Isotopic provenancing of the Salme ship burials in Pre-Viking Age Estonia. (19th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Price, T. Douglas; Peets, Jüri; Allmäe, Raili; Maldre, Liina; Oras, Ester
• Is Part Of: Antiquity. Volume 90:Number 352(2016)
• Page Start: 1022
• Page End: 1037
• Publication Date: 2016-07-19
• Subjects: Estonia, -- Pre-Viking Age, -- isotopic analysis, -- ship burial, -- grave goods; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Antiquities -- Periodicals; 930.05
• DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2016.106
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-598X

Abstract

Abstract: Abstract : Ship burials are a well-known feature of Scandinavian Viking Age archaeology, but the discovery of 41 individuals buried in two ships in Estonia belongs to the Pre-Viking period and is the first of its kind in Europe. The two crews met a violent end around AD 750, and were buried with a variety of richly decorated weapons, tools, gaming pieces and animal bones. The rich grave goods suggest that this was a diplomatic delegation protected by a cohort of elite warriors. They were armed with swords of Scandinavian design, possibly from the Stockholm-Mälaren region, and stable isotope analysis is consistent with that being the probable homeland of the crew.