tombs in the region.
The discovery, made in the coastal county of Trøndelag, revealed a female skeleton exceptionally well preserved, adorned with jewels and two large scallop shells placed over its mouth.
The discovery began when the amateur detectorist Roy Søreng found a typical 9th century oval brooch while inspecting a private country estate. After notifying the owner, Arve Innstrand, and local authorities, archaeologists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) began a full excavation.
What they discovered surprised them. “The grave contains what we believe to be a woman, buried in typical Viking Age clothing and jewelry dating back to the 9th century,” Raymond Sauvage, project leader and NTNU archaeologist, said in a statement. “The most striking feature are two scallop shells placed next to the deceased’s mouth, one hitherto unknown practice in the pre-Christian graves of Norway.”
The woman wore the traditional layered clothing of a free woman of the Viking Age. Two oval brooches secured an outer dress at the shoulders, while a small ring-shaped brooch secured the inner garment at the neckline. Their clothes and jewelry suggest that had a higher social statuspossibly being the lady of a farm.
However, the burial contained unexpected elements. In addition to placing the shells over the mouth, archaeologists found bird bones arranged inside the tomb. The purpose of these additions remains unclear. “It is likely that the scallop shells had a symbolic meaning, intended to be communicated to those who witnessed the burial,” noted Sauvage. “Unfortunately, it is difficult to guess what that meaning might have been.”
Although scallops are abundant in local waters, it is not known for certain whether they were collected by snorkeling or collected as dead shells on the banks. The symbolic meaning may have changed over time: in Roman contexts, scallop motifs signaled ideas of rebirth, while in medieval Christian Europe the shell became associated with the pilgrimage route to Santiago. However, this burial predates Christian influence in the regionwhich makes its interpretation particularly challenging.
The exceptionally intact state of conservation of the skeleton increases the importance of the discovery. “It is very rare to find such a well-preserved skeleton in ancient graves,” said Hanna Geiran, director general of the Norwegian Directorate of Cultural Heritage. “This discovery has a great value for cultural heritage“.
