Tag: vikings

Warrior buried in a Swedish Viking grave was actually female

When archaeologists excavated a Viking grave in the late 1800s and found weapons, they realized they’d found a warrior’s burial place. But it turned out that warrior was a woman.

The Anglo-Saxons were worse than the Vikings

Linguistically, the Anglo-Saxons practically eradicated the native Britons. The question is: was it ethnic cleansing?

Thousands of objects discovered in Scandinavia’s first Viking city

Danish archaeologists have excavated the streets beneath Ribe to discover how the first city of the Viking age was established.

Danish Viking fortresses were designed to fend off other Vikings

After four years, the excavation of the famous Viking fortress, Borgring, is coming to a close and archaeologists can now describe the fortress in a broader perspective: An anti-Viking defence that allowed the Danish King to forge a new, mobile army.

Are these Danish cities older than previously thought?

Odense could have been settled as early as the late eighth century, and many other towns could be older than you think, according to new study.

A tiny dragonhead illuminates life in a Viking trading town

This little head dates from the Viking Age and was produced in unique style.

Raw fish gave the Vikings tapeworms

“I’ve never thought about how they prepared their food – or didn’t,” says archaeologist.

How to decorate like a Viking

To begin with you will need a handy Viking paint chart. Luckily, archaeologists in Denmark have just made one.

Scientists map the earliest Icelandic genome

Scientists have mapped genetic material from the first generations of Icelanders, whose DNA appears to be more closely matched to present day Norwegians than their Icelandic descendants.

Vikings versus Iron Age: Who made the best swords?

How important was steel for the Vikings? Would someone from the seventh century stand a chance against a tenth century Viking warrior?

English mass grave contains remains of Viking Great Army

Archaeologists are now certain that the 264 bodies buried in the English town of Repton were Vikings. A curious mystery has finally been solved.

Unique Viking runes discovered in Denmark

“These are the runes we’ve been missing,” says archaeologist.

Vikings were never the pure-bred master race white supremacists like to portray

A striking feature of the early Vikings’ success was their ability to embrace and adapt from a wide range of cultures, whether that be the Christian Irish in the west or the Muslims of the Abbasid Caliphate in the east.

What made the Vikings so superior in warfare?

We travel back in time to study the tactics of the Norse warriors.

This tiny ornament may have belonged to Harold Bluetooth’s shaman

The small piece of silver was found at a Viking fortress in Køge, Denmark.

Did Vikings really fight behind a shield wall?

It could all be a big misunderstanding, says archaeologist.

Archaeologists finally know how old Denmark’s fifth Viking fortress is

A piece of well-preserved oak found close to the “Borgring” Viking fortress has provided a precise date for its earliest possible construction.

Wheel tracks discovered at Viking fortress in Denmark

Newly discovered wheel tracks by the Viking fortress “Borgring” is a rare witness to life in Denmark’s fifth Viking fortress. Archaeologists hope to learn more about the fortress when they know just how old the tracks are.

New discovery could rewrite Viking fortresses’ history

Pottery shards question conventional understanding of Denmark’s Viking ring fortresses.

1,000-year-old Viking toilet uncovered in Denmark

A deep hole containing human faeces has been discovered at a Viking settlement in Denmark. Is this Denmark’s oldest toilet?

High flames gave status to ancient funeral pyres

Funeral pyres were an important ritual for thousands of years in Denmark. The dead were paraded and the cremation was a spectacular show.

“Viking Tower” excavated in Denmark

Totally unique in construction and unknown to Danish archaeology, extraordinary discovery from the Viking Age uncovered in Jutland.

What can linguistics tell us about the Vikings in England?

The linguistic evidence supports the theory that high numbers of Scandinavian Vikings settled in England, writes linguist.

Archaeologists and historians clash with geneticists over Viking study

Geneticists and biologists are increasingly involved in historical research. But as the new boys on the block, collaborations do not always run smoothly.

Why Danish Vikings moved to England

As many as 35,000 Vikings migrated from Denmark to England, reveals a new study. But what made them embark on such a drastic step to move west to a new land?

New study reignites debate over Viking settlements in England

A large DNA study in 2015 concluded there is “no clear genetic evidence” of the Danish Viking occupation of England. But thousands of Vikings moved to England, say archaeologists.

Scientists: Pointless to rename the Viking Age

The Steel Age could be a more appropriate name for what we call the Viking Age, says one archaeologist. But the new name is inappropriate, say her colleagues.

The Viking Age should be called the Steel Age

OPINION: The Viking Age harks back to the glory days of the Nordics, but the name is all wrong. It should instead be called the Steel Age, says Danish archaeologist.

Archaeologists discover a Viking toolbox

Follow the archaeologists’ work as they pry into a 1,000-years-old Viking toolbox.

Archaeologist discovers a new style of Viking combat

Experimental archaeologists donned their armour and took to the battlefield to test out shield fighting techniques.

What colour did the Vikings paint their houses?

Archaeologists in Denmark are busy building one of the largest experimental archaeology reconstruction projects. But what colours would the Vikings have used?

