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RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF
A VENDEL ERA BOAT-GRAVE
IN SALME, SAAREMAA
,Q 6HSWHPEHU DQ LOOXPLQDWHG F\FOLQJ WUDFN ZDV JRLQJ WR EH EXLOW
DORQJ WKH 6}UYH URDG EHWZHHQ 7HKXPDUGL DQG 6DOPH RQ WKH LVODQG RI
6DDUHPDD:KLOHDQHOHFWULFDOFDEOHWUHQFKZDVEHLQJGXJIRUWKHOLJKWLQJRI
the track, a large number of human bones were found near the border
RIWKH6DOPHYLOODJH,QDGGLWLRQWRWKHERQHVWKHZRUNHUVIRXQGDVSHDU
head, a sword blade, a knife, some gaming pieces, two dice1 and half a dozen
of iron rivets. The construction work was stopped, and rescue excavations
ÀQDQFHG E\ WKH 1DWLRQDO +HULWDJH %RDUG DQG DUUDQJHG E\ 6DDUHPDD
Museum were initiated. The excavations directed by Jüri Peets (AI) and
.OOL 5LNDV 60, ODWHU E\ 0DUJH .RQVD 7h UHYHDOHG WKH UHPDLQV RI
a 7th century ship. The workers digging the cable ditch had dug into the
stern of the ship.
ON BOAT-GRAVES IN ESTONIA AND ELSEWHERE
Burials in boats became more and more common among the elite of north
HUQ(XURSH IURPWKH WKFHQWXU\ $'DV DZD\ RIEXULDO VXLWDEOHIRU WKH
noble social standing. There were different ways of conducting such burials.
The most common way was burying an unburned boat in a trench or placing
it on the ground with supports. The boats were either covered with wood
WRIRUPD ÁDW VXUIDFHRUFRYHUHGZLWK D EDUURZ0OOHU:LOOH
Usually the body was placed in the middle of the boat, sometimes also into a
specially built chamber with rich grave goods – weapons, household items,
horses, dogs and other animals and birds. The most famous boat burials of
9HQGHO(UDLQ(VWRQLDQSHULRGLVDWLRQDOVR3UH9LNLQJ$JHDUH9lOVJlUGH
ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK IN ESTONIA 2008
MARGE KONSA
marge.konsa@ut.ee
Tartu Ülikool
(University of Tartu)
Lossi 3, 51003 Tartu
Estonia
RAILI ALLMÄE
raili.allmae@ai.ee
Tallinna Ülikool, Ajaloo Instituut
(Institute of History,
Tallinn University)
Rüütli 6, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia
LIINA MALDRE
liina.maldre@ai.ee
53
JÜRI VASSILJEV
jyri.vassiljev@gi.ee
Tallinna Tehnikaülikool
(
Institute of Geology,
Tallinn University of Technology
)
Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn
Estonia
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DQG9HQGHOLQHDVWHUQ6ZHGHQDQGWKHUR\DOWKFHQWXU\ERDWEXULDORI6XW
WRQ+RRLQ(QJODQG7KHJUHDWHVWQXPEHURIVXFKEXULDOVKDVEHHQGLVFRY
HUHGRQWKHIMRUGULFK1RUZHJLDQFRDVWOLQH7KHQXPEHURILQKXPDWLRQDQG
FUHPDWLRQEXULDOVIURPWKH9HQGHO(UDLVPRUHRUOHVVHTXDOEXWGXULQJWKH
following Viking Age, the cremation is dominant in such graves. All the Ven
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7KHUH DUH DSSUR[LPDWHO\ SUHKLVWRULF EXULDO VLWHV DORQJ (VWRQLDQ
coastline and on the islands, where iron rivets have been found. Usu
ally, the number of rivets collected from a site is very small. The mini
PXPQXPEHURIULYHWVQHFHVVDU\WREXLOGDERDWLV0OOHU:LOOH
DQGWKHUHDUHOHVVWKDQEXULDOVLWHVLQ(VWRQLDIURPZKLFKVXFK
a number has been found. Among these sites, a remarkable one is Viltina
VWRQHJUDYH ÀHOG LQ6DDUHPDD 'XULQJ WKHH[FDYDWLRQV RI WKHVLWH PRUH
than a thousand rivets were found, half of which were collected from a
VWRQHIUHH DUHD DERXW PHWUHV ORQJ DQG PHWUHV ZLGH 9DVVDU
Regretfully, the shape and possible construction of the boat has remained
unknown. There were no artefacts or burials clearly related to the boat
and so the dating of the boat has remained uncertain as well.
