Until the arrival of Christianity in the 11th century, Scandinavians practised both cremation and burial. Following on from the earlier practice of burials in ship-like graves, in the Viking period (beginning in the 9th century) the deceased was placed in a ship, which was either buried in the earth or burnt on a pyre, or towed out to sea and then set on fire. Death was seen as a journey and the deceased was accompanied by all the goods, which would be useful in the afterlife, including weapons, animals and servants.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2008
