#viking archaeology

[merovingian-marvels]

King’s Field Pendant

This magnificent pendant is the ultimate proof that the “Dark Ages” is an academic concept. Rather than Europe plummeting into darkness because of the “fall” of the Western Roman Empire, it’s more the lack of academic interest in the Early Middle Ages.

This Anglo-Saxon pendant was found on King’s Field (Kent) and is made of gold and garnet, but decorated extremely intricately with gabuchon, filigree and granulation. The garnet was used to form a triskele with round centre and ending in bird heads. At just 3,5 cm across, this was made by a master craftsman with materials from all over the known world.

The pendant might have been worn on a bit of string or rope, or it may have been worn as part of a glass beaded necklace. The pendant likely belonged to a woman.

The British museum, England

Museum nr. .1145.’70

Found in King’s Field - Kent, England

[ochipi]

I’m kind of thinking about making a third tumblr account dedicated to Germanic and Viking archaeology. Viking stuff is often romanticized, Frankish stuff gets all the attention while Merovingian stuff is hugely under appreciated. And if you look for anything Anglo-Saxon, you only get to see Sutton Hoo results.

Would anyone be interested in that?

Edit: I MADE ONE! @merovingian-marvels

[archaeologs]

Jellinge style brooch, historic museum, Oslo, Norway. Photo by mararie.

Learn more / Daha fazlası https://www.archaeologs.com/w/jellinge-style/

[nordic-explorer]

The ruins of Lindisfarne

Source: Entwistle, D. (2017, April 24). Lindisfarne. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6547/lindisfarne/

The Viking Gjermundbu helmet

Source: Vitenskapsmuseet, N. (2018, May 31). Viking Age Helmet. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8848/viking-age-helmet/

[er-cryptid]

Viking Age

-- lasted from 793 to 1066 CE

-- starts with the raid on Lindisfarne

-- ends with the Norman invasion of England

.

Patreon

[thesilicontribesman]

Silver 'Broad Band' Arm Rings, Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey, 900 to 925CE, St Fagans National Museum of History, Wales, Cardiff.

[sejrart]

Reunion

In 2021, researchers discovered that an 11th century skeleton uncovered from a grave in Otterup, Denmark in 2005 was related to a skeleton found in a mass grave in Oxford, England in 2008. DNA analysis showed them to be half-brothers, uncle and nephew or grandfather and grandson.

The man found in Oxford died young and it's speculated that he died during the St Brice's Day massacre, an attack on all Danes in England ordered by King Æthelred the Unready after an increase in Danish raids on England. The man found in Denmark died around the age of 50, having lived a farmer's life, but not one without combat.

After a century separated by the North Sea, the two relatives were reunited for an exhibition at The National Museum of Denmark.

[woedans]

The Wijnaldum brooch

ig: @woedans / @museumperspective

[merovingian-marvels]

Birka’s warrior woman

This grave was found on Birka (Björko) in 1878. The grave contained human remains, remains from two horses, bowls, weaponry, a shield(boss), a chess game and saddle stirrups. The burial room was built in wood. Most likely the person was buried seated, with the bones collapsing on themselves. Some remains of textile were found.

The assumption that the person was a man was quickly made and the “high status burial of a Viking warrior” was often cited in research.

It would take until 2017 when both osteological and genetic testing proved the person was in fact a woman. To this day it is the only genetically and archaeologically proven female warrior from the Viking age.

The reason I say genetically AND archaeologically is because it is assumed that gender was a very loose concept in the Germanic age. Biological gender wasn’t necessarily denied, but there are indications that people would take on “the role” of the other gender. A woman could “step up” as a man’s son, as seen in blood feud tales where the patriarch is killed, but if there is no son to avenge him, a woman would “take up the role” and set out, armed for revenge.

Biologically male individuals have been found with “female” attributes such as beads, pendants and certain decoration styles.

From the limited amount of research there is, it seems possible that cross-dressing, gender fluidity and gender role exchange were very normal before mass christianization.

Excavated by: Hjalmar Stolpe

Found in: Birka, Björko, Ekerö - Sweden

Drawing by: Hjalmar Stolpe

[ochipi]

So someone just asked me how my PhD plans are going and im more and more starting to realize that no one is interested in Germanic archaeology. Unless it's pure vikings in Scandinavia itself or you manage to get into those elite (expensive) English universities to study Anglo Saxon archaeology. 

now what...? 

[mindblowingscience]

A new analysis of Viking-era teeth – dating back around a thousand years – has given us some interesting insight into the dentistry of the time, which looks to have been more advanced than previously thought. Researchers from the University of Gothenburg and the Västergötlands Museum in Sweden looked at a total of 3,293 teeth from 171 of the Nordic marauders, including both kids and adults. Modern-day dentistry assessments were carried out on the teeth, including the use of X-ray scans and dental probes, and it turns out that these Scandinavians didn't just leave their teeth to rot and decay.

Continue Reading.

[nordic-explorer]

The Lewis Chess Pieces

Artifacts crafted from whale teeth and walrus ivory with origin in Scandinavia, potentially tracing back to Trondheim in Norway.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/05/these-are-some-of-the-worlds-most-spectacular-viking-artefacts

[tiachristiner]

The Seeress of Fyrkat

[er-cryptid]

Patreon

[thesilicontribesman]

Govan Old Stones Collection, Viking 'Hogback' Stones, Govan Old Parish Church, Glasgow, Scotland