7KHEHWWHUSUHVHUYHGVKLSÀQGVIURP(VWRQLDDUHIURPDODWHUHUD$
cog found from the Pärnu River has been dated to late 13th to early 14th
century. The Maasilinna shipwreck that was raised from the strait Väike
9lLQQHDU 6DDUHPDD RULJLQDWHV IURPWKH WK FHQWXU\ 5RLR 7KLV
PHDQVWKDWWKH6DOPHVKLSLVWKHROGHVWRIDNLQGLQ(VWRQLDDQGLQVHYHUDO
DVSHFWVDOVR D UHPDUNDEOHÀQG LQ WKHZLGHUFRQWH[W RI WKHFXOWXUDO DQG
PDULWLPHKLVWRU\RIWKH%DOWLF6HD
LOCATION OF SALME SHIP-FIND
7KH6DOPH VKLSZDVORFDWHG PWRWKHQRUWK RIWKH6DOPH5LYHU ZKLFK
VHSDUDWHV 6}UYH 3HQLQVXOD IURP WKH VRXWKZHVWHUQ 6DDUHPDD 7KH VLWH
is situated about 230 m away from the contemporary coastal line, and
P DERYH WKH VHD OHYHO 7KH ZDWHU OHYHO UHFRQVWUXFWLRQV IRU 6DDUH
maa, based on the databases of shoreline and buried organic sediments
GDWD6DDUVH et al. 2003; 2006) indicate that the sea level in the 7th cen
WXU\ $' 6DDUHPDD PD\ KDYH EHHQ QR PRUH WKDQ P KLJKHU WKDQ LQ
FXUUHQWWLPHDQGVRWKHERWWRPRIWKH6DOPH VKLSPDERYH SUHVHQW
day sea level) was about 1.2 m above the sea level. Hence, the sea water
FRXOGUHDFKWKH6DOPHVKLS RQO\ GXULQJ VWRUPV ,Q WKHWK FHQWXU\ 6}UYH
3HQLQVXODZDVDQLVODQGVHSDUDWHGIURP6DDUHPDDE\D QDUURZDERXW
WRPZLGHVWUDLW)LJ7KH6DOPHVKLSZDVVLWXDWHGLQWKHYHUWH[RID
KHDGODQGZKLFKZDVMXWWLQJVHDZDUGVIURPWKHHDVWHUQSHDNRI6DDUHPDD
To the east of the headland was Livonian Bay and to the west, the Gulf of
$ULVWHZKLFKH[WHQGHGWRDQDUHDWKDWQRZLVDKD\ÀHOGEHKLQGWKH6DOPH
schoolhouse, 200 m east from the ship.
7KHERDWZDVEXULHGLQWKHVHGLPHQWDU\VDQGRIDIRUPHUVHDÁRRUDQG
VLWXDWHG LQ WKH 1(²6: GLUHFWLRQ ZLWK DQ DEVROXWH EHDULQJ RI ,W LV
54
MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE & JÜRI VASSILJEV
55
FRPPRQWKDW WKH SURZRIWKHERDWVLQ WKH ERDWJUDYHVSRLQWHGQRUWKZDUGV
which evidently had ideological and religious meanings. It has also been no
ticed, that the weapons, especially spears, have often been found from the
stern of the boat (Larsson 2007, 275). Considering similar examples, it is
OLNHO\WKDWWKHSURZRIWKH6DOPHVKLSZDVSRLQWHGWRQRUWKHDVW
DATA ABOUT THE SHIP
When the excavations began, a part of the prow, about 7 m long and 1.3 m
wide, was extant. Digging the trench had destroyed the stern. Luckily,
a 35 cm piece of the sternpost had been spared in one side of the trench.
