qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm

What does funerary evidencereveal about the impact of the

Vikings on England?

AAP387-Death and Burial in Anglo-Saxonand Medieval England

Demetra Christodoulou

Introduction:

The purpose of this essay is to critically describe theimpact of the Vikings on England as they are revealedby the funerary evidence. For the purpose of thisessay i will concentrate in some areas in England thathave a type of Scandinavian burials as likeRepton(Derbyshire), Cumwhitton (Cumberland) and Ingleby(Derbyshire). These areas were selected because oftheir considerable amount of archaeological finds thatwas discovered and excavated by archaeologists. Throughthese settlements we will look at many differentaspects of Vikings funeral practices. Do thesepractices influence the English world or it was aninteraction of both? It is more appropriate to beginwith a brief history of the Vikings as a way to seewhat kind of people were and what led them to England.

The Vikings:

Through the legends we know that Vikings were abarbaric, ruthless people, wild men withhorns helmets and bloody swords. Fairly,they represent the title of Barbarians.But if we carefully look at thearchaeological evidence, Vikings were acivilization that had a culture both

complex and artistic, as anyone else in Europe at that1

time. Unfortunately in England there are very fewViking graves (J. D. Richards, 2000, p.142)1, onlyaround 30 sites.

Vikings lived in Scandinavia, an arid place with verycold and brutal climate. They were shepherds and wereinvolved with the cultivation of the land (though motof it was barren). They were organized around villagesor tribes without a central power-king; they operatedas independent clans. Europe became the attraction forthe Vikings because it was fertile land, blessed withgreat wealth, a thing that was absent in the peninsulasof Scandinavia. Vikings wanted free access to thisprosperous land.

So the first Vikings began this journey from the portsof northern Europe, inaugurating an era of exploration,trade and colonization that lasted 3 centuries (from730 AD until 1066AD). This desire for new fertileplaces was the rise to war turmoil and territorialexpansion.

Important milestonein the history ofthe Vikings wastheir proselytismto Christianity.Greenleaf Ericksonwith that movement

1 D.M. Hadley, The Vikings in England-settlement, society and culture, Manchester UniversityPress, p.237

2

attempted to unite all tribes of Vikings (Scandinavianpeople) under a single leader. With this he could havemore control over them and make them one/united. Therealization of this vision was not so easy because howcan you force a paganistic nation to deny their gods?What impact this has had on their lifestyle and howit’s shown through their burial practices?

The Vikings landed in England in June 793 and theirfirst victims were monks of Lindisearne. Lindisearnewas the holiest place in England and it was full oftreasures. Vikings after this massacre gained a badreputation. They were marked as “The Devils of Hell” orpirates because they attack mainly monasteries thatwere more easily accessible for occupation and looting.

Repton:

In connection to Vikings graves and burial practices,Repton is one of the most characteristic examples.Given the crucial geographical position, Repton, waspole of attraction for the Vikings. The excavationscarried out in 1974-1993 by the archaeologists Birtheand Martin Biddle and they discovered numerous gravesnext to the churchyard. According to an article of

3

Julian’s D. Richards, this place associated with aspecific historically-attested event, that is, theover-wintering of the Viking Great Army in 873-4, theremains of the Viking winter camp2. The excavations atRepton, brought to light 264 burials and according toradiocarbon dating the cemetery hosts 2 differentpopulations of 2 different centuries. The first datingplaces us to the late of 7th centuries or at early 8th

centuries (an evidence of the Grand Army of theVikings).

In a grave next to the churchyard was found the body ofa warrior aged between 35 to 45 years old (Grave 511).Accordance with the bone examinations, the young manshould have died with a very cruel manner (in battle).The 2 wounds to his head must have been made fromsatellite and the signs in his spine, signaldisemboweled (i.e. the removal of organs) after hisdeath. Was also observed the removal of the genitalorgans, this fact shall inform us the preparation ofthe dead body for the afterlife, the end of life of thebody before the trip to Valhalla. The dead wereaccompanied by grave goods such as a sword and a smallhammer depicting the god Thor. Also next to the thighof the dead body was found a boars tusk and itsbelieved that with that object was done the removal ofthe genitals organs. Next to this grave was foundanother burial of a young male (Grave 295), agedbetween 17 and 20 years old, and archaeologists2 Julian D. Richards, Pagans and Christians at the frontier: Viking burial in the Danelaw

