Skjoldeham

In 1936, a body was found in a bog on the Island of Andøya, in Veserålen in northern Norway.  The body was sent to Tromsø Museum for examination.  From the style of the garments, it has been generally assumed that the individual was from the 13th-14th centuries.  The carbon dating has placed the garments to 995-1029 CE.

It has not been possible to determine the sex of the body due to the damaged condition of the skeleton.  From what remains, it is probable that the individual was about 155 cm (61" or about 5') in height.  Although badly decalcified, the bones seem to be very slender, and there has been a long confusion about whether the a woman or a small man, and perhaps either Norse, or Sami (Lapp). 

Please note that earlier versions of this page have stated "DNA analysis revealed a man with Sami genetic markers".  This is my translation error and does not reflect the facts.

The material associated with this find are:

• Hood
• Tunic
• Under Tunic/Shirt
• Trousers/Hose
• Hose
• Footwrappings
• Shoes
• Knife Handle

Some Sources:

• Gjessing, Gutorm.  "Skjoldehamndrakten, en Senmiddelaldersk Nordnorsk Mannsdrakt."  Viking, Tidsskrift for Norrøn Arkeologi. 2 (1938) pp.27-81
• Holck, Per.  "Myrfunnet fra Skjoldehamn -- Mannlig Same Eller Norrøn Kvinne?"  Viking, Tidsskrift for Norrøn Arkeologi. 51 (1988) pp.109-115.
• Nockert, Margareta and Göran Possnert.  Att Datera Textilier. Oslo: Gidlungs Förlag, 2002.

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Some Clothing of the Middle Ages -- Skjoldehamn -- The Background, by I. Marc Carlson, Copyright 1998, 2005, 2006, 2012. This code is given for the free exchange of information, provided the Author's Name is included in all future revisions, and no money change hands-