This piece made it possible to determine the length of the ship, and
the orientation of its horizontal axis. The endmost distance between the
rivets found from the prow and from the stern was 10 m. The amidships
had been preserved for about 0.5 m in height. The part of the ship above it,
as well as the stem, had been destroyed. In the sternpost part, untouched
by the construction workers, the rivets were situated right below the turf,
only a couple of centimetres deeper.
7KHZRRGHQKXOORIWKHVKLSZDVDOPRVWFRPSOHWHO\GU\URWWHQ2QO\
some very thin strips of softwood planks and pieces of the support beam
of the frame made of pine2 had been preserved. Most of the data about the
shape and the construction of the ship were gathered by taking bearings
FRDVWOLQH$'
UDQQDMRRQS.U
present road /
tänapäevane maantee
SUHVHQWFRDVWOLQH
UDQQDMRRQWlQDSlHYDO
1 km
0
14.0 m
12.5 m
10.0 m
7.5 m
5.0 m
2.5 m
0.0 m
– 2.5 m
– 5.0 m
Fig. 1. The location of the Salme
ship-find.
Jn 1. Salme laevaleiu asukoht.
Drawing / Joonis: Jüri Vassiljev
27KHVSHFLHVZDVGHWHUPLQHGE\5HJLQR.DVNIURP(VWRQLDQ8QLYHUVLW\RI/LIH6FLHQFHV
RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA
BOAT- GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA
56
Fig. 2. View towards prow at
stern. The support beam
of the fifth frame in the
foreground.
Jn 2. Vaade väljapuhastatud
laevale ahtrist vööri
suunas. Esiplaanil on
näha viienda kaare
tugitala.
Photo / Foto: Maili Roio
MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE & JÜRI VASSILJEV
57
of the outline of the ship and the placement of the
rivets in the site (Fig. 2).
Altogether, 275 rivets were found during the exca
YDWLRQV7KHH[DFWORFDWLRQRIRIWKHPZDVSLQSRLQW
ed. Following the distance between the rows of the riv
ets, it can be said, that 30 cm wide planks were used, and
WKDWWKHVHZHUHMRLQHGZLWKLURQULYHWVE\FOLQNHUSODQN
ing, in which the edge of one plank slightly overlays the
other. The rivets were about 3 –4 cm long, which means
that the planks used were very thin, about 1.5 – 2 cm
in thickness. In the middle of the northern part of the
ship there was a keel, about 15 cm wide and narrowing
towards the prow. On both sides of the prow, planks
were riveted – a keel strake next to the keel and a side
strake added to it.
9HOOR 0lVV ZKR DQDO\]HG WKH FRQ
struction of the vessel, came to a conclusion, that the
6DOPHVKLSPLJKWKDYHEHHQPORQJZLWKDPD[L
mum width of 2 m (Figs. 3; 4). The sea gauge of the
ship, with a low skid keel, may have been 0.4 m and the
height of the boardside in the middle of the ship 0.75 m.
The rows of rivets on the upper edge of the side strake
showed that the ship had also had a third side strake,
DQGSRVVLEO\HYHQDIRXUWKRQH²DZDVKVWUDNH7KHVKLS
had eight frames and these were probably attached by
ODVKLQJ%\LWVW\SHWKH6DOPHVKLSLVDWZHOYHRDUURZ
ing ship, its sophistication ranging between the log boat
DQGWKHYLNLQJVKLS 7KH VKDSH RI WKH 6DOPH VKLS ZDV
characteristic to a military vessel – it was fast, light
and easily manoeuvrable. It can be considered to be an
H[DPSOHRIWKH%DOWLF6HDHDVWFRDVWVKLSEXLOGLQJWHFK
nology and tradition.
