Dogs in the Oseberg Viking ship burial: what the evidence shows

Part 1

How many dogs were found

One account states that four dogs were found in the mound, alongside 15 horses and one ox. Another account, describing skeletal remains found on the ship, lists three dogs, along with 14 horses and an ox. A third source reports six dogs, together with 15 horses and two oxen. A separate account of the grave goods also lists six dogs, alongside fifteen horses.

One source that lists the burial's animal goods also names six dogs among the remains. A further account confirms only that dog skeletons were discovered during the excavation, without stating a number. Given these differences, you should treat any single dog count as one source's figure rather than a settled total.

Part 2

Why animals were placed in the grave

Animal burial alongside humans was practised in Scandinavia from the Bronze Age until Christianity arrived around the year 1000. In Norse mythology, two dogs are described as guarding the gate to the realm of the dead known as Hel. Dogs found in a related grave, the Gokstad burial, have been interpreted as hunting animals. This suggests dogs in these graves could be both symbols and useful. The sacrifice of animals is described as an important and dramatic part of the funeral ritual.

The horses, dogs, and ox found in the mound have also been read as signs of wealth and status. One account describes the animal remains, alongside 15 horses and two oxen, as most likely representing sacrificial animals sent along to accompany the two women.

Part 3

What else was buried with the dogs

• An ox or oxen were also buried in the mound.
• Carved wooden animal head posts were found in the burial, and some viewers see dog heads in their design.
• Decorated sleighs, a wooden cart, beds, and a range of everyday items were buried with the women and animals.

You might notice that the animal head posts add another layer to the dog connection. Some observers describe the carved heads as depicting dogs, while others see horses or other creatures. One theory suggested by a travel writer is that the posts served as fancy key carriers for the two women. No other Viking excavation has produced similar posts, according to one account.

Part 4

The Oseberg ship and its burial

The Oseberg ship itself was built in western Norway and buried fourteen years later in the Slagen valley near Tønsberg. Timbers in the grave chamber have been dated by dendrochronology to the autumn of 834. The mound also held the skeletons of two women, one of whom was elderly and one younger, though it remains unclear which one held more importance in life. The ship and some of its contents are now displayed at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo.

The grave had been disturbed before its 1904 excavation, and objects made of precious metals were missing. Even so, archaeologists recovered a large number of everyday items and artifacts, including textiles, tools, and the carved animal head posts.