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

Abstract

In the practice of Old Norse religion, animals seem to have played an important role.1 Both the written sources and the archaeological record indicate that the sacrifice of animals played a significant part in the blót, the Old Norse act of sacrifice. At the blót, the ritual killing of animals was followed by consumption and feasts on the meat, which is described in the Eddic and scaldic poetry, Icelandic sagas, in Early Medieval laws, rune stones, and foreign sources by bishops and Arabic travellers.2 Sacrifices of animals seem to have been a significant part of various religious practices on different occasions and in different contexts. Blót was a seasonal occurring communal sacrificial feast, which can be described as a ritual to ensure fertility and a “good year” – a thanksgiving to the gods.3 Sacrifices of animals were also included in family rituals at the farm-houses, such as the álfablót.4 In Viking Age funeral rites, the killing of animals was also important.5 Blót appears to have been a natural part of the assembly meeting at the thing (þing).6 Furthermore, there are sources indicating the sacrifice of animals in order to ensure good luck in sailing, trading, at single combat (hólmganga), and in sorcery aiming to cause misfortune to enemies.7 The ritual