One of the most recognizable Viking images may not be as historically accurate as many people assume. By Jane Alexander The image of the fearsome Viking charging into battle crowned with a helmet of horns has become an enduring visual symbol of warriors from Norse history. The problem with this image is that there isContinue reading “Did Vikings Really Wear Horned Helmets?”
Category Archives: old norse blog
He Decapitated His Rival And Tied His Head To His Saddle, But It Took This Viking’s Life On The Ride Home
By Emily Chan In 892 C.E., Viking chieftain Sigurd Eysteinsson killed his enemy in battle by decapitating his head. But the severed head ended up taking his life, so really, his foe had the last word. Sigurd the Mighty was born in the late ninth century in Norway. He had an impressive lineage, as heContinue reading “He Decapitated His Rival And Tied His Head To His Saddle, But It Took This Viking’s Life On The Ride Home”
The Romans and Vikings left few genetic traces of their occupations of Britain, research suggests
Despite their occupations of Britain, the Romans and Vikings didn’t leave much of a genetic mark on Britons. The Anglo-Saxons, though, were a different story. By Tom Metcalfe The Romans controlled much of Britain for nearly 400 years, but they left relatively little genetic evidence of their occupation, new ancient-DNA research reveals. Instead, the RomanContinue reading “The Romans and Vikings left few genetic traces of their occupations of Britain, research suggests”
Archaeologists unearth Viking-era ‘execution pit’ near university town, exposing brutal ancient violence
By Andrea Margolis Students at a prestigious university in the United Kingdom recently unearthed a likely execution pit on the outskirts of town — dating back 1,200 years. The University of Cambridge announced the discovery, which was found in Wandlebury Country Park south of Cambridge, in a Feb. 4 press release. The excavations took placeContinue reading “Archaeologists unearth Viking-era ‘execution pit’ near university town, exposing brutal ancient violence”
They Found a 1,000-Year-Old Treasure Buried Underground—Then They Realized Why It Was Left There
And it wasn’t the only thing they uncovered. BY TIM NEWCOMB Archaeologists excavating the land of a former farm in Sweden struck gold—well, silver actually—when they found a buried pot filled with Viking-era silver. In 2025, archaeologists from Arkeologerna, a division of the Swedish History Museum, announced the discovery of not only the silver treasure,Continue reading “They Found a 1,000-Year-Old Treasure Buried Underground—Then They Realized Why It Was Left There”