4

believed that is connected to the burial in Grave 511(based in isotope methods these men were both

of Scandinavian origins and the two burials werecovered with a single stone setting, while a 30 cm-square post-hole centrally placed at the east end ofthe two graves suggests that they were jointly markedabove ground )3. In Repton, Martin and Birthe Biddlestate that “there are several other burials ofScandinavian type” (Martin Biddle and Birthe Kjolbye-Biddle 2001, 65). Some examples of these graves are:Grave 529, a burial of man aged between 25 and 35 yearsold accompanied with personal items, Grave 83, a burialof a man aged 50 years old, Grave 84, a younger managed around 20 years old and also old accompanied withpersonal items. Also, in Grave 203, they found a burialof a woman aged around 45, buried with her personalobjects (iron knife, strike-a-light). These graves werenamed as ‘Scandinavian type burials’, not for the gravegoods that been found (the grave goods are evidence ofChristian graves and not pagan) but because they arerelated with grave 511.

A report from previousarchaeological work, in1686, supported that itwas found the bones of aman ‘’9 feet tall’’ andit’s accompanied by other

3 D. M. Hadley, Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History 15, 2008, Warriors, Heroes and Companions: Negotiating Masculinity in Viking-Age England

5

dead bodies. They believed that it was the body of thelegendary leader of the Vikings, Ivan the Boneless (J.D. Richards, 2001, p.81-4)4.

The Repton was an important strategic position for theVikings. The burials that took place there indicate thecoexistence of the Scandinavian customs and traditionswith the Christian characteristics. The individuals areburied with the head turned to the East. There are nosigns of burning the dead. The individuals wereaccompanied by grave goods, personal importance itemssuch as weapons for men and such as jewelry and clothesfor women. This marks a new era, a time when thebarbarian people of the Vikings assimilated with otherinhabitants of Repton and live peacefully with them. Anattempt was made incorporating alternative funeralburial as well as the adjustment in the area.

Cumwhitton:

In a small village,Cumwhitton, in thecounty of Cumbria, innorthern England, thearchaeologists’

uncovered six

4 Julian D. Richards, Pagans and Christians at the frontier: Viking burial in the Danelaw

6

graves of 10th century –the last resting place of twowomen and four men Vikings. The finding was appraisedas one of the most important archaeological discoveriesin Britain. The female burial monuments containedvaluable jewelry,

including bracelets, brooches and a belt lined withcopper, and the men burial contained swords and spears,axes, saddles and trappings of horses.

Since the end of eighth century, groups of Vikings wereravaging the coast of United Kingdom, was burnedvillages and captured the people - those who have notmurdered. From the 9th century, the Scandinavianconquerors came with whole armies, many of whichoverwinter in hostile territory - Archaeologistsassume, although it thus far have found little sheltersand those in poor condition. So this recent burialdiscovery is even more important, however, from theremains has not been maintained despite a small pieceof the occipital skull bone, which is "due to extremelyacidic soils in northern England", as stated by R.Newman5.

From the size of the graves and the arrangement ofofferings archaeologists assume that this is a wholeburial of corpses, not for burning. But even so theygive evidence, under which can be representation of theeveryday life of the Vikings in Britain. The dead ofCumwhitton, belonged, probably, the first generation of5 Rachel Newman, Who Was Here in the Dark Ages , Oxford Archaeology North

7

Scandinavians who settled on English soil - were nolonger warriors who sowed fear and terror with dragonshaped vessels and armor was probably symbolic power.Must also have been wealthy members of their community,who, as conquerors, landowners forced the local Anglo-Saxons to work hard on their behalf, as luxuriousweapons were able to have only the very wealthy. Butwomen's jewelry shows the financial soundness of theirowners.

The method of burial shows that the community was onthe threshold of the transition from paganism to theChristian faith - such the position of the dead East-West, but the presence of their favorite itemsindicates that they were not so sure about their newbeliefs, so they were buried along with their objectsso they will ensure the world beyond.