ARTEFACTS
Most of the artefacts and human bones were collected from
WKHVWHUQIURPDERXWPORQJDUHD7KHVHREMHFWVZHUH
gathered by shifting through the soil removed from the
trench, and so, the exact locations of the artefacts remain
XQNQRZQ7KH ZHDSRQ ÀQGV IURP WKH VWHUQ FRQVLVWHG RI
two spearheads (Fig. 5) and artefacts related to swords.
Fig. 3. Reconstruction of the
hull’s shape. Crosses mark
the location of rivets and
numbers mark the frames
at the excavated area.
Jn 3. Salme laeva kuju
rekonstruktsioon.
Ristidega on tähistatud
neetide asukohad ja
numbritega kaared
kaevatud alal.
Drawing / Joonis: Marge Konsa
1 m
0
1
2
3
4
5
RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA
BOAT- GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA
58
7KHDUWHIDFWVLQFOXGHGDVZRUGKLOWZLWKWKUHHVLGHGSRP
PHO)LJD8VKDSHGVFDEEDUGHQGDQGIUDJPHQWVRI
WZRVZRUGEODGHVRQHZLWKDGRXEOHHGJHGEODGHDQGDQ
RWKHUZLWKDRQHHGJHGEODGH )URPWKHNQLYHV IRXQG
IURPWKHVKLSZHUHIURPWKHWUHQFKDVZHOODVÀYHRXW
of eight whetstones and three arrowheads out of six. The
two dice (Fig. 7: 1) and most of the gaming pieces were
also from the stern. The actual number of dice in the ship
remains unclear, but the preserved ones are elongated
and rectangular in shape, all of their sides marked with
DQ H\H PRWLI WZR FLUFOHV LQVLGH RQH DQRWKHU 7KH KDOI
sphere shaped gaming pieces are made of bovine bone
and whalebone. The set of gaming pieces consists of 72
VRFDOOHG¶ZDUULRU·SLHFHVDQGRQH¶NLQJ·SLHFH7KLVJDPLQJ
SLHFHLVGHFRUDWHGZLWKDQLQWHUWZLQHGRUQDPHQWDQGKDV
an image of a man cut into it (Fig. 7: 2).
The exact location of the artefacts and bones in the
rest of the ship has been documented after its discov
ery. Prior to that, the upper horizontal layer of the ship,
about 20 cm thick, was dug off. Above the sixth frame
of the ship, in the bank of the trench, three skulls with
some bones of upper body had been left. An accumu
lation of human bones was also discovered in the area
between the third and the fourth frame. Above the third
frame, 26.7 cm from the bottom of the boat, a slab of
limestone (40 cm in diameter) with an unknown func
tion was discovered. There was a human skull next to it.
Fig. 4. The cross-section of the
ship at the third frame.
The height of the rivets is
in meters above sea level.
Jn 4. Ristlõige laevast 3. kaare
kohal. Neetide kõrgused
on meetrites üle mere
pinna.
Drawing / Joonis: Marge Konsa
Fig. 5. Spearhead from stern
found by the workers.
Jn 5. Teetööliste leitud odaots
laeva ahtrist.
(SM 10601: 1.)
Photo / Foto: Mirja Ots
Fig. 6. Sword hilt found from
stern.
Jn 6. Mõõga käepide laeva ahtrist.
(SM 10601: 228.)
Photo / Foto: Mirja Ots
1 cm
0
1 cm
0
MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE & JÜRI VASSILJEV
59
During the excavation of the inside layer the ship (30 cm thick),
a 10–14 cm layer of gravel was discovered. It had settled into the bottom
of the boat and contained no artefacts. A thin dark brown layer of organic
matter overlaid it. The dark brown layer may have been the remains
of the boards of a burial platform. Above this layer, there was a gravel
layer, containing artefacts and animal bones.
