Intriguing skull modifications discovered in Viking women

Defects could show social status in society

A recent study focuses on the discovery of three Viking Age women from the Baltic Sea island of Gotland who had their skulls lengthened. This study sheds light on a fascinating tradition of body modification common among the Scandinavians.

The study, authored by Matthias Toplak and Lukas Kerk and published in the journal Current Swedish Archaeology, analyzes archaeological finds from the Baltic Sea island of Gotland, where half of all documented cases of men’s teeth being filed were found. Along with the intriguing possibility of Viking tattoos, these practices represent prominent forms of body modification that took place in early medieval Scandinavia.

Dating from the second half of the 11th century, all three women were buried in different locations around the island. Modifications to the skull gave them a distinctive and distinctive appearance by lengthening their heads. Additional details can be found in two cases: one woman died between the ages of 25 and 30, while the other was between 55 and 60 years old.

The woman’s grave, which also contained expensive jewelry, including four animal head brooches, is a common custom in Gotland. Although the religious affiliation of these women remains unknown, archaeologists Toplak and Kerk suggest that they were buried within a Christian framework.

The technique behind skull lengthening remains a matter of intrigue. This practice, seen in various ancient and medieval cultures spanning South America, Central Asia and Southeast Europe, involves tying wood or cloth around the heads of young children, usually before the age of three. In Europe, such modifications occurred primarily among women.

The authors believe that this practice came to Scandinavia from southeastern Europe – it could be found in Bulgaria from the 9th to the 11th centuries.

“It remains unclear how the custom of skull modification reached Gotland,” the authors note. “Either the three women of Havor, Aire and Qwi were born in southeastern Europe, perhaps as children of Gotlandic or eastern Baltic traders, and their skulls were modified there in their early years.” Or the modifications to the skull structure were made on Gotland or the eastern Baltic and thus represent a cultural borrowing long unknown to the Scandinavian Viking Age. A common origin of the three women can be assumed due to the close chronological dating of the three burials and especially due to the very similar execution of the skull modifications.”

The authors tell Medievalists: “We suggest that these three women were indeed vulnerable characters in their society, although we are not entirely sure whether they were truly viewed as outsiders. DNA testing suggests that at least one of the women may have been from the island. But we are quite sure that they had a special meaning because they signaled a different identity and mediated certain narratives (for example, about far-reaching contacts and exotic cultural influences). And, according to their burials, this special significance was seen as something positive, since at least the woman from Havor was buried not only in Gotlandic “standard” attire, but was also excessively adorned with typical Gotlandic jewelry.”

The authors also found similarities to another type of body modification used during the Viking Age: tooth filing. Researchers began noticing the practice in 1989 and now have about 130 cases of men’s teeth having been modified with single horizontal filed grooves. All cases involved men who were at least 20 years old, indicating that, unlike the three women, these modifications were voluntary and desired. There are several theories as to why they took part in this – as a test of their ability to endure pain or to demonstrate membership in a warrior group.

The study highlights the dynamic nature of these embodied cues, suggesting that the meanings behind these body modifications can evolve and be reinterpreted over time. The researchers argue that these physical defects were part of a larger system of communication in Viking Age society, where people were able to express aspects of their identity, status and belonging through their bodies. By deciphering these embodied signals, researchers can gain valuable information about the social dynamics and cultural practices of Viking communities, revealing a deeper understanding of how individuals navigated and communicated their place in society through physical transformations.