The Viking Sea: Ships, Storms, and Adventure in Old Norse Poetry
Explore how Viking-age poets described ships, storms, and seafaring adventure in Old Norse poetry, revealing the central role of the sea in medieval Scandinavian life.
Earth Wounds: Creative Explorations of Viking Age Funerary Customs
Archaeology, photography, and art come together in a new book covering death and burial in the Viking Age. Terri Barnes reviews a visually striking work that transforms Viking funerary customs into reflections on memory, loss, and mortality.
More Medieval Coins Discovered, Adding to Norway’s Largest-Ever Hoard
Archaeologists in Norway have uncovered hundreds more coins from the Mørstad Hoard, now the country’s largest-ever Viking Age coin discovery, shedding new light on medieval trade and iron production.
Vikings Traded Falcons with Medieval Baghdad, Study Finds
A remarkable new study argues that Vikings may have supplied rare Arctic falcons to the rulers of the ʿAbbāsid Caliphate, creating a trade network that stretched from Iceland to Baghdad in the ninth century.
Byzantine vs. Viking: The Varangian Guard in Constantinople
How did Viking raiders become imperial bodyguards? Zoe Tsiami tells the story of the Varangian Guard in medieval Constantinople.
Medieval “Giant” with Trepanned Skull Discovered in Mass Grave
A medieval mass grave discovered near Cambridge may be linked to conflict on the frontier between English and Viking kingdoms. Among the dead is an exceptionally tall young man who survived trepanation, an ancient procedure in which a hole was cut into the skull.
Viking High Seat Recreated in Norway for Museum Exhibition
A Viking high seat has been recreated in Trondheim, offering new insights into power, farming, and daily life in early medieval Norway.
Women Beyond the Cross: Power, Myth, and Agency in the Viking World
Explore how women in the Viking world exercised power and agency through myth, law, and daily life—challenging the idea that medieval society universally confined women to subordinate roles.
Viking Age Woman’s Grave with Mysterious Scallop Ritual Unearthed in Norway
Archaeologists in Norway have uncovered a rare and well-preserved Viking Age grave containing the remains of a woman buried with jewellery, clothing accessories and an unexplained ritual involving two scallop shells.
Viking Age Artefacts Discovered in Sweden
Archaeologists in Sweden have uncovered Viking Age graves containing swords, ornate horse gear, and cremation sites in the central region of Västmanland.
Norway’s Oseberg Ship Begins a New Chapter in the Museum of the Viking Age
Norway’s Oseberg Ship, one of the world’s greatest Viking treasures, has been safely relocated to the new Museum of the Viking Age after a decade of planning and a painstaking 10-hour move.museu
Viking Hairstyles Uncovered in a Medieval Gaming Piece
A Viking Age figurine from Denmark reveals rare details of elite hairstyles and grooming, offering a unique three-dimensional portrait of Viking fashion from over 1,000 years ago.
Viking Farm and Silver Treasure Discovered in Sweden
Archaeologists uncover a Viking farm in Sweden with 34 buildings, graves, and a unique silver treasure linking Scandinavia to the wider world.
Fighting the Vikings: The Rhine Delta Raids of 1006–1007
This article examines the Viking raids of 1006 and 1007 in the Rhine Delta region and shows how local militias in the early German kingdom defended towns such as Utrecht and Tiel, highlighting the importance of leadership and local military institutions.
Vikings Behaving Reasonably with Robert Lively
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Robert Lively about how a person became a Viking lawyer, what the process was for solving disputes, and how fixing bad behaviour worked in this shame-based culture.
From Butter Penis to Fairhair: 517 Real Viking Nicknames
Discover 517 real Viking nicknames from the sagas, including bold, funny, and bizarre names like “Butter Penis” and “Fairhair.” Explore what these names reveal about Norse culture and identity.
Royal Connections? Viking Burial Site Discovered in Denmark
Archaeologists have uncovered a Viking Age burial site in Lisbjerg, Denmark, containing rare grave goods and signs of royal connections. The discovery sheds light on aristocratic life near Viking-era Aarhus.
Evolving English Strategies during the Viking Wars
Alfred’s success was based on his ability to plan strategically on a grand scale, and that Æthelred II’s failure was due, at least in part, to his and his advisors’ inability to develop a coherent strategy against a similar threat.
A Viking Age Masterpiece Revealed: Oseberg Ship’s Original Serpent Head Makes Its Debut
After more than a century in storage, a remarkable Viking artefact is finally revealed
Viking Gold Arm-Ring Unearthed on the Isle of Man Declared Treasure
A new discovery is shedding light on the Isle of Man’s rich Viking heritage. A rare piece of Viking gold jewellery, unearthed earlier this year, has officially been declared treasure by the Isle of Man’s Deputy Coroner of Inquests.
New Research Reveals Vikings Sailed Farther from Shore Than Previously Thought
New research shows that Vikings sailed farther from land than previously thought, using a network of offshore harbours and navigating by myths and mental maps.
New Medieval Books: Forgotten Vikings
This book sets out to provide a sweeping overview of the Viking Age, covering Norse history from the sixth to the fifteenth centuries. Unlike many similar works, it reaches well beyond Scandinavia and England, incorporating a wide geographical scope and drawing extensively on archaeological evidence.
Tupac Could Have Been a Viking
Discover the striking parallels between Viking warriors and 1990s gangsta rappers in this thought-provoking article exploring shared values of honour, violence, reputation, and poetic legacy across two seemingly distant cultures.
Vikings and Violence: What Bones Reveal About Norway and Denmark
New research reveals stark differences in Viking violence between Norway and Denmark, uncovering patterns of brutal deaths, executions, and weapon use through the study of ancient bones and grave goods.