This list of burials is currently a work in progress. More information will be added over time but it is hoped that even the meagre information supplied here will be of some use. Any list of Viking burials is going to be open to discussion. Many of these burials were discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries, long before modern archaeological practices came into use.
Our map of Viking Burials in Britain is derived from the following maps: [Bersu & Wilson 1966]:p.xii; [Wilson 1976:p.394]; [Graham-Campbell 1994]:p.p.134 & 153; [Graham-Campbell & Batey 1998]:p.115 & p.130; [Graham-Campbell 2001]:p.107; [Redknap 2000]:p.95; [Richards 2004]:p.191; [Redmond 2007]:p.70, p.77, p.87, p.93, p.107, p.117; [Harrison & Ó Floinn 2014]:p.225
We have recently discovered Angela Redmond's book, 'Viking Burial in the North of England' [Redmond 2007]. This gives a very good overview of of burials from the British Isles and is well worth acquiring if you are interested in this subject.
Status
The reliability of pagan graves varies. The 'Status' rating gives an indication of the current thinking relating to the finds reliability.
Accepted (A)
There is a good contemporary archaeological record of the find. Including a diagram of the grave and finds, etc.
Possible (P)
The contemporary archaeological record of the find is not as good but the grave goods would tend to indicate a pagan grave. The grave may be located in a mound or Church yard.
Discredited (D)
The argument in favour of this being a Viking grave has now been discredited although it has previously been published as such in the past. These are most probably just stray finds.
Index by County
Argyll
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Lewis
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Skye
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List by Find Date
Scotland, Argyll and Bute: Ardnamurchan
Also known as Swordle Bay, Ardnamurchan
- Status-
- Type- Viking boat burial
- Find date- excavated in 2011
- Bodies-
- Dated to- Late 9th/early 10th century AD
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Male sketeton
- Axe with traces of wooden handle
- Sword of type K or P, bone / antler or ivory grip. Copper alloy and silver decoration on hilt fittings
- Spear. Iron type E.
- Shield boss.
- Knife
- Saucepan/ladle with a 1m long handle.
- Hammer head
- Tongs
- Ring Pin. Copper alloy.
- Wetstone. Norwegian schist.
- Drinking horn. Copper alloy rim with a possible iron base?
Scotland, Sutherland: Durness, Balnakeil
- Status-
- Type- Viking child burial (aged 8 to 13)
- Find date- 1991
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword, shield, spear, ringed pin, beads, strap end
Scotland, Orkney, Sanday: Scar
- Status-
- Type- Viking boat burial including a man, woman and child
- Find date- 1985
- Bodies-
- Dated to- AD 875-950
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- sword, comb, playing pieces, arrows with quiver remains, whale bone plaque, equal armed brooches, shears, cooking spit
Scotland, Outer Hebrides, Isle of Lewis: Uig, Cnip
Also known as Kneep
- Status-
- Type- Viking woman burial
- Find date- 1979
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- --
Scotland, Orkney, Westness: Rousay
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- excavated between 1968 and 1984
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- --
Scotland, Shetland, St. Ninian's Isle
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- excavated in 1958
- Bodies- Viking babies
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Hoard of Pictish silver bowls, cups and jewellery found in a box. Dated to just prior to 800AD.[OLIVER 2012:p.187]
Scotland, Orkney, Mainland: Broch of Gurness
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- excavated in 1932
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- --
Scotland, Highland, Isle of Skye: Skeabost, Tote
- Status-
- Type- Cairn containing a cremated? male
- Find date- excavated in 1922?
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods:
- Axe head and part of the wooden shaft -
- hone -
- copper alloy pin -
- ivory bead -
- Shield - possible shield fragments of iron and wood.
Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway: Ecclefechan, Torbeckhill
- Status- Possible
- Type- found in a mound by the River Mein
- Find date- found in 1913
- Bodies- None
- Dated to- c.900 [Redmond 2007]
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Publications-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword - [X.IL 340] Petersen type L (like Petersen p.116, fig.97a)
Scotland, Caithness: Reay
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- excavated in 1913 and 1926
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Edwards, Arthur J.H. & Bryce, Thomas H (1927) 'Excavation of Graves at Ackergill and of an Earth-house at Freswick Links, Caithness, and a Description of the Discovery of a Viking Grave at Reay, Caithness. With a Preliminary Note on the Skeletal Remains from the Various Graves.' (pp 196-209) (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.61
- found in 1928
- Strap-end - C7th
- Grave 1926 Male
- Axe
- Shield Boss
- Knife
- Sickle
- Buckle - Iron
- Ring-headed pin
- Whetstone
- Grave 1913 Female
- Oval Brooches (Pair) - not identical
- Ring-headed Pin - copper-alloy
- Buckle and plate
- Spindle whorl
- Horse Bit
- found near Grave 1913 Female
- Buckle - iron
- Tweezers - iron
Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Oronsay: Carn a' Bharraich
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- April 1891 and 1913
- Bodies- burials
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grieve, Symington (1924) 'Note upon Carn nan Bharraich, or Cairn of the Men of Barra, a Burial Mound of the Viking Time on the Island of Oronsay, Argyllshire, with an outline of the Political History of the Western Isles during the latter half of the Ninth Century'. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 48 (pp 272-91) (Available Online)
- Anderson, Joseph (1907) 'Notice of Bronze Brooches and Personal Ornaments from a Ship-burial of the Viking time in Oronsay, and other Bronze Ornaments from Colonsay. Presented to the National Musem by the Right Hon. Lord Strathcona and Mount-Royal, G.C.M.G. With Description, from Notes by the late William Galloway, of a ship-burial of the Viking time at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay' . Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 41 (pp 437-50) (Available Online)
- Grave goods:
- --
Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Colonsay: Kiloran Bay
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- excavated in 1882
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Anderson, Joseph (1907) 'Notice of Bronze Brooches and Personal Ornaments from a Ship-burial of the Viking time in Oronsay, and other Bronze Ornaments from Colonsay. Presented to the National Musem by the Right Hon. Lord Strathcona and Mount-Royal, G.C.M.G. With Description, from Notes by the late William Galloway, of a ship-burial of the Viking time at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay' . Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 41 (pp 437-50) (Available Online)
- Grave goods
- --
Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Argyll: Loch Lomond, Boiden
Also known as 'Lower Bridge of Froon, Boiden Mound
- Status-
- Type- found in a mound. Cremation?
- Find date- found in April 1851
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum- LOST
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword (LOST) -
- Shield boss (LOST) -
- Spear head (LOST) -
Scotland, Caithness: Langhills
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- 1840
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods Female
- Oval brooches (pair) -
Scotland, Sutherland, Dunrobin: Golspie
- Status- Possible
- Type-
- Find date-
- Bodies- a number of graves
- Dated to-
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods Female
- Oval brooches (pair) -
- Grave goods Male
- Spear head -
- other finds
- Axe head -
- Ring - iron
Scotland, Highland, Eigg: Kildonnan
Grave 1 1830
- Status- Accepted
- Find date- excavated in 1830
- Bodies- Male
- Dated to- C9th
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Bibliography-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword - Petersen type D
- Baldric - copper-alloy. Fastener and thin plates possibly from a baldric
- Small anvil - copper-alloy. Or possible foot of bronze vessel
Grave 2 1875
- Status- Accepted
- Find date- excavated in 1875
- Bodies- Male
- Dated to- C9th
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Bibliography-
- Grave goods Male
- Axe
- Spearhead - only socket remains with part of the wooden shaft
- Knife - iron. L:21cm W:3.5cm. Remains of wooden handle and wooden sheath?
- Penannular brooch - copper-alloy
- Buckle
- Hone
- Cloth - black wool & a little black fur
- Sickle
- Amber bead - 2cm
- Amber bead - 4cm with large hole
- bead or spindle whorl - grey rock 2cm
Grave 3 1875
- Status- Accepted
- Find date- excavated in 1875
- Bodies- Male
- Dated to- c.875-925
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Bibliography-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword- 12 fragments
- Penannular brooch - copper-alloy
- Buckle and strap plate - copper-alloy
- 2 jet beads
- Hone - slate
Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Islay: Ballinaby
Grave 1772
- Status- Possible
- Find date- excavated in 1772
- Bodies- Male
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword - Petersen type H
Grave 1778
- Status- Possible
- Find date-
- Bodies- Female
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Anderson, Joeseph (1880) 'Notes on the Contents of two Viking Graves in Islay, Discovered by William Campbell, Esq., of Ballinaby; with Notices of the Burial Customs of the Norse Sea-Kings, as recorded in the Sagas and Illustrated by their Grave Mounds in Norway and in Scotland'.pp.51-89. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.14
- Grave goods Female
- Oval brooch (Pair)-
Grave 1878
- Status- Accepted
- Find date- excavated in August 1878.
