A Pagan Viking Grave, National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh

A Pagan Viking Grave, National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh

This is a pagan Viking grave, from a Viking and native cemetery in Orkney.

A man, aged about 30, was buried in a large oval stone. lined pit. He was dressed and his various possessions were buried with him: farming tools; everyday objects; a set of bone gaming pieces: a drinking horn; and his warrior's gear.

The body was covered with planks taken from a boat, with their iron rivets still fixed to them. The grave was filled with sand. At some point the remains of an older woman were buried in the same grave.