How Did Danish Vikings Become Christian European?
The lecture presents some of the most significant archaeological finds in Denmark from the transition from the pre-Christian period into the Early Middle Ages.
Vikings and Indigenous North Americans: New Walrus DNA Study Reveals Early Arctic Encounters
New DNA research reveals that Norse Vikings ventured into the High Arctic centuries ago, meeting Indigenous Arctic peoples and navigating treacherous waters to harvest walrus ivory.
Study Reveals Norway’s Viking Society Was Far More Violent than Denmark’s
It turns out that Norway’s Viking Age was much more violent.
Viking Treasure Uncovered After 1,100 Years in Norway
Norwegian archaeologists have uncovered a significant Viking treasure buried more than 1,100 years ago in the southwest corner of the country. Four heavy silver bracelets were found hidden on a mountainside where a farm once existed.
How Weather Shaped the Vikings’ World
In a world where weather dictated nearly every aspect of life, how did the Northmen’s culture evolve in response to their harsh climate?
New Insights into Viking Age Economics from Runic Inscriptions
A recent reinterpretation of the runic inscription on the Forsa Ring offers a fresh perspective on the monetary system of the Viking Age, marking it as the oldest documented record of value in Scandinavia.
50 Viking-Age Sayings You Need to Know
Ever wondered what kinds of sayings and expressions were used in the Viking Age? The medieval sagas written in Iceland capture a wealth of intriguing phrases that offer a glimpse into Norse culture. Here, we present 50 of our favourite Viking-age sayings that reveal the wisdom and wit of the time.
Oldest Odin Inscription Discovered in Danish Gold
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have unearthed the oldest known inscription of Norse god Odin on a gold bracteate from the Vindelev find. This remarkable find pushes the origins of Norse mythology back to the 4th century, 150 years earlier than previously believed, and could reshape our understanding of ancient runic inscriptions.
Explore 10 Fascinating Icelandic Sagas You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Here are ten lesser-known Icelandic sagas that offer intriguing narratives and rich historical insights.
‘The Viking Sorceress’ opens at the National Museum of Denmark
‘The Viking Sorceress’ exhibition has opened at The National Museum of Denmark. Showcasing women in the Viking Age, this exhibition will likely be one of the highlights for medievalists this summer.
New Medieval Books: Textiles of the Viking North Atlantic
The eleven essays in this book examine what we know about clothing and textiles in the Viking Age. The first part is based on archaeological evidence, while the second makes use of practical experiments to recreate what the Norse in the North Atlantic might have worn.
A 9th-century church room has been recreated in the Viking town of Ribe
You can now see what a medieval church looked like during the 9th century. Ribe VikingeCenter in Denmark has unveiled the interior of its Ansgar Church with 50 murals.
Vikings! ‘Tis But A Scratch: Fact & Fiction About the Middle Ages
In this episode of the podcast “‘Tis But A Scratch”: Fact & Fiction About the Middle Ages, co-hosts Richard Abels and his wife Ellen Abels explain who and what “Vikings” really were, what historical factors contributed to the advent of the Viking Age.
The Viking Blood Eagle: Horrific Ritual or Horrific Metaphor?
As described in a number of sagas, the “blood eagle” was a particularly gruesome form of ritual sacrifice of high-status captives to the god Odin. Historians have debated whether this ritual was an actual practice or an invention of thirteenth-century saga writers based on a misunderstanding of an eleventh-century skaldic poem.
New Medieval Books: The Book of Icelanders
The Book of Icelanders (Íslendingabók) by Ari Thorligsson is a twelfth-century history of Iceland, including its settlement, Christianization and its first bishops. This book includes the Old Norse text and two kinds of translation: a literal one and a regular English translation.
The Most Important Quality of a Viking Warrior
What qualities defined a great Viking warrior?
Intriguing Skull Modifications Discovered in Viking Women
A recent study delves into the discovery of three women from Viking-Age Gotland who underwent skull elongation. This investigation sheds light on the fascinating tradition of body modification prevalent among the Norse and Vikings.
Vikings and Cats
Did the Vikings keep cats as pets? A recent study reveals that felines were much more part of Norse society than previously believed.
Ship burial discovered in Norway predates Viking Age
A burial mound explored last June in Norway holds the remains of a ship that predates the Viking age. Archaeologists believe this is Scandinavia’s oldest known ship burial.
Why Viking clothing was so bold and colourful
How did the Norse dress in the Viking Age? It might surprise readers to find out that the Vikings wore vivid colours, flowing silk ribbons, and glittering bits of mirrors.
Medieval and Viking-Age artifacts discovered in Norway
A very rare Byzantine coin is among dozens of medieval and Viking-era objects discovered in eastern Norway last year. Officials with Innlandet County Municipality have released details of items found by metal detectorists, including buckles, seals and pieces from swords.
The early Vikings of Dublin and why some of them moved to Wirral
Clare Downham talls about why Vikings came to the Wirral and why the area would have been attractive to them.
The Battle of Nisa (1062)
It is a clash between Viking kings, as Harald Hardrada of Norway faces off against Sweyn II of Denmark. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss this naval battle and how it was told by the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson.
Glaurung, Heir of Fáfnir: Tolkien’s Reading of Old Norse Dragon Myth
In Old Norse legend and literature, Fáfnir is the quintessential dragon, present in numerous sources through the ages, influencing all other narratives. This paper looks at that influence on Tolkien as he created the dragon Glaurung in his fictional world of Middle Earth.