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A mass grave of over 50 headless Vikings, known as the headless Vikings of Dorset. Source: Simon Fraser University / CC BY 2.0

Unraveling the Mystery of the Headless Vikings of Dorset

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In June 2009, archaeologists made a shocking discovery in the seaside town of Weymouth in Dorset, England. While excavating in preparation for the anticipated Weymouth Relief Road, archaeologists discovered a mass grave within a disused Roman quarry containing the remains of 54 dismembered skeletons which have come to be known as the headless Viking’s of Dorset. Within the shallow grave, they also discovered 51 skulls left together in a pile left to one side of the pit. This curious find led many to wonder who these individuals were, and why they were killed in such a gruesome manner.

The mass grave of headless Vikings found in Dorset. (Oxford Archaeology)

The mass grave of headless Vikings found in Dorset. (Oxford Archaeology)

Analyzing the Remains of the Headless Vikings of Dorset

Through scientific testing and analysis, archaeologists concluded that the remains belonged to Scandinavian Vikings. The sheer size of this burial is particularly surprising, as “[a]ny mass grave is a relatively rare find, but to find one on this scale, from this period of history, is extremely unusual,” said David Score of Oxford Archaeology when discussing the headless Vikings of Dorset.

Although exact dating has not been confirmed, it is believed that the remains are those of individuals who lived sometime during the early Middle Ages, between the 5th and 10th centuries. The deaths likely occurred during, and as a result of, conflict between the Anglo-Saxons and Viking invaders.

All of the remains are from males mostly aged from their late teens to 25 years old, with a few being somewhat older. None of the remains show any sign of battle wounds, beyond wounds inflicted during the execution, so it is likely that these men were captives rather than members of the military. No clothing or other remnants were found within the pit, leading to speculation that the men were naked when they were executed. 

The bodies of the so-called headless Vikings of Dorset are believed to belong to Viking warriors, executed by Anglo Saxons. (Public domain)

The bodies of the so-called headless Vikings of Dorset are believed to belong to Viking warriors, executed by Anglo Saxons. (Public domain)

Archaeologists Seek Answers Regarding the Headless Vikings of Dorset

The men appear to have been killed all at the same time, and the executions appear to have been carried out hastily and rather chaotically. Some of the individuals showed multiple blows and deep cuts to the vertebrae, jawbones and skulls. Damage to the hand and wrist bones indicates that some of them may have braced against the execution with their hands.

When the remains were discovered, the skulls, leg bones and rib bones were arranged into separate piles. It appeared that the burial pit had not been dug specifically for this purpose, and that it just happened to be a convenient spot to dump the bodies.

One interesting detail is that there were three fewer skulls than the number of skeletons discovered within the pit. It is believed that three of the heads may have been kept as souvenirs or placed on stakes. They may have been high-ranking individuals.

A pile of heads was found separate to the rest of the bodies in a mass grave. Their skeletal remains are now known as the headless Vikings of Dorset, since not only were their bodies found separated from their skulls, but some of the heads were missing. (Oxford Archaeology)

A pile of heads was found separate to the rest of the bodies in a mass grave. Their skeletal remains are now known as the headless Vikings of Dorset, since not only were their bodies found separated from their skulls, but some of the heads were missing. (Oxford Archaeology)

Are the Headless Vikings of Dorset Linked to St. Brice’s Day Massacre?

There have been multiple theories as to who these men were and why they were executed. As a group, they appear to have been healthy and robust individuals. They were all of fighting age, and they were far from home when executed. Scientific isotope testing conducted on the mens’ teeth indicates that they were of very diverse origins, and likely from Scandinavia.

Kim Siddorn, author of  Viking Weapons and Warfare, has speculated “[t]hey had left their ship, walked inland, ran into an unusually well-organized body of Saxons, and were probably forced to surrender.” This is corroborated by the fact that location of their deaths was a central location in conflicts between native Saxons and invading Vikings.

It is also speculated that the executions may have taken place in front of an audience, as some sort of display of power, authority and triumph. Some have argued that those executed were actually defectors or traitors killed by their own men. Another theory put forward by Dr. Britt Baillie in the  National Geographic documentary “Viking Apocalypse” suggested a link between these executions and the St. Brice's Day massacre.

The massacre was part of the legacy of Aethelred the Unready, who ruled England in the late 10th and early 11th centuries and had to deal with issues caused by Viking invasions and internal strife. On November 13th, 1002, St Brice’s day, Aethelred ordered the massacre of all the Danes in England. 

Although the intention was to eliminate Danish settlers in England to prevent further Viking raids, it actually led to widespread retaliation by the Danes, escalated the conflict and ultimately exacerbated Viking incursions. Aethelred was ultimately succeeded by the Danish king Cnut the Great.

The gruesome discovery of the headless Vikings of Dorset, invite deeper research into the circumstances surrounding their death. It is hoped that further archaeological discoveries in the area, coupled with advancements in forensic science and historical analysis, may help provide answers to what occurred on that fateful day, offering a poignant glimpse into the lives and untimely ends of these ancient warriors.

Top image: A mass grave of over 50 headless Vikings, known as the headless Vikings of Dorset. Source: Simon Fraser University / CC BY 2.0

By M R Reese

References

BBC News. 12 March 2010. “Weymouth ridgeway skeletons 'Scandinavian Vikings'” in  BBC News. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/8563377.stm

BBC News. 25 January 2012. “Skeletons found in Dorset mass grave ‘were mercenaries’” in  BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-16708401

BBC News. 6 March 2014. “Dorset’s Viking mass grave skeletons on display in London” in  BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-26453621

Loe, L. et. al. 2014. “Given to the Ground; A Viking Age Mass Grave on Ridgeway Hill, Weymouth” in  Dorset Natural History and Archaeology Society Monograph Series No. 22.