Viking sailors took their cats with them

The largest genetic study of cats reveals how our furry friends spread out across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and even hitched a ride aboard Viking ships.

Guide to the classics: the Icelandic saga

Opinion: There has been a surge in interest of Icelandic literature, including the sagas. But how much do you really know about these literary classics?

New Viking graves discovered in Denmark

A new archaeological excavation in Denmark reveals the remains of graves and buildings that span the Stone Age, Bronze Age, the Vikings, and right up to the Middle Ages.

Vikings abused and beheaded their slaves

Who were the slaves and where did they come from?

Danish Viking grave reveals archaeological mysteries

New excavations in Scandinavia’s first city, Ribe, suggests rapid change at the end of the 9th century.

Unique Viking tomb contains remains of noble couple

A Viking tomb in Denmark contains the rare remains of two men and a woman and offers more evidence of an international Viking culture.

Replica Viking ship will recreate Norse voyages in Greenland

GREENLAND: Eight volunteers will set sail in June to recreate the original Norse adventure along the west coast of Greenland. During the voyage, archaeologists hope to learn more about the Greenlandic Norse culture.

Viking sagas published in Danish for the first time

The Viking sagas were once considered too vulgar and violent to be published in Danish. But they have now been given a new lease of life and are published in modern Danish for the first time.

Viking invaders struck deep into the west of England and may have stuck around

OPINION: There’s no shortage of evidence of Viking raids but historians now think that the Vikings conquered more of the British Isles than was previously thought.

Unique jewellery from the British Isles found in Danish Viking grave

A Danish Viking burial site contains a buckle that may have come from Ireland or Scotland.

Archaeological breakthrough could solve the mystery of Greenland’s Vikings

Archaeologists develop new method, which might finally tell us why the Vikings migrated to Greenland.

The first Danish kings were pirates

Medieval pirates and buccaneers founded Denmark. A new project investigates who the pirates really were and how they affected the formation of the Danish kingdom in its infancy.

Isolated people in Sweden only stopped using runes 100 years ago

In a remote part of Sweden they used runes until just a hundred years ago. The people in the area also speak their own language: Elfdalian.

Fashionable Vikings loved colours, fur, and silk

The Vikings were skilled warriors, traders, and explorers, but a more fashionable side might also have existed.

800-year-old rune stick unearthed during excavation of Danish city

A rune stick from the Middle Ages has been found in the centre of Odense. An unique find, say scientists.

The Viking age began in Denmark

New study changes our understanding of how and where the Viking age began.

Greenland Vikings outlived climate change for centuries

Climate change didn't kill off the thick-skinned Norsemen.

Ancient ring brings Vikings and Islamic civilizations closer together

Ring with Arabic inscriptions found in Swedish Viking grave.

DNA study: Vikings were plagued by intestinal parasites

A study of the remains of a 1,000 year old latrine reveals an unpleasant fact about the Vikings.

New light shed on the Viking Age: Scandinavia’s oldest town was built 70 years earlier than thought

The Danish town Ribe is the oldest town in Scandinavia. Now a new study suggests that Ribe may have become a town much earlier than thought.

This is what living in the Viking age looked like

Explore one of northern Europe's largest Viking settlements in Denmark through this digital reconstruction.

Evidence found: Harald Bluetooth built Viking fortress

A few months ago, the find of a hidden ringfort in Denmark created great excitement among archaeologists all over the world. Now archaeologists have finally concluded that it is, in fact, a Viking fortress. But was it Harald Bluetooth's?

New viking fortress discovered in Denmark

Archaeologists are excited as new finding could reveal more secrets about the Danish vikings.

Were the Vikings scared of volcanoes?

New Danish research suggests that the Icelandic Vikings were far less relaxed about volcanoes than previously believed.

Photo gallery: The six styles of Viking art

Vikings decorated their objects with patterns and motifs. Researchers have identified six different styles that formed the fashion in the Viking Age.

Huge ancient monument found in Sweden

Archaeologists have discovered a monumental structure with high wooden poles, dated at 400-500 AD in Uppsala, Sweden.

How Vikings killed time

The Vikings played ball, lifted stones and wrestled. Often the games turned violent and bloody, occasionally resulting in death.

Should we keep the Vikings’ stolen goods?

The National Museum of Denmark regularly receives objects that appear to be stolen goods from the Viking Age. Shouldn’t these objects be returned to their original owners?

How Vikings navigated the world

With no access to modern navigation instruments, Vikings relied on birds, whales, celestial bodies, chants and rhymes to navigate the seas and discover new land.

Saga professors toast with Viking ale

More than 300 of the world’s leading Norse mythology researchers met at the 15th International Saga Conference earlier this month in Denmark.

What Vikings really looked like

Were Vikings really dirty savages who wore horned helmets, or did they look like we do today? Here’s what the experts say.

Legendary Viking town unearthed

The hidden centre of power for the first Danish kings may well have popped up from the soil in Northern Germany. Archaeologists have surprisingly found some 200 houses and piles of weapons.