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Photo of Copeland Pier Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Copeland is a common placename and surname deriving from Old Norse kaupa land, meaning 'bought land'. This example is from Lerwick in Shetland.
Photo of Goðafoss Waterfall from the Western Bank
Goðafoss ('Waterfall of the Gods') is a prominent landmark in Iceland, and also an important site in the Viking Age history of Iceland, most well-known as the place where Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði, responsible for the decision to adopt…
Photo of Maeshowe (Orkhaugr) in Orkney
Maeshowe is a neolithic burial mound and chambered cairn on the mainland island of Orkney. Its connection to the Vikings (or Norse in Orkney) is the fact that the chamber was looted and used as a shelter on various occasions, as attested by the…
Photo of Midgarth Crescent Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Midgarth is a common Norse placename, and Anglicisation of Miðgarðr, meaning in this case 'Middle Enclosure / Farm' . Miðgarðr is also the 'Middle Realm', and home of mankind, in Norse Mythology.
Photo of Norse Ruins on the Brough of Birsay, Orkney
The Brough of Birsay was an important defensive site in Orkney from the earliest settlement. It was under Norse control from the ninth century, and most of the ruins on the Brough (ON Byrgisey, or 'Fort Island') date from this time. The causeway…
Photo of Reginald's Tower in Waterford
Photograph of Reginald's Tower in Waterford, built in the thirteenth-century on the site of the existing Viking-Age wooden tower, and taking its name from the Hiberno-Norse ruler Ragnall MacGillemaire, son of Ívar. It now houses the the Waterford…
Photo of Runes in King Christian's "Skrivebog"
Runic alphabet in King Christian of Denmark's "Skrivebog". Today in the National Archives in Copenhagen.
Photo of Samling af de oldgamle runer (Add 246 fol. V)
Table containing various rune forms. Today at the National Library in Copenhagen.
Photo of Side A of Rune stone DR 42 at Jelling
Photo of the younger of the two Jelling rune stones (DR 42), raised by Harald Bluetooth (who died in 985 or 986) in memory of his father and mother, and his own legacy.
The English translation of the whole inscription on the Samnordisk…
The English translation of the whole inscription on the Samnordisk…
Photo of Side B of Rune stone DR 42 at Jelling
Photo of Side B of the younger of the two Jelling rune stones (DR 42), raised by Harald Bluetooth (who died in 985 or 986) in memory of his father and mother, and his own legacy.
The English translation of the whole inscription on the Samnordisk…
The English translation of the whole inscription on the Samnordisk…
Photo of Side C of Rune stone DR 42 at Jelling
Photo of Side C of the younger of the two Jelling rune stones (DR 42), raised by Harald Bluetooth (who died in 985 or 986) in memory of his father and mother, and his own legacy.
The English translation of the whole inscription on the Samnordisk…
The English translation of the whole inscription on the Samnordisk…
Photo of St Olaf's Wynd Street Sign in Orkney
Photo of the street sign 'Olaf's Wynd' in Kirkwall, Orkney. Wynd is a placename element from the Norse verb venda, meaning 'to turn' or 'to wind'. St Olaf refers to the Norwegian king Ólafr Haraldsson, who reigned from 1015 to 1028 and was…
Photo of Tait's Closs Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Tait is a common Scottish surname derived from the Old Norse 'teitr', meaning cheerful. Many surnames and place names in Shetland have a Norse origin.
Photo of the Axe of Leif Ericson Statue overlooking Qassiarsuk
Detail of the statue of Leif Ericson, overlooking Qassiarsuk in Southern Greenland by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland
Photo of the Balladoole Boat Burial on the Isle of Man
A Viking-Age ship burial from the late ninth century / early tenth century was excavated beneath this ship setting now marking out the site in Balladoole on the Isle of Man. It contained a rich burial of a high-status man and woman with a horse and…
Photo of the Black Pool, Dublin Castle
View to the Coach House from the Black Pool, Dublin Castle. The Black Pool is the site of the 9th century longphort in Dublin.
Photo of the Brough of Birsay, Orkney
The Brough of Birsay was an important defensive site in Orkney from the earliest settlement. It was under Norse control from the ninth century, and most of the ruins on the Brough (ON Byrgisey, or 'Fort Island') date from this time. The causeway…
Photo of the Excavation Archives, Late Viking Age and Medieval Waterford Excavations 1986-1992.
Excavation records in storage at Waterford City Archives. Excavations of Viking and medieval Waterford carried out between 1986-1992. Visits to the archives can be arranged at…
Photo of the Ladby Burial Mound
The Ladby burial mound, containing a high-status ship burial - the only one so far discovered in Denmark. The remains of the Ladby ship are preserved in a museum situated in the mound itself. For more information, see http://en.vikingemuseetladby.dk/
Photo of the Ladby ship burial
Photo by Flickr userMandiasof the Ladby Viking ship burial. The museum is built around the excavated Viking ship in its original location. For more information, visit