The ship, which was excavated by Norwegian archaeologist Haakon Shetelig and Swedish archaeologist Gabriel Gustafson in 1904–1905. was discovered in the Oseberg burial mound (Norwegian: "Oseberghaugen ved Slagen" from the Old Norse word "haugr" meaning kurgan mound or barrow). They also contained two female human skeletons as well as a considerable number of grave goods. Scientific dating of the ship suggest it was buried no earlier than 834, but parts of the ship date from around 800, and other parts of its structure maybe older.