Furthermore to the maintenance of the graves a big roleshould be played the fate. The North buried their deadin depth from 30 to 40 centimeters below the surface.The North buried their dead in depth from 30 to 40centimeters below the surface. The scars from the plowsand other farm work, of so many centuries in theregion, were still visible on the surface of graves,some tools have reached deeper - one of the swords isbroken, while the archaeologists hypothesize that somemust be passed just above the chest of buried. "If the

8

plows reach even 10-15 cm deep would have nothingleft", says Rachel Newman6.

Ingleby:

In the village of Ingleby, the archaeologist JulianRichards discovered further evidence for the presenceof the Grand Army of Vikings. A complex of 60 burialmounds excavated in the 1950's - some of which seem tohave an area of combustion. Accordance with the data,these mounds has been characterized as a Scandinaviancremation cemetery. The goods and the bodies founds

seem to have undergonecremation. Into themounds they foundoutbreaks combustionwhich contain ashes ofburnt bones (human andanimal) and personalitems (jewelry, clothesand weapons).

I have chosen tomention this cemeterybecause it is

6Rachel Newman, Who Was Here in the Dark Ages , Oxford Archaeology North

9

distinguished from other two cemeteries of Repon andCumwhitton. Although the location of Ingleby is not toofar from Repton the management of the dead varies. InRepton (as well in Cumwhitton) we do not see thecombustion of the dead, and that shows up that Vikingstry to be incorporated with the Christian inhabitantsand funeral practices.

Here Viking prefer to stay faithful to the ancient godsand followed the law. Julian D. Richard said that7: InHeimskringla, Snorri Sturluson notes that Odin’s Law:

Decreed that all the dead should be burned, and put on the funeral pyrewith all their possessions. He also said that everyone should come toValhalla with all the property that he had on the pyre, and he should alsoenjoy the use of what he had himself buried in the earth, and moundsshould be raised in memory of men of rank.

We cannot certainly know what led Vikings to remainloyal to their traditions. It might be the fear ofdenial of their roots or the fear of revenge by theirgods. Another explanation that can be given to thediversity of this cemetery is the fact that the Vikingswere operating as separate clans, so they had theoption to choose if they agreed to convert toChristianity.

Conclusion:

7 Julian D. Richards, Pagans and Christians at the frontier: Viking burial in the Danelaw

10

Inevitably, Vikings influenced and were influenced bythe English Christians.Αs warriors, as settlers, asexplorers and as traders the Vikings were thecoefficients of a remarkable social and politicalchange. Motivating global economic growth andfortification of Europe along with the development ofnational identity, advances inshipbuilding and navigation.The cruelty raids gave Vikings theeternal reputation of Barbarians.But in the quest for prosperity,wealth and control the Vikings didnot destroy Western civilization they enriched it.

Bibliography:

11

1. The Vikings:

T.D. Kendrick, 1930, A history of the Vikings, Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.

H.R. Loyn, 1977, The Vikings in Britain, Book ClubAssociates, London

2. Repton:

Julian D. Richards, Pagans and Christians at the frontier: Viking burial in the Danelaw

D.M. Hadley, The Vikings in England-settlement, society and culture, Manchester University Press, p.237

3. Cumwhitton:

Rachel Newman, Who Was Here in the Dark Ages , Oxford Archaeology North

British Archaeology, Cumbrian Heritage, Available at: http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba79/feat3.shtml

(Accessed 27 November 2011)

12

The Norse burial ground at Cumwhitton, Available at:

http://oxfordarch.co.uk/html_pages/microsites/vikingburial/indepth.htm

(Accessed 27 November 2011)

4. Ingleby:

Julian D. Richards, Pagans and Christians at the frontier: Viking burial in the Danelaw

D. M. Hadley, Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History 15, 2008, Warriors, Heroes and Companions: Negotiating Masculinity in Viking-Age England

D.M. Hadley, The Vikings in England-settlement, society and culture, Manchester University Press, p.237

5. Images:

D. M. Hadley, Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology andHistory 15, 2008, Warriors, Heroes and Companions: Negotiating Masculinity in Viking-Age England, p.238

The Norse burial ground at Cumwhitton, Available at:

13

http://oxfordarch.co.uk/html_pages/microsites/vikingburial/indepth.htm (Accessed 27 November 2011)

British Archaeology, Cumbrian Heritage, Available at: http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba79/feat3.shtml

(Accessed 27 November 2011)

The Vikings, http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=el&tab=wi

14