The Giant Viking Boat Burning You’ve Never Heard Of!

We’ve all seen the films. We’ve all seen movies like The Vikings (1958) where a big old longboat is set on fire with flaming arrows as it sails off into the distance with the corpse of a mighty Viking warrior aboard. Lots of valkyries in weird 1950s corsets, lots of tough Old Norse chieftains in horned helmets weeping etc. It's all just a Hollywood myth, right?
But the Old Norse really did cremate people in real actual longships! They really did bury people surrounded by weapons on huge warships then set them alight (not with fire arrows and not on the water, but it’s still a boat and it’s still burning, so that’s a boat burningin my book!), and the one we’re talking about in this video is the biggest one yet found in Norway, and you've probably never even heard of it! You're so mainstream ;)
This one gets a bit nerdy, so I hope you like archaeology and discussions of the artistic and cultural milieu of northwest Europe in the mid-9th century!
This video is also sponsored by History Hit!
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PO Box 821,
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[@cork..]

Watching you talk about stuff youre genuinely excited by is honestly one of life's joys. Thank you, Jimmy, as always. Your passion is as palpable as it is inspiring. And for someone who is 38 and staring down the start of the barrel of going to university to study archaeology after decades of cheffing, I need all the inspiration I can get my one working little hand on. The world is a better place for having you in it, and I'll be grateful to you forever.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

Great to hear you are studying! It can be a rough road. Best of luck!

[@azteclady]

Seconding everything @Cork says here.

[@apcolleen]

If it was this permissible to be this nerdy and passionate about stuff like this in the 80s and it had been on PBS, I would have ended up an academic kitchen-witch thing-builder way sooner in life.

[@Andrea-tr1wm]

I'm danish, and have some experience reading/speaking Norwegian. So I visited the Sagastad website after this very interesting video! It seems that they theorize that there were also a boat burning in the fourth mound! This is due to the 350 nails found in the mound along with a woman's body, she's been buried with jewelery, kitchen and textile tools, animal bones and a "special wand". They believe she might have been a vølve due to the wand. Interesting stuff, even if it is only their website.

[@Andrea-tr1wm]

Edit! The woman's cremated remains were found not her body

[@amygriffiths8942]

LLP l po

[@codename495]

What’s a volve?

[@endroffergudmoen6701]

@@codename495 witches

The mental image of a Viking ordering stuff from China, receiving the package and signing an invoice... "Should I sign with Runes or Ideograms?" "Whatever suits you, I don't know, I'm only paid for delivering". Also, fascinating stuff. Love your videos and happy to see you back!

[@azteclady]

Pausing on my first watch to say: "I'm doing my best with limited knowledge and intelligence" is going to be my very next crossstitch project, because OH BOY, DOES IT RESONATE. Thank you, Jimmy. ::resumes watching::

[@draig2614]

“Standardised spelling is for cowards!” My father would agree with you - he is very dyslexic and a (now retired) physics teacher. In his class, spelling was a democratic exercise - if someone raised their hand and said, “Mr. Jones, that word is spelled wrong,” he would ask the class to vote and however the class decided the word should be spelled is how it went on the blackboard 😂 Diolch for this video and for your contagious enthusiasm (and for sharing a really cool story) 💕 Any day when I see that there is a new Welsh Viking video is a good day!

[@aldercover4240]

i was lucky to get to row the replica ship when it was put to sea and i also did some volunteer work for the ship during building. thanks to the fact that i went to folkehøyskole there that year.

[@SarahGreen523]

Yay! Jimmy hit the big time with a History Hit sponsorship!! Congratulations! You deserve their attention! I'm glad to know that ships and kings were burned in a huge pyre. I was a little disappointed to think that it was a myth. Thanks!

[@BrotherJing1]

My understanding is that humans, being wet and squishy, take a significant amount of planning to cremate without an industrial crematorium. Certain Indian cultures still do this on the regular and have special guys to do it AFAIK. So I would guess you more commonly burnt chappy first then loaded him into the boat. The boat burning presumably being the Wake to the quieter earlier cremation (also probably stops Kingy starting to smell while you move a massive boat and dig a mound).

