Project Archives

Researchers sequenced the DNA from more than 400 Viking remains including from this female skeleton named Kata discovered in a Viking burial site in Varnhem, Sweden.(Image: © Västergötlands Museum) By Yasemin Saplakoglu The research “debunks the modern image of Vikings.” Those ferocious seafaring warriors that explored, raided and traded across Europe from the late eighth toContinue reading “Vikings may not have been blonde, or Scandinavian”

A postcard depicting Elfdalian in rune form. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT Written by Lee Roden Why travel to Sweden to learn an ancient Viking language that’s on the brink of dying out? The Local spoke to one of the international students at a new course to find out. Elfdalian (Övdalian/Älvdalska) has a name that sounds likeContinue reading “Sweden’s lost forest language now has international speakers”

A new book looks at the legendary Scandinavians through their own eyes. By Neil Price One of the most enduring components of the Viking image is the notion of freedom—the adventure of a far horizon and all that went with it. But for many, this was an unattainable hope. Any true reading of life in theContinue reading “The Little-Known Role of Slavery in Viking Society”

Archaeologists looking for traces of the Vikings in Istanbul have discovered a Viking neighborhood in the ancient city of Bathonea near Lake Küçükçekmece, officials told daily Milliyet. “Vikings lived in Istanbul between the eighth and the 11th centuries in different periods. We have found their exact settlement area to be between the ninth and 11th centuries in the BathoneaContinue reading “Archaeologists unearth Viking neighborhood in Istanbul”

The recent of discovery of Viking Age artefacts on the Isle of Man has been declared to be a national treasure, and will be included in one of the British island’s museums. First discovered in December 2018 by metal detectorists John Crowe and Craig Evans, the finds include two highly decorated oval brooches, made fromContinue reading “Viking Age artifacts found on the Isle of Man”

(Courtesy Rafael Lewis) TEL AVIV, ISRAEL—The Jerusalem Post reports that Ashkelon Academic College and University of Haifa archaeologist Rafael Lewis believes he has pinpointed the site of the Battle of Arsuf, a key engagement of the Third Crusade. Long celebrated in the West as a great victory, the battle took place on September 7, 1191, whenContinue reading “Crusader-Era Battlefield Identified”

The former Albany Transportation Center in Downtown Albany. By WALB News Team ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – Before the groundwork is laid for a new transportation center in Downtown Albany, an archaeological excavation is underway to preserve the history of the Good Life City’s Freedom Historic District. The excavation includes Albany’s Harlem District and is currently underwayContinue reading “Albany archaeological excavation may uncover historic district at transportation center site”

Artifacts unearthed at the site include jewelry, coins and pieces of silver Artifacts found at the site include jewelry from Asia (left) and an inscribed weight possibly imported from Ireland. (Julie Holme Damman / Arctic University Museum of Norway / Tor-Ketil Krokmyrdal) By Alex Fox A graduate archaeology student has discovered a previously unknown Viking trading postContinue reading “Archaeology Student Finds Viking Trading Post in Norway”

The Gjellestad Ship was discovered in 2018 using ground-penetrating radar By James Rogers | Fox News The first excavation of a Viking ship in 100 years is underway in Norway. In a statement, the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) explained that the Museum of Cultural History at the University of Oslo is responsible for the excavation. TheContinue reading “Viking ship discovery: Historic dig to uncover longship starts in Norway”