Graves of wealthy Viking women discovered in Norway: jewelry and a stone similar to genitals were inside

In Norway, archaeologists have found many valuable artifacts from the Viking Age. The excavations revealed the graves of three respected and wealthy women of the early 9th century.

Among the most interesting finds are jewelry, sword weaving, and a stone that looks like genitals. According to experts, the graves filled with treasures reveal the high status of women in Viking society, The Jerusalem Post writes.

The discovery began after artifact collectors used metal detectors last year to find an ancient coin and brooch near the city of Fitzhar, on the west coast of Norway. This led to excavations in Skumsnes, where it was confirmed that the relics belonged to the Viking era.

The scientist emphasized the amazing condition of the objects discovered in Skumsnes. "Finding a burial ground with such well-preserved artifacts is something special," said Søren Dijnhoff, an archaeologist at the University Museum of Bergen, emphasizing that many of the buried were adorned with exquisite jewelry that was well-preserved.

One of the graves contains stones carefully stacked in the shape of a long Viking boat, known as a boat grave. According to Arkeonews, it was the most luxurious burial of a high-ranking woman.

In this grave, archaeologists found oval-shaped jewelry and brooches typical of Viking women's clothing, including items that likely originated in England or Ireland. Near the buried lady were also wool scissors, a spindle, and a weaving sword, all tools used in textile production.

"Textile production was prestigious. Farms that produced good clothes had high status," said Dijnhoff, emphasizing the role of women in society, according to Popular Science. The presence of a bronze key in the grave symbolized the position of a woman as the head of the family, experts say.

Eleven silver coins were found among the graves, including one from Hedeby, a rare variant from the Danish Viking cities of Hedeby or Ribe. "This coin is probably the best find," the archaeologist said.

According to the researchers, the 11 silver coins, along with a necklace of 46 glass beads, demonstrate the vast trade networks of the Viking Age.

But the most original artifact found in the boat's grave was a stone resembling female genitalia, which researchers call a vulva stone. "The fact that the stone resembles a woman is not a coincidence. It is so obvious," Søren Dijnhoff emphasized. The stone was placed where the mast of a stone ship was supposed to be, possibly serving as a marker to indicate that the grave belonged to a woman, experts suggest.

Despite the abundance of artifacts, no skeletal remains were found at the site. "This is a problem with the West Coast. The soil eats away at the bones here," the archaeologist said. This absence also led researchers to speculate on the nature of the burials. One theory is that the boat grave may actually be a cenotaph – a memorial for someone buried elsewhere.

The second woman found was buried in a natural rock fissure lined with stones, which was a common practice of the Vikings at the time, researchers say. In her grave, the archaeologists found more jewelry, including oval brooches and a necklace, indicating her high status. The researchers believe that both women could have come from abroad and married local Vikings.

The findings in Skumsnes have prompted plans for further excavations. Archaeologists believe there may be about 20 graves in the area. "The metal detectors picked up signals in many places. The burial site is right under the peat. The signals are so strong that we can almost pinpoint exactly where the brooches are," said Søren Dijnhoff.

Viking Age expert Ann Pedersen, who has studied jewelry, crafts, and decorative objects from the period, emphasized that these discoveries highlight the importance of fabric production in Viking society and the financial influence that women had in the textile business.

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