[@kathyjohnson2043]

Maybe, but it takes a LOT of wood to burn a body and there is certainly a lot of wood in a ship.

[@lenabreijer1311]

​@@kathyjohnson2043yes there is lots of wood but it is all spread out and not in a careful pile with space for air to get the temperature to 1000 c.

[@tamaraclare2059]

Highly recommend you take a look at the "Ask a Mortician" videos. She makes brilliant videos regarding a whole range of death positive topics. It's very funny & moving and less morbid than it sounds!

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

Congrats on the sponsorship; next step, presenting your own vid on their channel. 😉

[@eazy8579]

Imagine the flex that the one Irish craftsman would have had because his art is being buried with foreign kings. Honestly, we need to bring back boat burials, just for the hell of it

[@johannageisel5390]

We just need to reshape coffins a little.

[@erinrising2799]

I'm imagining them having business cards that say "Craftsman of Kings" or "Whose work can be seen in Valhalla"

[@eazy8579]

@@johannageisel5390 what is a coffin except a dirt submarine?

[@johannageisel5390]

@@eazy8579 Exactly.

[@euansmith3699]

Maybe we can interest King Charles III in the idea; citing its ecological advantages?

[@JustSaralius]

"I'm doing my best, with limited knowledge and intelligence" is now my new mantra lol 😂

[@vixendoe6943]

Several years ago I was honored to be invited to attend a viking boat burial here in Maine. And yes, it was to be a burning. The honored one had already been cremated but this was her wish and her friends took care to carry it out.

[@georgiarn3915]

I've considered moving to Maine, just to be buried that way!

[@frederickstephansensmith8646]

As a Norwegian I can say your pronunciation of names and place's is really good. Good job 😊😊

[@chrisball3778]

Yeah, that is truly incredible. The idea of a fallen warrior king being sent off to Valhalla on a burning ship is just so thrilling and iconic that it's genuinely exciting to learn it really did happen in some form, even if not in the exact same way it does in popular culture. Burning the ship on land cleverly removes the need for fire arrows, which don't ever seem to have been anything like as popular or effective in real life as they are in films.

[@michellebyrom6551]

My son is a fire performer. The films use kevlar soaked in paraffin or kerosene. It stays lit during wonderful swish and wave it about performances. The oils for old lamps burn differently and go out in a strong, swooshy airflow. Something to do with science, apparently, beyond my skills.

[@cobraglatiator]

suppose you could've always started the fire at the front and then middle, then back and quickly sent if off or jumped into the water, little more complex but id, i imagine throwing a bunch of torches or something then kicking it off. doesn't seem like they did that though.

[@andymac4883]

Funny thing is, the idea of Norse warriors who died in battle being burned in boats or ships *on land* is exactly how I first learned that these things were done. The idea of them burning the ships after pushing them out to see is something I feel like I only started to see fairly recently. This would've been twenty-ish years ago. Nice to hear that there is, at least, a possibility (or dare I say probability) that my idea of a Viking Funeral still existed.

[@Lunareon]

The Irish bronze enamel figurines look absolutely gorgeous. No wonder they wanted to take them along to the afterlife. Congrats on the sponsorship!

[@thomashammel7633]

I really like the idea of an irish artisan being quite the rockstar among the norwegian kings

[@ah5721]

Same !

[@njordmannen]

Great video Jimmy! I would highly recommend going to Sagastad and seeing the rebuild of the ship, it is massive! Their shop is starting a jewelry line too, so let's hope for local historical bling :)

[@odenmora7574]

Mister Welsh Viking. It's good to see you again. You're looking well too. A sight for sore eyes. Hope you've been taking care of yourself. Seriously glad to see you.

[@weaverofbrokenthreads]

This is cool af! The best way of learning new things is genuinely enthusiastic rants from people who know their stuff

[@phillipallen3259]

To light a ship like that aflame is astounding! Or even just sticking it in the ground! The man-hours it too to build something like that. I'd be pissed! "You're doing what?! You know how long it took me to build that?! WTF! Why?!"

