Viking burial customs varied widely, reflecting their beliefs about the afterlife. Many Vikings were buried in ships, which symbolized a journey to the next world. These ship burials often included grave goods, such as weapons, tools, and personal items, to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. In addition to ship burials, some Vikings practiced cremation, where the body was burned on a pyre. The ashes were then placed in urns or scattered. Burial mounds, known as kurgans, were also common, serving as memorials for the deceased and marking their resting places in the landscape.