The decapitated heads of nearly a dozen sheep were found mounted on stakes around four historic sites in Vestfold County over the weekend. Police launched an investigation into who or what is behind the macabre stunt.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that the bloody sheeps’ heads were found around Borrehaugen in Horten, Slottsfjellet in Tønsberg, at Gokstadhaugen in Sandefjord and at Bøkeskogen in Larvik. All four sites have ties to Viking times or Viking graves.
The leader of cultural heritage for Vestfold County, Terje Gansum, told NRK that placing a head on a stake is a reference to old Norse tradition, when using a stake, or nidstang, was believed to direct feelings or powers towards someone. “It’s not especially positive, rather quite negative,” Gansum told NRK.
Police took photos of the sheeps’ heads and then collected all of them and the stakes as evidence. “But we haven’t decided whether this is a punishable offense,” police lawyer Lise Dalhaug told NRK.
newsinenglish.no staff
