Vikings imported horses and dogs to Britain, cremated bones finding confirms
A new archaeological study revealed the first evidence that Vikings brought dogs, livestock and horses to Britain during its invasion.
Scientists from Durham University and the Free University of Brussels have found evidence, which they published their study at PLOS ONE, that the Vikings brought their dogs and horses to Britain with them. This is reportedly the first time this has been discovered.
Archaeologists examined human and animal remains found in the Heath Wood funeral pyre that belonged to Vikings who invaded Britain during the 9th century. They used strontium isotope analysis to determine that an adult man, a horse, a dog and a pig who sailed together from Scandinavia to Britain.
Cremated animal bones confirmed that Vikings brought animals to Britain
The animal bone evidence was found in a burial mound at Heath Wood cemetery in Derbyshire, England, which is considered to be the only known Viking cremation cemetery in the British Isles. It is believed that the cemetery was used as a burial site for the first significant Viking army that came to Britain.
When the researchers examined the strontium ratios of a horse, a dog, and a pig whose charred, calcined bones were in the same barrow as the Viking's body. The strontium isotope ratios in the bones of the three animals and the person were very similar, indicating that they were not from Derbyshire and probably also from Scandinavia.
