PREHISTORIC NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. 607 



The length of Xo. 4 was about 'Jd..") feet by 7 feet wide amidships. 

 Four planks to every side. 



No. 5, uo rivets. 



In JSTo. 6 the grave nieiisiired "Jii feet in length. Severely damaged. 

 Rivets found only along the south side of the grave, over a space 10 

 feet in length, 3j feet in width; api)arently disturbed. 



In No. 7 the boat was very distinct. Length, 29.8 feet; breadth, 8 

 feet. In the stern 3 Uirge rivets. 



In No. 8 the grave is 25.5 long; boat uncertain. 



No. 0, the only grave found intact. The boat, 29 feet 8 inches long 

 by feet 5 inches wide. In the mnldle the skeleton of a man, with two 

 swords, two shields, one adze, one spear, arrows, comb, knife, several 

 cliessmcn, and half a Kutic coin from A. D, 914 to 943. 



In No. 10 the boat was '.>5 feet 5 inches long, 5 feet 9 inches broad. 



In No. 11 the boat was 31 feet long by to 7 feet broad. 



As to their age the graves differ very considerably. From the most 

 ancient one, dating from the beginning of the seventh century, there 

 is a coherent chain down to the eiul of the tenth century, perhai)S 

 indicating generation after generation of a chief's family. 



Not far from the old burial-place is a lake formerly communicating 

 with other lakes and rivers in the province. 



The BJiirJco boats.^ — On the island Bjorkci, in Lake Miliar, tlu^ ancient 

 city of Birca, mentioned by Adamus Brenu'usis as the place where 

 Ansgarius, in the ninth century, preached the Grospelto the heathenisii; 

 Swedes, and supposed to be identical with old Sigtuua, tlui remains 

 of two larg(^ Hat bottomed boats were found within the wall surround- 

 ing th(^ phice where the old city once stood. The rivets indicate a size 

 of about !9 feet in length and 5 to 6 feet in breadth. Of their con- 

 struction notliing could be learned. 



In the Oykiwy.s'^ the sites of three ship burials have Ijeen located as 

 follows : 



In 1841, by Mr, (leorge Petrie, in a sandhill in Westray;^ in 1855 in 

 a mound situated in the bay of Pierowall, and explored by Mr. Farrer;* 

 in July, 1863, in a mound in the bay of Pierowall explored by Messrs. 

 Farrer and George Petrie,"' 



The contents of these burial places, however, owing to the nature of 

 th(> soil did not permit of any details and simply established the fact 

 of having contained ships. 



In the Faroe Inlands uo traces of ancient ships have been found.** 



' Communicated, by Mr. Hjiilmar Stoipe, of Stockholm, hy letter of May 24, 1892. 



-Proceedings, Society of AiitL([u;iries of Scotland, 1879-'80, p. 79. 



'■'■ I hid., vol. v, p. 16. 



^[bid., vol. II, p. 158. 



'*/Z)/rf.,vol. V, p.300. 



'■'Commnniciitcd by Mr. Louis IJeruli, of rborshnvn, Marcli 28, 1893, 