The artefacts were situated in three zones. Two arrowheads were dis
FRYHUHGQHDU WKH ÀUVWIUDPHRI WKH SURZVWDUERDUGDQG D ZKHWVWRQHDQG
a knife from the port side. Next to the abovementioned limestone slab,
DJDPLQJSLHFHDGLFHDQDUURZKHDGDQGIRXUSLHFHVRIÁLQWZHUHIRXQG7KH
third assemblage of artefacts was found amidships in the area between the
IRXUWKDQGWKHÀIWKIUDPH$NQLIHDQGDVRFDOOHGVZRUGVKDUSHQLQJVWRQH
15.7 cm in length, were discovered there. Near these, a piece of resin, 5.3 cm
LQGLDPHWHUZDVIRXQGDSLHFHRISODLQZHDYHVWXFNWRLW1H[WWRWKHÀIWK
frame, port side, a small iron tool with a socket was found. Animal bones
were found in smaller or bigger accumulations in the bow, on an area about
2.5 m in length. There was also a clearer accumulation of animal bones near
WKHÀIWKIUDPHZKHUHWZRSLHFHVRILURQDQGDEURQ]HÀWWLQJZHUHIRXQG
In the sternpost of the ship, two knives were found from under
WKHWXUIDQG SLHFHV RI D FRPE FP EHORZ WKHP ,W ZDV D WKUHHSDUW RQH
VLGHGFRPEZLWKZLGH MRLQLQJ SODWHV GHFRUDWHG ZLWK DQ H\H PRWLI DQG OLQH
ornament (Fig. 8).
6HYHUDOLWHPV OLNH WKH VZRUGVKDUSHQLQJVWRQHRU WKH VHWRIJDPLQJ
SLHFHVDQGGLFHDUHXQLTXHDPRQJWKHDUWHIDFWVIURP0LGGOH,URQ$JH(VWR
QLDEXWFKDUDFWHULVWLFWRWKHJUDYHJRRGVRIHOLWHERDWJUDYHVLQ6FDQGLQDYLD
HJ$UQH$UZLGVVRQ6WROSH$UQH:KLWWDNHU7KH
JUDYHJRRGVRIWKH6DOPHERDWJUDYHODFNDQ\KRXVHKROGLWHPVSRWWHU\RU
QDPHQWVKRUVHKDUQHVVHWFWKDWDUHFKDUDFWHULVWLFWRWKHERDWJUDYHEXULDOV
of the local elite. The whole assemblage of the artefacts can be related to the
equipment needed by armed seafarers.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF OSTEOLOGIC ANALYSES
Unfortunately during the rescue excavations the exact location of human
ERQHV ZDV QRW À[HG 7KXV PRVW RI WKH KXPDQ ERQHV ZHUH FRPPLQJOHG
Fig. 7. Dice (1) and game piece
with human figure (2).
Jn 7. Täring (1) ja inimese
kujutisega mängunupp
(2).
(SM 10601: 211, 222.)
Photo / Foto: Mirja Ots
1 cm
0
1 2
RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA
BOAT- GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA
60
DQ\ZD\RQO\IHZSDUWVRIVNHOHWRQVZHUHLQWDFW,WLVGLIÀFXOWWRVD\ZKHQ
the skeletons were disturbed, because there have been several former
road constructions and cabling works carried out in the past. During
the archaeological excavations it was noticed, that human bones were
in somewhat higher level in comparison with animal bones, of course we
cannot say anything about the bones in the cable trench area, which were
collected before archaeological rescue excavations. The bone material was
mainly fragmentary; especially craniums and long bones were broken.
Preliminary osteologic analyses of the human bones collected main
ly from the cable trench and soil heaps were conducted on the 3rd of
November, 2008 on site (before the beginning of archaeological rescue ex
cavations). The results of preliminary osteologic analyses referred to at
OHDVWWKH VNHOHWDO UHPDLQV RI ÀYHSHRSOH /DWHURQ IROORZLQJWKH UHVFXH
excavation and in laboratory conditions, two additional skeletons were
determined.
Hence the results of osteologic analyses indicated the remains of
seven men inside the ship contour. The number of men was determined on
WKHEDVLVRIIDFLDOSDUWVRIFUDQLXPVKLSERQHVWLELDOERQHVDQGKHHOERQHV
The usual method of recurrent bone fragments was used, which is common
for analysing commingled bones.
