Short answers, pulled from the story.
The first Salme ship was discovered in 2008 during earth removal for infrastructure construction near the village of Salme on Saaremaa, Estonia. The second ship was found in 2010. Archaeological excavation has continued at the site since the initial 2008 find.
Skeletal remains from at least 41 people were found across both Salme ships. Most were men aged 30-40 years who had been killed in battle. The smaller ship held 7 individuals and the larger ship held at least 34, buried in four layers.
Isotope analysis of the warriors' teeth combined with the design of the buried artifacts points to central Sweden as their homeland. DNA haplogroup testing confirmed their Scandinavian origin, and archaeologists believe the ships themselves were most likely built in what is now Sweden between AD 650 and 700.
The Salme ships predate the conventional start of the Viking Age by 50-100 years. The burial dates to around AD 700-750, well before the Lindisfarne raid of 793 in England, which is typically used as the opening marker of the Viking Age. The find raises questions about when Scandinavian seafaring raids actually began.
The larger of the two Salme ships is considered the oldest known vessel to use sails in the Baltic Sea region. Its keel outline was preserved in humus, and irregular rows of strong rivets on the hull bottom both indicate the ship carried a sail.
Fragments from more than 40 swords, shields, spearheads, dozens of arrowheads, a bear-claw necklace, a bone comb, whetstones, knives, and hundreds of gaming pieces made of whale bone and antler with six dice were recovered. Two ritually sacrificed dogs and two falconry hawks were also found alongside the human remains.