- Bodies- Double burial? Male & Female
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Anderson, Joeseph (1880) 'Notes on the Contents of two Viking Graves in Islay, Discovered by William Campbell, Esq., of Ballinaby; with Notices of the Burial Customs of the Norse Sea-Kings, as recorded in the Sagas and Illustrated by their Grave Mounds in Norway and in Scotland'.pp.51-89. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.14
- Grave goods Male
- Sword - Peteren type B
- Axe 1 - Wheeler type III
- Axe 2 - Wheeler type III
- Spear - Petersen type , with a possible iron ferrule
- Shield boss - type , with a copper-alloy handle
- Drinking horn terminal (copper-alloy).
- Hammer (iron); forge tongs (iron); adze (iron); cauldron (iron)
- Grave goods Female
- 2 Oval broochs - Petersen type
- Pin (silver); Flat chain of four-stranded wire (silver)
- 12 beads
- possible fragment of a Drinking horn rim (copper-alloy)
- 4 round plates (copper-alloy); ladle (copper-alloy); glass linen smoother; Teeth from a heckle (iron); needle-case (copper-alloy);
Grave 1932
- Status- Accepted
- Find date- excavated in 1932
- Bodies- Male
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword - Petersen type Q
- Axe
- sheild
- knife
- ring-headed pin
- buckle
Scotland, Orkney, Westray: Pierowall
Grave 17 - 1863
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- July 1863
- Bodies- Human skeleton and Horse bones
- Dated to-
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Publications-
- Anderson, Joeseph (1880) 'Notes on the Contents of two Viking Graves in Islay, Discovered by William Campbell, Esq., of Ballinaby; with Notices of the Burial Customs of the Norse Sea-Kings, as recorded in the Sagas and Illustrated by their Grave Mounds in Norway and in Scotland'.pp.51-89. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.14 p.79
- Grave goods Male
- Buckle - iron
- Buckle - iron
- Rivets - iron, from a boat? near by were found bits of oak.
- fragment - iron
Grave 15 - 1849-1851
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- between 1849 and 1851
- Bodies-
- Dated to-
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Publications-
- Grave goods Male
- Sword -
- Spear head -
Donations in 1851
Presented to the museum in 1851 by Mr William Rendall.
- Bodies- male human skull
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Comments-
- Publications-
- Anderson, Joeseph (1874) 'Notes on the Relics of the Viking Period of the Northmen'.pp.536-94. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.10 p.552 (oval brooch, pennanular brooch), p.570 (shield boss), p.573 (spear), p.574 (axe)
- Anderson, Joeseph (1880) 'Notes on the Contents of two Viking Graves in Islay, Discovered by William Campbell, Esq., of Ballinaby; with Notices of the Burial Customs of the Norse Sea-Kings, as recorded in the Sagas and Illustrated by their Grave Mounds in Norway and in Scotland'.pp.51-89. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.14 p.87-88
- Items
- Oval brooch - type R.647
- Penannular brooch - copper-alloy - type R.697
- Shield boss - iron, type R.564
- Axe head - iron
- Spear head - iron
Notes taken at Graves found near the Sea-shore on a line running north and south. A group of 4 graves excavated and described by William Rendall in 1849. [Anderson 1880:p.85-87].
Grave 6 - 1849/a-1
Grave 7 - 1849/a-2
Grave 8 - 1849/a-3
Grave 9 - 1849/a-4
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Graves found round a mound of Sand and Small Stones, at a considerable distance from the Sea, in a line running north-west from the former Sites of Graves. A group of 5 graves excavated and described by William Rendall in 1849. [Anderson 1880:p.85-87]. Now in the Batemann Collection.
Grave 10 - 1849/b-1
On the left side was found a sword measuring about four feet in length. A large sharpening stone was found in the grave, with a comb and several glass beads. Bits of iron and wood, attached probably to the remains of a shield, were also found." William Rendall, 18th Oct 1849 [Anderson 1880:p.86]
Grave 11 - 1849/b-2
Grave 12 - 1849/b-3
Grave 13 - 1849/b-4
Grave 14 - 1849/b-5
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Grave 1 - 1939/1
Grave 2 - 1939/2
Grave 3 - 1939/3
Grave 4 - 1939/4
Grave 5 - 1939/5
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