When was the Scar boat burial site excavated?
Historic Scotland formed a team led by Norwegian expert Magnar Dalland to excavate the site over November and December 1991. Coastal erosion threatened to destroy everything if they did not act quickly.
Questions about Scar boat burial
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who discovered the bones at The Crook Beach in 1985?
John Dearness stood on The Crook Beach in 1985 and saw bones sticking out of the ground near Scar on Sanday. He died before anyone understood what he had seen until Orkney County archaeologist Julie Gibson visited six years later.
What evidence suggests the Scar boat originated outside Scotland?
Sand within the lining did not match local soil from Orkney or Shetland and failed to match mainland Scottish samples. Evidence pointed toward Norway or other distant lands as the source of both the vessel and its occupants.
How many bodies were found inside the stone-lined enclosure?
Three individuals rested within the walled enclosure including a man aged about 30 years, an elderly woman near 70 years old, and a child between 10 and 11 years of unknown sex. No evidence explained how any of the three died.
When was the Scar Dragon Plaque loaned to the Jorvik Viking Centre?
In 2010, the plaque was loaned to the Jorvik Viking Centre in York for a brief exhibition that allowed wider audiences to view the piece. The artifact displayed intricate carvings typical of Viking artistry.