[@Nattfare]

I'm wondering if one of the reasons why we think burning ships at sea might come from one of the Sigurðr Hringr's legends. Where he throws himself and his murdered bride on a ship that he has set on fire and sent out to the sea.

[@crystallinecrow3365]

Congrats on the sponsorship, Jimmie! You absolutely deserve it, and this sponsor seems like a perfect fit for your wonderful channel! 🖤

[@hianedae]

11:51 i love how you look here because you look so happy talking about something you love

[@smeastwest]

IRELAND?! My chin literally hit the floor! This is the kind of nerdiness I come here for. Thank you, Jimmy!

[@permiebird937]

It's really great to see the enameled bucket mounts, they are beautiful with amazing detail and preservation. The other reason why I am so fascinated with them, is a few weeks ago on the YT channel "The Scottish Detectorist" one of the fellows found a bronze bucket mount of a bull's head that is probably iron age, but has some similarities to these later ones. I know that that puts the bull bucket mount at about 1000 years older than these enameled bronzes, but they helped me understand how these ornate bucket mounts were used. Thanks, I needed that context.

[@johannageisel5390]

A couple of years ago I read that the Oseberg finds were desintegrating because earlier attempts at preservation turned out to actually dissolve the wood. I wonder what has become of that problem.

[@katienewell7350]

Such a great video! Love the parallels between the two bronze figures, I had no idea there was a second one! I've been bingeing all your videos all day while embroidering, so this was perfect timing haha

[@YorkistRaven]

I didn't know about the second figure either! Now I dream of someone finding the Irish workshop of the artisans who made those cool little finely enameled figures!

[@marmotarchivist]

Yay, a video on Vicking burial traditions. Thank you very much and I wouldn't mind watching more on this topic.

[@holltrassel]

Very special viking age burial tho, does not seem to have been standard, but perhaps used for people of high status and likeability. :)

[@marmotarchivist]

@@holltrassel indeed, that's why I want to hear more on Vicking burial traditions in general.

[@suzz1776]

My mother is a professional enamel artist and I grew up around that stuff, she even taught it for many many years. So those little artifacts are super interesting to me. I have to show her this cuz she will love it.

[@m.maclellan7147]

Do ask her the history of it, as I had no idea it was this far back in time !? Obviously, Bronze has been around since the "Bronze Age," but what clever artist figured out how to do enameling on Bronze?!

[@cypriennezed5640]

History Hit, things on fire, AND a vest?! Jimmy, you spoil us.

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

Congratulations on both sponsorship & finding a find you didn't know existed! I love watching happy creators!

[@roxiepoe9586]

There is a small movie called Rocket Gibraltar, from 1988 that delights me because a group of children decide that their grandfather deserves a burning ship burial. It is beautifully made. If you haven't seen it, I can't over recommend it.

[@catastranga]

So remember that movie. I really enjoyed it.

[@cupboard_raider]

Congrats on the sponsor Jimmy. So cool that it's history related, and not NordVPN or Raid Shadow Legends lol Video was also awesome. I had vague knowledge of ship burnings just from pop culture, but not the actual history of it. Wild stuff. In regards to this topic, do you have any recommended reading? I find viking age burials extremely interesting

[@TheSaneHatter]

If there are any more artifacts from the Irish craftsman's shop in the archaeological record, then they deserve their own dedicated video, and maybe even a book!

[@Hair8Metal8Karen]

Your videos are always so interesting! Even though I am not a medieval or Viking re-enactor, and have no plans to get into that (I have enough hobbies, thank you), I always want to make myself a full Viking-inspired outfit after watching 🤣

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Hurrah! And history Hit? You are getting the recognition you deserve for the quality of your work! Congrats.

[@solveigw]

I was not aware of this ship. Thank you for enlightening me. As for the pronunciation of "Fjordane", the "o" is a long "ooo"-sound, the "d" is silent, the "r" is a rolling r, the "a" is short, and the ending is a short "neh".

