The BBC News website has a report today about an archaeologist who believes he has identified on the Cumberland coast the ship burial grave of the Viking leader Ivarr the Boneless who is believed to have died in 873. A leader of the Great Heathen Army which invaded Northumbria in 865-867 Ivarr led his troops into East Anglia and Mercia, overthrowing the local kingdoms, leaving only Wessex as an independent Anglo-Saxon realm, and ruled from 871 by the young King Alfred the Great. Ivarr may have also ruled a kingdom based in Ireland.
The reputed burial site, at an undisclosed location near the coast, is surrounded by other burials, which suggests that this was indeed in the necropolis of a major figure.
The article about the site, with illustrations of ship nails found there in preliminary survey work can be seen at Cumbria hill could hold grave of Viking king Ivarr the Boneless
Wikipedia has a useful and nuanced article about Ivarr, and his intriguing nick-name at Ivar_the_Boneless
This would appear to be an archaeological site with great potential if the theory as to its occupants is correct.
To end on a slightly facetious note, if this is the burial place of Ivarr the Boneless then his skeleton is not going to be found….
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