Learnings: Mystery of the Shore

The shore was a liminal space, a threshold between life and death. Magic rituals were though to have a greater chance of success if they were performed at the water's edge, and drowned sailors were often laid to rest there. Legends said that ghosts couldn't cross over water. Therefore, to prevent angry spirits from travelling inland to haunt the living, the dead were buried at the edge of the sea, in the intertidal zone so that their graves would constantly be covered by running water. Stone monuments were raised to mark these burial places.
The stone pictured here could have been used to stretch the woolen thread of a sail in the making. But some specialists believe that it could also have been an amulet of some sort. Did this stone come from the shore? If so, ancient Scandinavians would have considered it to be filled with magical energy, and likely to bring good luck or provide protection.
Category:Discovery Tour: Viking Age