'Sweindrow'
Shield (Viking), Sword (Viking)
Site Name 'Sweindrow'
Classification Shield (Viking), Sword (Viking)
Alternative Name(s) Swandro; Westness, Rousay
Canmore ID 2181
Site Number HY32NE 3
NGR HY 37 29
NGR Description HY c. 37 29
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/2181
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Rousay And Egilsay
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY32NE 3 c. 37 29
See also HY32NE 4, HY32NE 7, HY32NE 17.
An early 9th century Viking sword and fragments of a shield-boss, from Sweindrow (?Swandro - HY 37 29), were found on different occasions and most probably indicate two separate graves.
H Shetelig 1954.
There seems to be no doubt that the above find was made the same area as a Viking female burial (HY32NE 7), discovered in 1963, and it is suggested that there was a cemetery in the area. (See also HY32NE 4 - Silver finger ring, and HY32NE 17 - Viking Hall).
Information from telecommunication by A S Henshall, Asst. Keeper, National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS), 20 July 1966.
Note (1982)
Westness/Swandro area HY 37 28 HY32NE 3
Sword, shield-boss and iron fragments ploughed up c. 1826, indicating at least one, probably two, male burials; suggestion of several graves in area. Although oldest report names find-spot as 'Sweindrow', which has been associated with mound of that name (HY32NE 19), current tradition (per Dr Sigrid Kaland, Historisk Museet, Bergen) asserts that the objects were ploughed up in a neighbouring field. Finds in NMAS (I L 195-6).
RCAHMS 1982
(Anderson 1874, 563-6; PSAS, 14, 1879-80, 57, Brogger 1929, 131-2; Greig 1940, 88-90 with fig. 51, p. 91; Curle, Olsen and Shetelig 1954, 70; OR 546)
