Author Archives: Jules William Press

Two brooches from Denmark are unique examples of Viking Age goldwork that includes Christian and Norse designs. By Kristina Killgrove These two brooches were part of a small hoard discovered along with a gold arm ring in southwestern Jutland, Denmark. Dated to the Viking Age (A.D. 793 to 1066), the brooches are decorated with ornamental wire bent intoContinue reading “Hornelund Brooches: Viking age gold ornaments mysteriously buried in Denmark 1,000 years ago”

This tiny figurine may represent a mythical warrior maiden who assisted Odin, the Norse god of war. By Kristina Killgrove This cast silver figurine of a Valkyrie — a mythological maiden who assists Odin, the Norse god of war — is a unique example of Viking Age metalworking that provides clues about the role of armed women during theContinue reading “Hårby Valkyrie: A 1,200-year-old gold Viking Age woman sporting a sword, shield and ponytail”

Archaeologist Greer Jarrett spent three years piloting a small sailboat along the coast of Norway to understand Viking trade routes. By Kristina Killgrove A Swedish archaeologist has sailed a replica Viking boat for 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers), which helped him to identify what he says are four previously unknown harbors along the coast of Norway that Vikings usedContinue reading “Archaeologist sailed a Viking replica boat for 3 years to discover unknown ancient harbors”

A hiker poked into a hole in the ground and discovered a rare gold scabbard ornament from Norway’s Migration period. By Kristina Killgrove A man went out on a morning walk in southwest Norway and stumbled upon a surprise: an elite warrior’s sword scabbard that was purposefully buried 1,500 years ago. The rare gold object, which was richlyContinue reading “Gold sword scabbard discovered under toppled tree in Norway was likely ‘sacrificed’ by an elite warrior 1,500 years ago”

Viking Age skeletons in Norway were much more likely to bear signs of lethal violence than those in Denmark, possibly because society in Norway was less stratified and centralized. By Owen Jarus Viking age people who lived in what is now Norway were far more likely to be violently killed than Viking age people who lived inContinue reading “Vikings in Norway were much more likely to die violent deaths than those in Denmark”