Category Archives: old norse blog

A Viking era ring inscribed with the words ‘for Allah’, found in the grave of a woman who was buried 1200 years ago in Birka

To see more Viking articles, click here. Analysis and Interpretation of a Unique Arabic Finger Ring from the Viking Age Town of Birka, Sweden, 25 km west of modern-day Stockholm. The ring constitutes unique material evidence of direct contact between the Vikings and the Abbasid CaliphateThe ring is made of silver alloy set with aContinue reading “A Viking era ring inscribed with the words ‘for Allah’, found in the grave of a woman who was buried 1200 years ago in Birka”

Solving one of Viking Age Britain’s greatest mysteries

To see more Viking articles, click here. David Keys considers a discovery that sheds fresh light on gold, silver, sacred relics and fear in the medieval era. Archaeologists have determined that a treasure cache, discovered by metal detectorists in Scotland seven years ago, is the richest and most complex Viking era hoard ever found in Britain. The findingContinue reading “Solving one of Viking Age Britain’s greatest mysteries”

Viking Age Iceland: Weather and Materials

This is Part 18 of our ongoing series about Viking Age Iceland. For centuries, this island country, unique in Medieval Europe, operated with no king, no great lords, no foreign policy, and no defense forces but which developed legal and judicial systems to limit the violence of bloodfeud and protect the rights of freemen. Far out in the North Atlantic, Iceland was where theContinue reading “Viking Age Iceland: Weather and Materials”

Galloway Viking-age treasure hoard begins a national tour

To see Viking articles, click here. By Giancarlo Rinald It has come a long way, and possibly further than anybody thought. Ongoing research into the Galloway Viking-age hoard – unearthed in a south of Scotland field seven years ago – continues to surprise the experts. Amid painstaking restoration and conservation work, new insights into itsContinue reading “Galloway Viking-age treasure hoard begins a national tour”