Image Credit: Arkeologerna, SHM

Stone Age Dog Burial with Bone Dagger Found in a Swedish Bog

Archaeologists in Sweden have uncovered the skeleton of a dog buried alongside a bone dagger at the bottom of a bog, in a discovery dating back approximately 5,000 years. The find offers rare insight into ritual practices during the Stone Age.
The burial was identified during construction work for a high-speed railway near the hamlet of Gerstaberg, southwest of Stockholm. At the time of deposition, the area was a clear lake used by Stone Age communities for fishing. Excavations have revealed wooden piles, parts of an ancient pier, woven fishing equipment, and other remains associated with lake-based activities.
The dog skeleton was found intact, an uncommon occurrence for this period, and was placed carefully in a leather container weighted with stones to sink it into the lakebed. Nearby lay a well-preserved dagger made from elk or red deer bone. Similar daggers are known from other wetland contexts in Stone Age Sweden and are considered to have held symbolic significance.
The close association between the dog and the dagger suggests they were deposited at the same time, likely as part of a ceremonial act. Further scientific analyses, including radiocarbon dating and DNA studies, are planned to better understand the age of the burial and the life history of the animal, shedding light on human–animal relationships in prehistoric Scandinavia.

Published on: 15-12-2025

Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie

Source: Live Science