Whalebone plaque, Viking, 9th century. Whalebone plaque decorated with a pair of openwork horses&#x27; heads at the top and incised with ring-and-dot and geometric designs. Often believed to be &quot;ironing boards&quot;, these plaques are now rather interpretated as intended for serving food.  This example is from a barrow burial at Lilleberge, Namdalen, Norway. Whales were hunted for their skins, meat and whalebone; they also sometimes stranded themselves or were washed ashore