The number of human skeletons – 7 – found inside one burial boat
LVH[FHSWLRQDO3ULRUWRWKH6DOPHERDWJUDYHWKHUHLVQRLQIRUPDWLRQDERXW
EXULDOERDWVZLWKLQKXPDWLRQVLQ(VWRQLD
8QWLO WRGD\ RQO\ WZR EXULDO ERDWV DUH NQRZQ LQ QRUWKHUQ (XURSH
ZKHUH WKH QXPEHU RI VNHOHWRQV IRXQG LQ LV PRUH WKDQ WZR 7KH ÀUVW LV
WKH ERDWJUDYH RI 1DEEHU|U GLVFRYHUHG LQ RQ WKH LVODQG RI gODQG LQ
6ZHGHQ/DPP ZKHUHVNHOHWRQVZHUH IRXQG LQVLGHWKHERDW
DQG WKH VHFRQG LV WKH 9LNLQJ $JH ERDW EXULDO IRXQG LQ 6FDU 2UNQH\
LQ6FRWODQGLQZKHUHWKHVNHOHWRQVRIWKUHHSHRSOHZHUHIRXQGLQVLGH
WKHERDWUHPDLQV*UDKDP&DPSEHOO%DWH\
7KHDQLPDOERQHVZHUHFROOHFWHGIURPWKHSUHVHUYHGSDUWRIWKH6DOPH
ship and from the cable trench area. No animal bones were found outside
WKHVKLSFRQWRXUQRULQWKHSURÀOHVPDGHDURXQGWKHVKLSWKXVZHPD\
con
clude that all the animal bones were originally inside the ship.
Fig. 8. Fragments of comb found
nearby sternpost.
Jn 8. Ahtertäävi juurest leitud
kammi katkendid.
(SM 10601: 272, 271.)
Photo / Foto: Mirja Ots
1 cm
0
MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE & JÜRI VASSILJEV
61
7KH SUHOLPLQDU\ DUFKDHR]RRORJLFDO DQDO\VHV LQGLFDWHG PDLQO\ WKH
remains of domesticated animals: bovine (Bos taurus), sheep (Ovis ar-
ies), goat (Capra hircus) and pig (Sus scrofa domestica), but also bird
bones were present. The bovine bones dominated in the preserved part
of the boat, in the cable trench area (the disturbed area) – the bones of
sheep / goat were most common. No complete skeletons of animals were
found, only the parts of skeletons, which indicated that the hashed car
casses were placed into the boat.
7KHUHLVDUHPDUNDEOHGLIIHUHQFHEHWZHHQWKHDUFKDHR]RRORJLFDOPD
WHULDOV RI 6ZHGLVK ERDWJUDYHV DQG WKH 6DOPH ERDWJUDYH ,Q QHDUO\ DOO
6ZHGLVK9HQGHODQG9LNLQJ$JHERDWJUDYHV²9DOVJlUGH$UZLGVVRQ
²$UZLGVVRQ²)ULGHOO9HQGHO6WROSH$UQH
cUE\ $UEPDQ² DQG7XQDLQ $OVLNH$UQH ²
WKHERQHVRIGRJVDQGKRUVHVKDYHEHHQIRXQGLQWKH6DOPHVKLSUHPDLQV
the bones of dogs and horses are totally absent.
RADIOCARBON DATINGS
A piece of wood that had preserved of a plank on the port board of the
VKLSZDVGDWHGLQWKHUDGLRFDUERQ$06PHWKRG3 The results showed that
WKHSLQHXVHGIRUWKHSODQNZDVFXWGRZQEHWZHHQ² $' )LJ
7KHZHLJKWHGDYHUDJHRIWKHFDOLEUDWHGGDWHLV$'$QRWKHUVDPSOH4
was taken from a tibia of a bovine (Bos taurus), and dated to 656–773 AD,
ZLWKWKHZHLJKWHGDYHUDJHRIWKHFDOLEUDWHGGDWHRI$'$OVRWZRVDP
ples5RIKXPDQERQHVZHUHGDWHGE\WKH$06PHWKRG:LWKWKHSUREDELOLW\
RIERWKVDPSOHVLQGLFDWHGWKDWKXPDQEXULDOVGDWHGIURP
3+HOD
4+HOD
RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA
BOAT- GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA
Fig. 9. Radiocarbon datings.
