Medieval Scandinavia: The Swedish Kingdom
Beñat Elortza Larrea discusses the transformation of Svealand and Götaland into the Swedish kingdom.
Viking-era farm discovered in Sweden
Archaeologists working near Stockholm have excavated a thousand-year-old farm, dating back to the Viking Age.
The spur goad from Skegrie in Scania, Sweden
The present paper focuses on a small metal artefact discovered in 2008 during archaeological excavations that preceded the construction of the E6 road leading from Trelleborg to Vellinge in Scania, Sweden.
Vikings Versus Neo-Nazis: Documentary on confronting racism and misappropriation of history
Medievalists have become increasingly concerned in recent years about the misappropriation of medieval history by Neo-Nazis and far-right groups. A documentary has just been released that shows how medieval-history lovers are confronting these groups, taking place in Sweden.
The Occupation of Gotland by the Teutonic Knights, 1398-1408
In 1398, the Teutonic Order occupied the island of Gotland and its city, Visby. The knights held the island for ten years.
Two Viking Age ship burials discovered in Sweden
A unique find of two boat burials from the Viking Age have been discovered in Sweden. One of the two graves was intact with remains of a man, a horse and a dog.
Trading in Viking-Period Scandinavia – A Business Only for a Few? The Jämtland Case
To what extent did people in rural areas in Viking-period Scandinavia, living outside the emporia of the time, participate in buying and selling goods?
Plotting, Rebellion, Fratricide: A Game of Thrones in Medieval Sweden
The one story that I wish to tell today is from Erikskrönikan, or ‘The Chronicle of Duke Erik’.
An Annotated Edition and Translation of The Older Law of Västergötland: The Rightless Code
The Older Law of Västergötland is the oldest surviving text in Old Swedish and marks the beginning of parchment manuscripts written in the vernacular in Sweden.
8-year-old girl discovers medieval sword in Swedish lake
A story making headlines around the world this week is the discovery of a medieval sword in Sweden. While an unusual event on its own, what is more remarkable is that the person who discovered it was an 8-year-old girl.
Half the population of the Viking-town Sigtuna were migrants, study finds
New analysis of the remains of 38 people who lived and died in the Swedish town of Sigtuna between the 10th and 12th centuries reveals high genetic variation and a wide scale migration.
Sko-Ella: The Woman Worse than the Devil
What is it that you truly desire? How far are you prepared to go to get it? Would you, say, treasure it even more than your immortal soul?
Örebro Castle: History, Secrets, and Romance
For anyone who visits Örebro, it is hard to miss its castle – an ancient-looking fortress made of weathered grey stones that stands on an islet in the middle of the city centre.
The Vasa: Gustav II Adolf’s Glorious and Doomed Warship
On the 10th of August 1628, the Vasa sank in Stockholm harbour, thus ending the career of the most powerful warship that Sweden had ever seen.
5th-century massacre site uncovered by archaeologists
Archaeologists working on the Swedish island of Öland have uncovered evidence showing dozens of men were massacred about 1,500 years ago.
Uppsala Slott: 5 Things You Ought to Know About One of Sweden’s Greatest Castles
This strategic location not only makes the castle a majestic sight, but also earns it the reputation as the most modern defence fortress in its time. But, as all ancient buildings, there is always more than meets the eye. Here are the five things that you may not know about Uppsala Castle.
A female Viking warrior confirmed by genomics
Already in the early middle ages, there were narratives about fierce female Vikings fighting alongside men. Although, continuously reoccurring in art as well as in poetry, the women warriors have generally been dismissed as mythological phenomena.
The Medieval Magazine (Volume 3, No. 13) : Vikings!
In this issue: Vikings, zombies, medieval music, stew, and celebrating 600 years of London’s history.
Student Life in the Medieval University: The Swedish Experience
What was it like to attend a university in the Middle Ages?
Major Viking Age manor discovered in Sweden
Birka, Sweden’s oldest town, has long been a major source of our knowledge about the Viking Age. New geophysical research has now uncovered the ninth-century manor of a royal bailiff at this site.
Medieval Mass Media and Minorities
The portrayal and (mis)use of the figure of the Jew and the Muslim in vernacular sermons and wall paintings from medieval Denmark and Sweden.
Did People Ice Skate in the Middle Ages?
How did medieval people pass the time during the coldest part of the year? I came across several instances of medieval people strapping on skates and taking a twirl (or a tumble!) on the ice. Here is how it all began!
Stable isotopes as indicators of change in the food procurement and food preference of Viking Age and Early Christian populations on Gotland (Sweden)
In short, the end of the Viking Age may have involved a suite of environmental, economic, and sociocultural changes, yet despite these changes practices of food preference and food procurement were maintained within the coastal site of Ridanas. Our research contributes to archaeological th
How Much Taxes Did a Medieval Peasant Pay? The numbers from Sweden
A new study on taxation in late medieval Sweden has revealed fascinating details about how much peasants had to pay to the royal government in taxes.