[@BushmanSurvivals]

I'm glad HH have taken you up, I've been watching them and listening to Dan's Podcasts for years :) I'm looking forward to seeing the Collab with the Saxon Forager too :)

[@clairemullin249]

Is there anything better than seeing an academic getting all bright eyed and excited about learning something new?

[@katherineshideouslaughter]

Another cool Viking boat burial in the uk is the Ardnamurchan burial in Scotland. The peninsula is so cool I wanted to dig there with uni but covid happened and we couldn't dig there. The peninsula has archaeology from at least the neolithic (they were looking at studying things they think might be earlier a couple of years ago) through to the Highland clearances and after that was basically untouched and not heavily farmed. The only human remains they got were a couple of teeth bc the preservation there isn't great but they got a load of rivets and some weaponry and other metal things.

[@Mockingbird_Taloa]

I am ecstatic to be told that yes, they DID do ship-based cremation!! Being told as a kid that was just myth was such a let down, thank you so much Jimmy for bringing us the receipts. I also cannot understate how much I enjoyed being *told* I would be following the link in the description to obtain a discounted history hit subscription. I found myself laughing while scrolling to do as I was ordered and click that link!

[@saxonhermit]

Thank you very much for inspiring my newest research paper project, Jimmy! I'm going to see what I can find about these two Irish figurines and compile my findings!

[@m.maclellan7147]

Go for a Doctorate on the "Silk Road", cause I think KZbin needs content on that ! 😉

[@tillysrad]

gonna keep it real im genuinely giddy about these little bronze enamel lads. these two little fellas are all im gonna be thinking about for the next month, thats rad as hell

[@judldoodles]

I have been to the Viking Ship Museum in Olso and seen the Oseberg and Gokstad ships. They are incredibly beautiful finds. Absolutly worth visiting!

[@jr3wx]

Mazel tov on the sponsorship! Your research always seems legit given I don't know enough about this area to easily tell otherwise, but what makes your channel really special is the "this stuff is so exciting and here's why!!!" earnest delight in history you so consistently bring us. A joy to watch!

[@elisabethm9655]

❤ thank you and congratulations on the History Hit connection - you definitely qualify and deserve it.

[@nataliestanchevski4628]

The similarities and differences between the enameled designs on both bronze figures is intriguing.

[@tessiagriffith9555]

Amazing! Can't believe it's so little known. Also just love the rapid welsh at the end it made me smile

[@YorkistRaven]

Super cool video, Jimmy! Nerdy Viking goodness through and through! I never heard of this ship either and I feel shame. Well done mate! That giant gorgeous ship they built was, I think, Viking Ship Pron. And may I add that you look marvelous? 😁👏

[@suburbiaAZ]

Yay, Sponsored Jimmy! Thank you, as always, for the incredible video and your energy. Take care!

[@wanderingspark]

This is super cool! I had assumed that the Viking ship burning burial thing was just a myth. (Probably because Hollywood shows it with the ship in the water, which makes zero sense. How do you burn something that is in water?) Also, I love medieval Irish enamel. Really cool that it has shown up in multiple Norse burials.

[@melatonin6811]

Man's is glowing

[@euansmith3699]

The Edwardian style clothes and beard make Jimmy look like he is getting ready to go off to plumb the depths of the Lair of the White Worm. Thanks for another interesting video.

[@UKfeath]

Hey Jimmy, one of the best videos you've put out. I loved watching it! Your passion comes through and infects me and everyone who watches you. I was so surprised when you said the little man artifacts were made in Ireland, my eyebrows rose. (the equivalent of jumping up and down and screaming.) Thank you so much for sharing your passion.

[@bnhietala]

What a cool connection with those two Irish figures. Definitely an exciting topic! One of these days I'd like to get out to Europe and see those museums. Also, you're looking rather spiffy today! Congratulations on the sponsorship!

[@foxross]

That’s really fascinating. I love it and I love seeing you get excited about things too.

[@richtyler8034]

Oh my goodness thank you so much for turning me on to History Hit!!!!!

[@Aswaguespack]

Absolutely Fantastic Narrative History Jimmy! Mysterious events make for the most fascinating and entertaining historical narratives and this one is remarkable. Thanks Jimmy Happy Mardi Gras from South Louisiana.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

Eat a beignet for me!

