Horse bone

Add to album

This bone from a small horse was found at Reay in Caithness, where at least five graves of Viking men and women were discovered in the area as a result of erosion of sand dunes. It may have belonged to one of the graves, but the find details are ambiguous.

Astragalus of a small horse, from Reay, Caithness, 900 - 1000

Viking men were sometimes buried with their horses and harness equipment. It may be that they believed a horse was necessary in the afterlife, or perhaps the horse was simply another example of an everyday object included with the grave goods.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-100-104-168-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 376
• Date: 900 - 1000
  Between 900 and 1000
  
• Material: Bone
  Bone / astragalus
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Bone / astragalus
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Caithness, Reay
  
• Event:
• Description:
• References:
• Translations:
• Related Records: