RURAL OCCUPATIONS. 



345 



The boendr after the spring cultivation went on Viking 

 expeditions, returned at Midsummer and attended to 1 1 it- 

 harvest ; then again went on Viking expeditions, from which 

 they did not return until winter, which was spent quietly 

 at home. 1 



" King Sigurd Syr was on his field when the messengers 

 came to him and told him this news (that Olaf was coming) 

 and all the doings of Asta at the boar. He had many men 



o * 



there ; some cut corn, others tied it (into sheaves), others 



Fig. 1315. Plough of oak wood. Length, 9 feet. Found in Dostrup, Jutland. 



io-. 1316. Shears, i real size. Ultuna. Earlier iron age. 



Fig. 1317. Sickle, \ real size, 

 found in a tumulus on burnt 

 bones in an urn. Norway. 

 Earlier iron age. 



Fig. 1318. Sickle, \ real size, 

 found in a tumulus on burnt 

 bones and charcoal, with frag- 

 ments of a bone comb and a 

 needle of iron. Norway. 

 Earlier iron age. 



drove corn home, others stowed it in hay-houses or barns. He, 

 and two men with him, walked sometimes on the field, some- 

 times where the corn was stacked " (St. Olaf s Saga, c. 31). 



The Sagas often mention people possessing sheep, and 

 shears are often found. The one here represented was in the 

 Ultima ship's find, and had been placed with weapons and 

 other objects belonging to the warrior, who probably owned 

 great estates and large flocks of sheep. 



1 Orkneyinga Saga. 



