Veitstu hvé blóta skal? The Old Norse blót in the Light of Osteological Remains from Frösö Church, Jämtland, Sweden

Abstract

The osteological remains from Frösö Church, Jämtland, have been re-analysed in order to understand the Viking Age rituals at the site and to study the blót, the Old Norse sacrifice and feast. Radiocarbon analyses of ani- mal and human bones date the rituals to the late Viking Age. A taphonomic study shows that especially brown bear and pig were of importance in the rituals. Butcher- ing marks reveal the processing of the carcasses as well as feasting. Further, bones and not whole carcasses seem to have been deposited on the ground. Human remains have been treated differently from the animal bones and may represent disturbed burials rather than sacrifices. Seasonal analysis indicates that the rituals took place in late autumn, early spring, and possibly around the summer solstice. The results of the osteological analy- ses are also discussed in relation to the written sources about the Old Norse blót.

Keywords

• Frösö
• animal sacrifice
• taphonomy
• seasonality