So this could probably be it’s own thread, but I feel like we could totally talk more, as a group, about the significance of wells and depositional offerings

That may indeed be related! Does look like a preference for white stones.

So, it’s not exactly the same thing described here, but it might be related. Here’s a reference to a white stone or pebble having been ritually deposited into well in the Netherlands

https://collectie.huisvanhilde.nl/pdf/Pre-Christian-gods-and-animal%20symbolism-Van-Eerden-Nicolay.pdf

Comparative Family Trees

Old English (Beowulf proem): “Shield, son of Sheaf” — boat-funeral for Scyld; no boat-birth.

• Sceaf (“Sheaf”) — progenitor; no narrative here of a boat-birth in Beowulf
  • Scyld Scefing (“Shield, son of Sheaf”) — founder-king; ship-funeral described
    • Beow…

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Boat-foundling and founder-king motifs in Germanic traditions

Tradition
Foundling?
Name
Meaning
Role

English (later chronicles)
Yes
Sceaf
Sheaf
Found in a boat with grain; father of Scyld.

English (Beowulf)
No
Scyld Scefing…Read More