Moss, R. 10 January 2022. “Were these executed Vikings inexperienced raiders who oozed smelly pus?” in  Museum Crush. Available at: https://museumcrush.org/this-group-of-executed-vikings-were-inexperienced-raiders-who-oozed-smelly-pus/

Owen, J. 2 November 2017. “51 Headless Vikings in Weymouth Execution Pit Confirmed” in  National Geographic. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2017/11/51-headless-vikings-in-weymouth-execution-pit-confirmed

The Telegraph. 12 March 2010. “Beheaded bodies discovered in Weymouth 'were probably executed Vikings'” in  The Telegraph. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7422283/Beheaded-bodies-discovered-in-Weymouth-were-probably-executed-Vikings.html

University of Cambridge. 25 January 2012. “Viking mass grave linked to elite killers of the medieval world” in  University of Cambridge Research. Available at: https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/viking-mass-grave-linked-to-elite-killers-of-the-medieval-world

Verner, J. 12 July 2023. “The Mass Viking Burial Pit on the South Dorset Ridgeway” in  Rural Historia. Available at: https://ruralhistoria.com/2023/07/12/viking-burial/

 

Comments

ProfessorC suggests the skulls, leg bones, and rib cages were each in separate piles, but a glance at the picture and watching the video shows that the skulls were separate and the rest of all the bones were mingled together.

In the article, it is stated that “When the remains were discovered, the skulls, leg bones and rib bones were arranged into separate piles.”, but probably should have been expressed as ‘the skulls, and the leg and rib bones were arranged into separate piles’. A subtle difference, but indicating that the decapitated heads were thrown into one pile, with the bodies thrown into another pile after decapitation, and suggesting that this was a mass execution of captured individuals.

Well spotted ProfC!

Dismemberment of corpses, gruesome though it may seem to the modern eye, is an established tradiiton in Britain going back to Neolithic times.

http://www.tutorhunt.com/resource/358/

It may seem like wanton butchery at first glance, but may have had reasons that have yet to be fully grasped by modern day historians and archaeologists.

I'm currently re-visiting some earlier thoughts re Silbury Hill, possibly even Stonehenge, in which 'decarnation' (Silbury) or 'excarnation' (Stonehenge) may provide a rationale for why they appeared and fairly quickly disappeared in late-Neolithic history. More thought needs to be given to the problems associated witn the transition from hunter/gatherer to settled crop growing/animal husbandry lifestyle, considering factors like safe but respectful disposal of the dead while not forgetting the strategies for winter survival and much else besides.

It was an entirely different world, one that requires on this site a degree of thinking out of the box - with particular attention to life's (and death's) practicalities.

One thing's for certain - there was no place for today's finer sensibilities re 'civilized conduct' .The imperative was year-round survival - like knowing where the next meal was coming from, with a 'waste not, want not' philosophy. Nope I'm not suggesting cannabilsim, nor necrophagy, at least not primary necrophagy.

Am presently consulting an expert in the field (hoping he will respond to my email!). Maybe more to come, if I get an answer...

Good questions. Keep in mind that a lot of our supposed knowledge of the past is conjecture or an educated guess. My personal Weymouth bloodline traces back over 1,600 years. At least that I can find anyway. My father taught me 11th century battlefield sword fighting as family pass down. As well as the rules and traditions of the Knight. Also family and personal heraldry. If such archaic traditions are still being taught in my family now. It just begs the question. What has been lost in our history. Common knowledge that everyone knew in the 4th century. but since it wasn't wrote down. No one knows today. Forget modern niceties. Such things don't exist when foreign invaders stomp onto your land and steal your stuff. kill your family in front of you. I personally would feel a bit vengeful about that. And I suspect my family ancestors probably felt the same. Times change. But I don't believe people are all that different now than they were a thousand years ago.

Has anyone noticed that detail "...the skulls, leg bones, and rib bones were arranged into separate piles"? That would mean the bodies weren't merely beheaded and dumped, but that they were instead actually partially butchered post-mortem. That is beyond mere execution: it indicates ritualistic behavior (or some combatant victors with conflict closure issues).

Perhaps someone can correct me, but among the peoples of the British Isles (indigenous and immigrant) of the early Middle Ages, I don't recall reading about the Saxons being all that much into such refined, time-consuming savagery in their treatment of the dead. Perhaps further research can inform us of the types of weapons used in the execution and, more tellingly, if the instruments used to kill the men were of the same type as those used to dismember them.

You dont see a Saxon or Norse crew, look closly-deformed skulls.You see a Hun or Avar,Evarite formation, which was defeated.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Ridgeway Hill execution refers to the discovery of a mass grave in Dorset, England, in 2009. Archaeologists uncovered 54 decapitated skeletons, identified as Vikings, alongside 51 skulls. This gruesome find offers insight into the violence and conflicts during the Viking era in Britain.

Vikings typically buried their deceased in various ways, including cremation or inhumation. Grave goods were often included, reflecting the deceased's status and beliefs about the afterlife. Burials could range from simple mounds to elaborate ship burials, showcasing their cultural and social practices.

The most famous Viking burial is the Oseberg ship burial, discovered in Norway in 1904. It contained the well-preserved remains of two women, along with numerous valuable artifacts and a remarkably intact Viking ship, providing valuable insights into Viking culture and burial customs. Meanwhile, the most well-known Viking burial in Britain is the Sutton Hoo burial site, discovered in Suffolk in 1939. It contained an intricately furnished ship burial, revealing insights into Anglo-Saxon and Viking culture. The site's wealth of artifacts, including the iconic Sutton Hoo helmet, makes it renowned in archaeological history.

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M R Reese

M R Reese is a writer and researcher with a passion for unlocking the mysteries of ancient civilizations. She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. She has earned... Read More

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