Falconry in Pre-Christian Scandinavia

Falconry, or hawking, is believed to be an imported practice into pre-Christian Scandinavian society. Scholars disagree on the provenance of the introduction of falconry into Scandinavian culture with some arguing for an Eastern origin and others for a Frisian, Frankish and possibly Anglo-Saxon creation. Burial sites containing the bones of birds of prey are found within Norway and Sweden, dating between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. Often noted in the graves of what are deemed for "elite burials", whole bones of raptors, instead of broken or damaged, were found which implies sacrifice instead of funerary meals. In Sweden, 4 species of raptor are specified amongst 12 studied graves. In these 12 graves, 24 individual birds are reported. The 4 species are the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), northern goshawk (Accipter gentilis) and the Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipter nisus).

Among these finds, copper bells and swivels were also discovered. An example of this being that of Ka. 157, an early 9th century grave found in Kaupang, Norway. Also found in this grave are the bones of dogs, weapons, stirrups, and other horse equipment. Though up for debate, some scholars believe the possibility of this being an aristocratic hunting grave. Copper bells were used to locate the falcon after being loosed by attaching it to the leg of the bird with leather. Swivels are used in order to prevent the leash from tangling. Unfortunately, the other tools used in falconry such as leashes, gloves, jesses and lures, were made of leather and rarely survive in soil.

Old Norse sagas also indicate the practice of falconry as well as the cultural and economic importance of these raptors. In Flateyjarkbók, Håkon Jarl is noted sending hawks as gifts, and as payment, to Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson. He gifted so much as 50 hawks to Bluetooth in one particular summer. When Harald had conquered a portion of Håkon Jarl’s Norway, he demanded he pay 100 marks of gold and 60 falcons or hawks in taxation. Hawks and falcons were, and still are, treated with reverence across Europe and among its descendants. They symbolize strength, nobility, and acts as a mediator between Earth and sky.

- Grief, The Sun Riders

@solarcult

Sources:

A Falconer's Ritual, written by Karyn Bellamy-Dagneau. 2015.

Kaupang in Skiringssal, written by Dagfinn Skre. 2007.

Raptor and Human - falconry and bird symbolism throughout the millennia on a global scale, written by Gersmann and Grimm. 2014.

Flateyjarkbók