[@Aswaguespack]

@@kathyjohnson2043 I sure will but that means I have to eat more than one 😂

[@kathyjohnson2043]

@@Aswaguespack i was thinking the very same thing!!!

[@Aswaguespack]

@@kathyjohnson2043 😂😂😂 hot beignets, dusted with powdered sugar and a hot cup of café au lait ahhhhh

[@vixenofviola]

This is fascinating, and so good to see you so enthusiastic! Nerding Jimmy is excellent. Is there any significance, I wonder, to the colours of the cross and background on the bronze figures and also the fact that there are switched (ie one has yellow cross on blue and the other look to be blue cross like design on yellow)

[@m.maclellan7147]

I thought it bizarre since the War in Ukraine 🇺🇦 just entered the 1 year "anniversary" !?

[@anthonyhayes1267]

Thank you so much for making this. I have talked myself blue in the face explaining this to people. I now have a link to just send them.

[@ladyliberty417]

Great story about this ship- thanx for bringing it to our attention❗️love History Hit, take care Jimmy❣️

[@kathyjohnson2043]

As a dyslexic with no skill in spelling "standard spelling is for cowards" is almost as good to hear as your wonderful content.

[@canucknancy4257]

That is fascinating that that little Irish figure was found in the two places. The world was much bigger then than it is now, but pieces of history like that show how, even back then, items made it to everywhere from everywhere. Thanks again for a wonderful video. So much fun to learn history from someone that is so passionate about it.

[@HandmadeDarcy]

So, sooooo COOL!!!!! Truly fabulous! Thank you for today's rabbit hole subject while I sew myself a 15th century Italian camicia 😂.

[@juia7336]

Thank you for the video! What a fascinating find - I always assumed this was a myth too, but I love that it isn't!

[@EtainMcCloud]

I am excited to see you getting a quality sponsor that's relevant to the community. Thanks for letting me know about it, and about boat burnings. Also, looking sharp in this video. The dark buttons on white shirt with dark vest is a look my friend. Lovely.

[@TheWelshViking]

Thank you! I dress Edwardian now :3 I’m so stoked and hope this video does well enough they’ll ask for more

[@m.maclellan7147]

@thewelshviking can you get History Hit in the USA, or only UK ?!

[@catherinerw1]

Cool that you got History Hit to sponsor you :) (I've been a subscriber since they crowd-funded the TV channel, was one of the initial funders).

[@AStitchTooFar]

mmmm vikingship souflé with a sprinkling of shield bosses, thanks for that Jimmy :)

[@KanonBlack13]

I was trying to take a nap listening to the vids on the channel. And it was a great nap! Until Jimny the entusiast came into play and woke me up with the chsnge in tone. Glorious way to wake up❤

[@millymollymrst3537]

Thank you for a great video, this was so interesting. Love anything to do with the Vikings.😊

[@CollinMcLean]

New camera Jimmy? Your video looks even more professional, like you're floating across the camera!

[@hic_tus]

i'm so happy to learn about this kind of stuff.

[@chrispe82]

Thank you so much for this. It’s awesome learning out about more archeological finds & the boat burials are so diverse & interesting.

[@1One2Three5Eight13]

When I learned that the idea of shooting at a longboat with flaming arrows was a myth, I remember learning that "ships were sometimes burned, but it was on land". I don't remember if that was from the source I was reading or if my mom added that detail so I had some context. What I can say is that, while I agree that it's cool that the same workshop made the two figurines, it's not nearly as cool as your enthusiasm about the topic. Learning from someone who takes joy in the subject that they're talking about is always the best way to learn.

[@linr8260]

Really goes to show how much we miss out on by mostly knowing about the stuff excavated and publicised by internationally known english speakers...

[@sciencewithkent7568]

You mention the figurines are probably from the same workshop; is that based on metallurgical analysis, close site-dating, shared signatures/markings, or just stylistic similarities (you didn’t mention in the video)? Awesome coverage of this!

