Potions and Poisons: ‘Magical’ Drinks in Medieval Norse Literature
Perceiving the ordinary or the magical as discrete separate categories is a modern way of thinking that could impede our understanding of the past.
The Vikings’ self-image was influenced by the Roman period
In the Late Viking Age, a grave was built that looks very similar to one of the most spectacular graves of the Roman Age in Norway.
Spinning Destinies: Norns, Valkyries and the Art of Textile Production in the Viking Age
What we’re particularly interested in for the purposes of this lecture is the way in which the role of women as spinners and weavers is represented on the Osberg ship.
Research from Viking latrines helps reveal the long history of a parasite
Using stool samples from Viking latrines, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have genetically mapped one of the oldest human parasites – the whipworm.
Elite Vikings wore beaver furs, study finds
Beaver fur was a symbol of wealth and an important trade item in 10th-century Denmark, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
Unexpected delivery: Viking jewellery given to Norwegian museum
Archaeologists at the Museum of Archaeology at the University of Stavanger could hardly believe their eyes when dress accessories typical of a Viking Age woman was delivered to the museum. Now the archaeologists may have traced the origin of the jewellery.
Norse traded walrus ivory in Kyiv, study finds
An archaeological dig in Kyiv in 2007 yielded amazing results.
When Thor was a Bride
Perhaps this would make for a good script in the next Thor movie – it’s gender-bending hijinks involving Thor, Loki and the other Norse gods.
Viking shipyard discovered at Birka
Archaeologists in Sweden have located a unique Viking Age shipyard site at Birka, an important Norse town. The discovery challenges previous theories about how the maritime activities of the Viking Age were organised.
The Viking and the Sea
Old Norse poetry reveals a deep attachment to both the seas around them and the ships that allowed them to navigate those waters.
The Northman
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle and Peter Konieczny give their takes on Hollywood’s latest foray into medieval movie-making: The Northman.
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…