Archaeologists digging in Estonia a decade ago made a gruesome discovery: two boatloads of dead warriors, excavated on a beach near the village of Salme. In the first, smaller boat, the bodies of six men had been placed in pairs, seated upright and gripping their oars, with another placed at the stern. The second—a larger warship—contained 34 men laid carefully side by side, bearing terrible battle injuries. Fish and cuts of meat were placed on their chests and all over the deck. Elaborate swords flanked the men, and a number of gaming pieces were strewn over this strange...

Source: Wall Street Journal August 14, 2020 21:56 UTC