An intriguing burial site was unearthed in the Firkat ring fortress near Hobro, Denmark, featuring a Viking woman whose grave contents set it apart from the roughly 30 other burials in the area. This particular grave has garnered attention due to its unusual inventory, leading to speculations that the woman may have been a fortune teller or seer.
At the time of her burial, this woman was adorned in striking blue and red garments intricately decorated with gold thread, indicating a royal status. Similar to the wealthiest women of her time, she was interred with a horse-drawn carriage. Among the typical gifts associated with women, such as spindles and scissors, there were also exotic items from foreign lands, suggesting her wealth. Silver rings, unique to the region, adorned her fingers, and two bronze cups, possibly from Central Asia, were discovered in her grave.
Among the most peculiar items were a metal staff and white seeds of a poisonous plant, both linked to fortune-telling or magical practices. The metal staff, though partially deteriorated after being buried for so long, appeared to be an iron rod with bronze fittings, possibly a wand associated with magic or divination.
The white seeds were found in a small pouch, and when burned, they emitted a mildly hallucinogenic smoke. In the right quantity, these seeds could induce hallucinations and euphoric states, similar to substances used by later witches. It's possible that the woman used them as a "witch's ointment" by rubbing them on her skin. Additionally, her belt buckle contained white lead, which was sometimes used in skin ointments.
Other items in the tomb lend further credence to the theory that the woman was a visionary. A box at her feet contained various objects, including owl pellets and the bones of small birds and mammals.
Notably, the grave also held a brooch from Gotland, which may have been repurposed by the woman as a container for "white lead," a white dye with medicinal uses that has been employed for over two millennia, including in skin ointments. It should be noted that concentrated white lead is toxic.
