A typical Early Medieval Scandinavian funeral as evidenced by archaeology was a simple burial, perhaps in a mound if a high-status individual, surrounded by grave goods either symbolic or prized personsal possessions. In some cases remains would be cremated before being interred. Given the vast diaspora of Scandinavians during the Early Medieval Period, it can be hard to say what other elements were typical. The intricate - and frankly horrifying - account written by Ibn Fadlan of a high-status Rus funeral, for example, certainly can't be taken as a model for funerary practices in contemporary Denmark or Sweden. Particularly high status burials, as in pre-Christian England, sometimes took the form of ship burials, often in vessels specially built for the purpose.

Did this have some religious significance?

We have basically no concrete knowledge of the religious beliefs, theology, rituals or practices of pre-Christian Scandinavia beyond what can be gleaned from archaeological remains. We have no contemporary sources from practitioners or believers detailing the tenets of their faith, belief or even pantheon. Our contemporary sources are external, either anthropologically unconcerned or polemic, and our internal sources are written centuries after conversion, through a distinctly Christian lens and with an aim to entertain rather than educate.