Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleVishwam SankaranThursday 23 July 2026 11:36 BSTWhat archaeologists are learning from the discovery of 50 extremely rare Viking skullsA new DNA study has overturned the long-held assumption that people buried together in Scandinavian Viking-age graves were related.Analysis of genetic material from 142 individuals, including children and adolescents in shared graves, revealed that relatives didn’t always share the same burial plot.Researchers concluded that joint burials were likely driven by factors such as religious customs, social connections, community membership, or circumstances surrounding death.The study, published in the journal Science Advances, also indicated that boys and girls were commonly buried according to the same gender-specific practices as adults, suggesting early recognition of gender distinctions.One significant finding involved Lady 56, buried at Västerhus in Jämtland, whose genetic connections allowed for family reconstruction. A scallop shell found in her grave also indicated that she undertook a major pilgrimage.In fullDNA study challenges key assumption about Viking burialsMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in