Animals of Sacrifice: Animals and the Blót in the Old Norse Sources and Ritual Depositions of Bones from Archaeological Sites

The blót and sacrifice of animals in the Old Norse religion has been studied through comparative analysis of written sources and ritual depositions of bones. The study deals with. The written sources emphasize on the significance of horse and cattle in the blót, while ritual depositions dating to 7-11th century show that also pigs, sheep and goat were important in the sacrifices. Only minor chronological or regional differences of the animals sacrificed can be noticed. The frequency of sacrificed animal species varies between rituals contexts, like wetlands, wells, cult houses, and other ritual structures. No pronounced selection of males in sacrifices can be noticed in the faunal record as mentioned in written sources. Seasonal sacrifices sated in the written sources have been able to be traced at some archaeological sites. Skulls and mandibles are shown to have been of large significance in the rituals, both in texts and in the depositions of bones.

A response to the chapter has been submitted by Kristin Armstrong Oma.