Dorset burial pit Viking had filed teeth

BBC ^ | 7-4-2011

[Renfield]

Archaeologists have discovered one of the victims of a suspected mass Viking burial pit found in Dorset had grooves filed into his two front teeth.

Experts believe a collection of bones and decapitated heads, unearthed during the creation of the Weymouth Relief Road, belong to young Viking warriors.

During analysis, a pair of front teeth was found to have distinct incisions.

Archaeologists think it may have been designed to frighten opponents or show status as a great fighter....

[Renfield]

Archaeologist David Score said the practice would not have been a "pleasant experience"

[PERKY2004]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! That gives me the willies just THINKING about that!!!!!! (Thanks for posting the article)

[SunkenCiv]

· GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach · · join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·
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[SunkenCiv]

• Beheaded Vikings found at Olympic site [2010]
• Builder Found Vikings Washed Up At Pub [2007]

[wolfman23601]

I wonder if it could have been a torture technique?

[SIDENET]

had filed teeth

Would you file them under "T" for "teeth"?

;-)

[Rebelbase]

Quicker way to gnaw through an ear of corn.

[SunkenCiv]

the mass grave site:

• 51 Headless Vikings Found in English Execution Pit?
• 51 Headless Vikings Found in English Execution Pit?
• Mass grave in Dorset contains remains of executed Viking warriors

Viking teeth:

• DNA Study To Settle Ancient Mystery About Mingling Of Inuit, Vikings
• What A Viking's Smile Revealed
• Tooth marks link Vikings, Indians
• Study: Viking Teeth Were Groovy
• Inukpasuit, Inuit and Viking contact in ancient times
• Inuit and viking contact in ancient times

[Ken H]

...had grooves filed into his two front teeth.

He just wanted to wish people a 'Merry Chrithmath'.

[colorado tanker]

Any Viking on that southern coast would have been a raider. Looks like the locals won this encounter.

[Grimmy]

“Archaeologists think it may have been designed to frighten opponents or show status as a great fighter....”

How’d that work? Gimpy teeth are scary? Or, “I’m such a mighty mighty warrior, I ****ed up my teeth!”

My own archaeologist guess? (as a thoroughly non archaeologist, that is)...

This guy was the runt of the litter. The bigger guys held him down and filed his teeth so they could listen to him scream in pain every time he ate or drank something hot or cold.

Or...

This guy fell asleep during an after battle drinking party.