Archaeologists in Sweden were expecting to find an ancient settlement, but they were surprised to discover a Viking Age cemetery with boat-shaped burial outlines. By Kristina Killgrove While digging to find an ancient settlement in southern Sweden, archaeologists made a completely unexpected discovery: an enormous Viking Age cemetery with more than 100 graves and several ship-shaped mounds. AsContinue reading “1,200-year-old Viking cemetery with ‘stone ship’ burials discovered in Sweden”
Category Archives: old norse blog
Lost remains of Viking-slaying English King discovered in parking lot — as England faces Norway at World Cup
By Ben Cos The English soccer team hopes to replicate his success on the soccer field. The English may have received a boost from the past for their upcoming World Cup clash against Norway. A historian believes he’s located the long-lost remains of Alfred the Great, the legendary English King who vanquished the Vikings. TheContinue reading “Lost remains of Viking-slaying English King discovered in parking lot — as England faces Norway at World Cup”
1,000-year-old ‘king’ game piece with a distinctive hairstyle is ‘as close as we will ever get to a portrait of a Viking’
A unique game piece from Norway that was crafted during the time of Harald Bluetooth may depict a Viking king. By Tom Metcalfe The 1,000-year-old “king” piece from a Viking board game is one of the few depictions of a ruler from the Viking era, according to a new analysis. “The figure is depicting a late tenth-century king,” PeterContinue reading “1,000-year-old ‘king’ game piece with a distinctive hairstyle is ‘as close as we will ever get to a portrait of a Viking’”
‘Do you love me?’: The Viking messages unearthed on Sweden’s rune stones
Runic inscriptions from the Viking Age still turn up in Sweden 1,000 years after they were written – revealing fascinating stories of love, loss and epic battles. By Matilda Welin A few years ago, Magnus Källström, a Swedish rune expert, travelled to a farm a few hours south of Stockholm to look at a stoneContinue reading “‘Do you love me?’: The Viking messages unearthed on Sweden’s rune stones”
Hornelund Brooches: Viking age gold ornaments mysteriously buried in Denmark 1,000 years ago
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”