When you read more sensational stories about Viking history, you will often hear tell of barbaric human sacrifices! While there is evidence of occasional human sacrifices among the Vikings in exceptional circumstances, the practice was rare.

It seems primarily to have been associated with kingship. Ahmad ibn Fadlan observed Volga Vikings, a group of Swedish descent living in the east, and describes a woman sacrificed to be buried alongside her dead chieftain. One of the two women found in the Oseberg ship burial also seems to have been of very high status, and perhaps a Volva (witch). The other women buried with her may have been a sacrifice.

The other evidence of human sacrifices among the Vikings is bog bodies, which are bodies that were interred in bogs, which means that in many cases they are well preserved. There is good evidence for other items, such as precious vessels and boats, being placed in bogs as offerings to the gods. It seems that the bodies may have served the same purpose.

But the truth is that bog bodies are a mysterious phenomenon, and they are not exclusive to the Viking age or realm. They are challenging to interpret, so let’s take a look at what we know.

Tagged Everythingviking 2Vikingviking ageViking Archealogyviking historyVikings