A recent archaeological find in Norway underscores the timeless bond between humans and their canine companions. An excavation on the island of Senja has revealed a 10th-century viking boat grave containing the remains of a woman and her dog.

Archaeologists from the Arctic University Museum of Norway unearthed the grave,which likely belonged to a woman of high social standing,according to a report by Science Norway. The dog was carefully laid to rest at her feet.

“It appears to have been placed with real care,” said Anja Roth Niemi, a museum archaeologist who participated in the excavation, as quoted by Science norway.”There are stories of prominent people doing everything in their power when their dog became ill. So even back then, people had deep bonds with their animals.”

The discovery began two years prior when a metal detectorist found brooches and bone fragments just 7.9 inches (20 centimeters) below the surface. Suspecting a Viking burial site, the Arctic University Museum of Norway sought permission to investigate. The excavation was finally carried out when the landowner decided to expand a garage on the property.

“After the upper layer of soil was removed, it became clear that this was a boat grave,” the museum shared in a social media post. “the decayed wood from the boat was visible as a thin dark strip in the subsoil, with the site where the bowl brooches were found approximately in the middle.”

The excavation revealed a 17.7-foot-long (5.4-meter) boat containing the remains of the Viking woman and her dog, along with other artifacts indicative of an elite burial. These included bone or amber beads, a pendant, and ornate brooches, according to Science norway. While not the first discovery of dog remains alongside Viking ones, this find further supports the idea that dogs were cherished companions during the Viking era.

The design of the brooches-oval with silver thread-helped the team estimate the grave’s age to between 900 and 950 CE,as reported by Science Norway. The brooches also suggest the buried individual was a woman, as oval brooches were typically worn by Viking women. Though, bone analysis is needed for definitive confirmation. The boat grave and associated grave goods further indicate the woman’s high social status.

“Only the elite would receive a burial like this,”

“Only the elite would receive a burial like this,” Niemi told Science norway. Niemi and her colleagues also found agricultural tools and textile instruments, further linking the burial to Viking womanhood. Further analysis will determine the individual’s sex, age, height, diet, and health, providing more insights into viking burial practices. Additionally, after finding another brooch nearby, the archaeologists plan to continue exploring the area for other graves.

According to the museum’s post, the final stages of the excavation involved “recording all the contents of the grave and securing them for transport and storage until they can be examined in detail under controlled conditions at the laboratory in Tromsø.”