The viking chamber grave at Hestnes
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Who was the proud lady buried at Hestnes over a thousand years ago? She rests in a large oval burial mound, which could be seen when sailing into the fjord. She was wealthy, and the people in the area must have held her in high regard, considering the elaborate burial site she was given, overlooking the fjord to the west. Here, the fjord stretches out towards the vast ocean, connecting to the rest of the world. Perhaps she stood there herself, waiting for her loved ones or even embarked on exciting sea voyages. The burial gifts bestowed upon her were befitting of a chieftain's wife. Magnificent textiles adorned the burial, along with ornate brooches and a wooden buckle, beads, and textile tools that indicate she lived in the 9th century. The spinning wheel was an essential item found exclusively in women's graves. The spinning wheel was associated with the Norns in Norse mythology, the beings who spin the threads of human life. Perhaps the textile offerings reveal something about her earthly life as a textile craftsman, but only a prosperous lady could possess these exquisite jewelleries and fabrics. While she lived, she spun her life threads among the people, and she was highly regarded.