Sagas and Gender
Did you know that Loki was a gender-bending God? In this episode of the Medieval Grad Podcast, Lucie Laumonier interviews Matthew Roby on sex and gender in Old Norse and Icelandic sagas. There were many gender-bending characters in these texts, informing us of the gender representations and roles of Norse societies.
Medieval Movie Review: The Northman
Robert Eggers’ take on the Norse tale of Prince Amleth may offer movie-goers some impressive visuals and historically-accurate details, but ultimately it is another bleak and bloody view of the Vikings.
Drought led to the end of Norse Greenland settlement, researchers find
New research suggests it wasn’t dropping temperatures that helped drive the Norse from Greenland, but drought.
V for Viking
I want to talk a little bit about aspects of my more public-facing academic research and public engagement
Viking Age boat burials: a history of research
Boats form a subset of grave goods increasingly found in Viking Age burials, which have been the subject of much scholarly debate, especially from the 19th century onwards.
Science and the Vikings
On the contribution of physics, chemistry, and technology to our knowledge of the Vikings, to our understanding of Viking ships and navigational aids, and to developing more effective ways of conserving the many artefacts that have been found.
Seafaring in the Norse world: Advice from the Konungs skuggsjá
The Konungs skuggsjá, a thirteenth-century Norwegian text, details some of the dangers and the marvels to be found in the North Atlantic
Vikings actually could tear out a person’s lungs, researchers suggest
One of the most fantastic and gruesome stories about the Vikings was the torture ritual known as the Blood Eagle. New research suggests that the ability to tear out a person’s lungs through their back is anatomically possible.
11th-century Gold earring discovered in Denmark
A metal detector in Denmark has discovered a unique piece of gold jewellery from the 11th century that has never been seen before in Scandinavia. It was possibly donated personally by the emperor of Byzantium to a Viking leader.
The Allure of the Vikings: Warriors, Women and Politics
Terri Barnes on Viking history and her reflections on teaching Viking history.
New Medieval Books: Vikings
Five new books that tell us about the Norse and the Viking Age.
Where did the Vikings go? The Decline of Norse Piracy
One of the less well-understood aspects of the Viking Age is its end. Where did the Vikings go?
The Norse were definitely at L’Anse aux Meadows in 1021, study finds
The Norse presence in North America has been attested to by written accounts and archaeological evidence. Now, an international team of scientists have…
Did the Norse colonize the Azores in the 8th century?
Until now, it has been accepted that the Azores were first discovered sometime in the 14th century, and colonized in the 1430s. However, new evidence suggests that Norse people settled on the islands about 700 years earlier.
Women and Men of the Viking Age
Professor Sanmark’s lecture will discuss gender roles in the Viking Age, with particular attention to how women and men have been perceived in previous research.
Harald Hardrada: Exiled Prince
Harald was born into a dynasty that in short order had become a major fulcrum of political and cultural change in Norway, only to be forced into exile when they fell afoul of an enemy better positioned to capitalise upon these emerging innovations.
Harald Hardrada: An Exemplar of the Age
Hardrada’s journeys and his interaction with the overlapping cultures and political entities that he encountered are so fascinating and valuable to examine from a global history perspective, precisely because they illuminate this interconnectivity.
Viking Age treasure hoard discovered on the Isle of Man
A treasure hoard dating back to the eleventh century has been discovered on the Isle of Man. It includes 87 silver coins, 13 pieces of cut, silver arm-rings or “hack silver” and other artefacts.
Viking-Age embroidered textiles found in woman’s grave
To an untrained eye, the artefact looks brown and dull, but it is actually something very special: embroidered wool fabric more than 1000 years old, preserved on top of a turtle brooch.
The Viking Phenomenon: Paradigms, Parameters, and Progress
Rejecting the illusory notion of a ‘smoking gun’ or any single trigger factor, we are exploring the longer time depth of the Viking phenomenon further back into the late Iron Age (following Nordic terminology), the varied ethnicities and identities of ‘Vikings’, and the structures of economy and politics that underpinned their developing diaspora.
Viking trousers, missing for over a hundred years, discovered again
Archaeologists in Denmark have found the remains of a Viking elite individual lost for over 100 years. Attached textile fragments are already shedding light on this important person, revealing he was wearing a pair of uniquely decorated long trousers.
Study examines the evolution of Viking metalwork
The evolution of metalwork expertise and craftsmanship developed by Viking craftspeople in Denmark in the 8th and 9th centuries has been detailed in a study published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences.
‘Viking’ Humour
Do we share a sense of humour with Vikings? Dr Hannah Burrows talks about what might have made the Vikings laugh, and what was considered a serious matter in medieval Scandinavia. She will explore what puns, jokes, insults, and satire can tell us about early Scandinavian culture and social concerns.
Love and Marriage in Old Norse Literature
Why actions speak louder than words when it comes to romance in the Icelandic sagas.