Jn 9. Radiosüsiniku dateeringud.
62
WKH SHULRG ² $' )RU ERWK VDPSOHV WKH ÀUVW SHDN RI FDOLEUDWHG
dating was of higher probability (41.4%; 51.8% respectively) in comparison
with the second and any later ones ( 26.8%; 16.4% respectively), thus the
most plausible calibrated dating of human bones is between 650–720 AD.
,Q FRQFOXVLRQ FRQVLGHULQJ WKH UHVXOWV RI FDUERQ GDWLQJ DQG WKH FKURQR
ORJ\RIWKHDUWHIDFWVWKH6DOPHERDWJUDYHRULJLQDWHVIURPWKH9HQGHO(UD
3UH9LNLQJ $JH SUREDEO\ IURP WKH SHULRG ² $' 7KH VKLS XVHG
IRU WKH EXULDO ZDV SUREDEO\ EXLOW LQ WKH ÀUVW KDOI RI WKH WK FHQWXU\
DQGKDGKDGLWVVKDUHRIYR\DJHVEHIRUHFRPLQJWRLWVÀQDOSRUWLQ6DOPH
Another sample6 was taken from outside the ship, from a coal found
in a thin layer of clay 20 cm below the bottom of the ship. The result was
2.–3. centuries AD, when shallow water covered the site.
CONCLUSIONS
&RPSDUHGWRRWKHUNQRZQERDWJUDYHVIURPWKH9HQGHO(UDDQGWKH9LNLQJ
$JHWKH 6DOPH VKLSÀQGKDV VHYHUDO GLIIHUHQWFKDUDFWHULVWLFV7KH PRVW
REYLRXV RQH LV WKH JUHDW QXPEHU RI KXPDQ VNHOHWRQV IRXQG LQ WKH ERDW
JUDYH$QRWKHULVWKHDEVHQFHRIDQLPDOVFRPPRQLQ6ZHGLVKERDWJUDYHV²
KRUVHDQGGRJ$OVRWKHDVVHPEODJHRIDUWHIDFWVLVVSHFLÀFDQGFDQEHUH
lated to the equipment used by a warship crew.
The events surrounding the men, who found their burial place in
6DOPHDUHXQNQRZQ:KHWKHUWKH\ZHUHORFDORUIRUHLJQHUVGLHGE\DFFL
dent, disease or violence, are questions not yet answered. The grave goods
UHVHPEOLQJ WKRVH IURP 6FDQGLQDYLD DV ZHOO DV WKH ZD\ RI EXULDO GLIIHU
HQW IURP RWKHU (VWRQLDQ ERDWJUDYHV RI WKH SHULRG FUHPDWLRQV LQ VWRQH
graves) may refer to people from overseas. At the same time, the boat
it
VHOIVHHPVWREHFRQVWUXFWHGPRUHDFFRUGLQJWRWKHVKLSEXLOGLQJWUDGLWLRQ
RIWKHHDVWHUQVKRUHRIWKH%DOWLF6HD$OVRWKHRFFXUUHQFHRI6FDQGLQDYLDQ
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has had international characteristics and been related to different cultural
traditions for a long time. Thus the local origin of the deceased or mourners
can not be excluded. Hopefully, the results of ongoing analysis will soon en
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Acknowledgements: this study was supported by
the European Union through the European
Regional Development Fund (Center of Excellence
CECT) and by the research grants from Estonian
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63
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RESCUE EXCAVATIONS OF A VENDEL ERA
BOAT- GRAVE IN SALME, SAAREMAA
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SALME EELVIIKINGIAEGSE
LAEVAMATUSE PÄÄSTEKAEVAMISED
SAAREMAAL
MARGE KONSA, RAILI ALLMÄE, LIINA MALDRE ja JÜRI VASSILJEV