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.
Huge Medieval Coin Hoard Discovered in Norway
Over 3,000 silver coins from the Viking Age have been uncovered in Norway, marking the largest medieval hoard ever found in the country and prompting new archaeological research.
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.
New Medieval Books: Vikings Behaving Reasonably
This book offers more than just a clever title. It shows how Norse communities relied on the ideal of hóf—a cultural expectation of moderation and restraint—to resolve disputes and maintain order, often without the need for a strong central authority.
Early Medieval Hoard Discovered in Northern Germany
A cache of silver objects buried more than a thousand years ago has been uncovered along the banks of the Schlei in northern Germany, offering a glimpse into the economic and cultural networks of the early medieval world.
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.
A Viking-Age Valentine’s Day Card: A Medieval Runic Love Message from Sweden
How do you tell someone you love them in Viking-Age Sweden? You carve a message in runes on a knife: “Think of me, and I’ll think of you.”
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.
Fimbulvetr: When the Medieval World Saw the Sun Go Dark
How a mysterious climate disaster in AD 536 may lie behind the Norse myth of Fimbulvetr, when medieval people believed the sun itself had gone dark.
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.
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.
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.
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
New Medieval Books: The Sagas of Icelanders
This book offers an introduction to the Icelandic sagas, detailing various aspects of the genre. It then provides mini-descriptions of 40 sagas, explaining their content, dating, and transmission.
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.
Pregnancy and Power in the Viking Age: New Study Reveals Surprising Roles for Expectant Women
A new study uncovers how pregnant women in Viking society were imagined not only as mothers, but sometimes as warriors.