[@m.maclellan7147]

I was wondering this as well, as to my "Artist's eye" the style is similar, but the execution of the piece very different - though the "tunic" on the piece seems very similar. I am thinking perhaps this was a diety ? Though that's a wild stab in the dark. Also, I think he mentioned these pieces were not only separated by many miles, but by much time, so, there is that. Would love any leads Jimmy might give us to follow up more. I am terrible about remembering difficult names, so my sleuthing would probably crash early ! 😅

[@juliemeanor6531]

Always enjoy spending time with you. Always fascinating. ❤

[@cork..]

Catchow new Jimmy! New Jimmy in a vest!

[@kathilisi3019]

Okay, this was genuinely very interesting! I've been to see the Oseberg and Gokstad ship museums, but that was 20 years ago, before my brief stint of studying archaeology for one semester. I now also want to go see the ship you described in this video. I also want to go check out History Hit, as I've never heard of that either, and your sponsorship ad was so enthusiastic and engaging that I scrolled back to watch it twice. Also, the only thing I can say in Welsh is wrth y bwrdd, if that's even the correct spelling, and I was told that it means "under the table". I was actually taught the phrase "the dog lies under the table", but I forgot the first part.

[@sparrowruth]

I had the opportunity to see a travelling exhibit featuring the reconstructed Roskilde 6 ship, and the scale of it was absolutely astounding. I can only imagine the Myklebost ship was quite the sight when it was burning

[@MrsBifflechips]

I just picked up tablet weaving! Not really relevant to the content of the video, but it's cool to see it pictured in a find. Thank you for the video!

[@carolynwatson4301]

Absolutely love it! Thank you for this video.

[@timlopes67]

This was cool, thanks for the video.

[@nixhixx]

Good to see you. You look good in your collared shirt and vest. Looks like you're feeling better!

[@taranau-sacredknot9239]

Awesome mix really enjoyed watching this video :)

[@nurmaybooba]

well bummer I wanted to have a Viking burning ship in the bay end...However this was a very cool episode! thank-you

[@ah5721]

Facinating ! Wealthy buried man with lots of cuts on arms and legs means he was in lots of fights and won some right? Maybe from teen to grown man and was so well renowned he maybe made his fortune that way by fighting leadership?

[@Greye13]

Absolutely love the video, Jimmy. I am a nerd, and I love history, archaeology, anthropology, and am a reenactor (Viking Age), so yes, bring on the nerdiness all you want to. The Myklebust site sounds fascinating. I'm particularly interested in the two enameled bronze figures, made in Ireland. I have some Irish ancestry and our family goes back into that time period, so it would be quite interesting if I were to find out one of my ancestors was involved in making those. How cool would that be?! Even if they weren't, the journey of learning about them would be just as awesome. Thank you for bringing this dig to our attention. Now I'm going to have to follow their progress. 😄 Best wishes. 🌱

[@tiffanytomasino335]

Burial customs are always fascinating, thank you for sharing, ❤

[@stevefranklin9176]

Well done mate. Enjoy every post and garner more each time.

[@margaretbarclay-laughton2086]

Now that is you on top form. You are 30 WOW soo old mind you I'll still call you lad since I'm more than double your age.😁

[@joshicus_saint_anger]

Great video!

[@Angel_1394]

I have actually heard about one of them, I didn't know there was a second. That's so awesome. I'm glad we're find more evidence and connecting more history

[@apcolleen]

OOOHH fawnseh a History Hit sponsorship! Love the video as always!

[@skiingowl]

So cool! You're right, I had never heard of this one. Thank you for another inspiring video, especially the little figures from Ireland.

[@christophelombardi7810]

Great video and great topic. Who knows, more details may come up in the future... as well as another visit from the gasman, probably.

[@MaideninMaille]

Oh my gosh, this is so cool!! Thank you for sharing, I deffo have a new rabbit hole to get lost down!!!

[@EA-History]

I have been to Sagastad and filmed aboard the copy of the 30 meter long Sagastad ship. It is a very special place to visit. If you're interested in the viking age, this ship and its museum is a must to visit!

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

This was awesome