Rare Viking Embroidery Found in 1000-Year-Old Grave in Norway

Ancient Origens ^ | 13 JUNE, 2021 - 18:07 | RUDRA BHUSHAN

[BenLurkin]

A piece of textile fabric from a grave, dated to the Viking Age, has been found in southern Norway, dated to 850-950 AD. The grave of a woman was uncovered at Hestnes in southern Trøndelag county, during a spate of excavations in 2020, along with textile tools and a wool comb. The evidence suggests she was a textile worker. The dull brown 1000-year-old wool Viking embroidery fabric was found preserved on top of a turtle brooch.

“Those of us who work with textiles are happy if we find a piece of fabric that’s one cm by one cm. In this case we have an almost 11 cm textile remnant. Unearthing embroidery in addition is completely unique. Embroidered textiles from the Viking Age are something we know only from a few opulent graves, like Oseberg and Mammengraven in Denmark,” said archaeologist Ruth Iren Øien.

The grave of the deceased woman was found in a wooden burial chamber, called a chamber grave. The grave was below a long mound, which was rather unusual for central Norway.... “Chamber graves are mainly widespread in Birka in Sweden and in former Danish areas – Denmark including Scania... south-eastern parts of Norway, and Hedeby in today’s Germany,” said Raymond Sauvage, archaeologist and project manager for the excavation.

The grave goods included textile tools , a three-lobed brooch (most commonly found in Denmark), and several hundred miniature pearls. Miniature pearls have only been found previously in a handful of Norwegian graves. “The pearls were concentrated over her right shoulder, but we don’t know if they were a pearl necklace or something else. A find from Hedeby with similar pearls has been interpreted as being pearl embroidery in one form or another, and it’s plausible that the same is the case here.”

[BenLurkin]

[Tennessee Nana]

PING

[Salamander]

” on top of a turtle brooch”

I was unaware that turtles even wore brooches back then.

[PLMerite]

“I was unaware that turtles even wore brooches back then.”

They needed help with the catch.

[a fool in paradise]

>>They needed help with the catch.

Someone should sign them up for the Cubs.

[BenLurkin]

Reconstructions of two of the elite textile examples found in the Bjerringhøj mound in
Denmark. (The National Museum of Denmark)

[BenLurkin]

Only the very best turtles.

[LIConFem]

” The grave of the deceased woman …”

Odd that the author felt a need to point out that the woman was dead.

[BenLurkin]

“Where we found the dead broad” wasn’t good enough for the editor.

[gundog]

A lot classier than stickers.

[bgill]

Best dressed turtle in town.

[TheGreatFazool]

I think the embroidery was a Minnesota Vikings logo. Long time fan with season tickets

[gundog]

It looks like a Western Pond Turtle. They’re kinda plain. Still, they’d probably put you in jail for having one, with or without stickers.

[BenLurkin]

[jerod]

Grandma.... They found you.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Tennessee Nana.

[Red Badger]

Pingy!..........................

[Red Badger]

Fashions come and go, and then come back...................

[Red Badger]

[gleeaikin]

There are 2 images at the article. I tried to transfer the second image but did not succeed. Maybe someone else can.