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Illustration of a brooch from the Lilleberge burial
An illustration of the Lilleberge Brooch. The burial mound was excavated in the late nineteenth century, but the brooch only came to light in 2014 when it was discovered in material from the excavation held by the British Museum. The brooch is Celtic…
Illustration of detail from bone trial piece, Waterford
This intricately decorated item, discovered in an excavation in Waterford City, was a trial piece, perhaps intended to be made into a comb. It is currently on display in Reginald's Tower Museum, Waterford.
Illustration of short-twigged (Norwegisn-Swedish) runes
An illustration of the typical forms of the so-called 'short-twigged' or Norwegian-Swedish runes.
Artist's impression of a woman wearing Viking dress, based on the Lilleberge burial
An illustration by Annemari Ferreira of a Viking woman with oval brooches, based on items found in the Lilleberge Ship Burial at Lilleberge in Namdalen, Norway. This burial mound produced several important finds including a whalebone plaque and…
Saga Thing: Nicknames
Saga Thing has collected a selection of nicknames from the sagas that they have discussed. Old Norse nicknames could often be less than complimentary, frequently scurrilous, and were always given, never self-imposed. The giving of a nickname could be…
Illustration of twelfth-century 'Smalls Reef' sword guard
An illustration of a sword-guard recovered by a diver near Smalls Reef near Skomer island in Wales, and dating to c. 1100-1125. It is decorated with typical Insular Urnes style motifs.
St Magnus Church, Orkney
St Magnus Church, founded at the site of the killing of Saint Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney by an axe-blow to the head in ca. 1116 at the orders of his cousin Hákon Pálsson. This episode, referred to in Orkneyinga saga, is possibly corroborated…
Round Church at Orphir, Orkney
The round 'Kirk' at Orphir was built in the late eleventh or early twelfth century, possibly by Earl Hakon. It was dedicated to Saint Nicholas and its round style is based on the Ecclesia Sancti Sepulchri in Jerusalem: a fashion probably brought home…
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…
Myklebust Round Barrows and Ship
The largest of five mounds at Myklebust, Nordfjordeid, Sogn og Fjordane in Norway contained the remains of the largest Viking Age ship found in Norway. It was excavated in 1874 by Anders Lorange, just 14 years before he died. Excavators found the…
Report on the Pre-Christian Religions of the North Project
A report by Dr Leszek Gardeła on an ongoing international collaborative project, 'The Pre-Christian Religions of the North Project and its Archaeological Sources Database'. Published in FASCICULI ARCHAEOLOGIAE HISTORICAE XXVIII. Submitted to…
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The Vinland Map
The Vinland Map is a mappa mundi that depicts Vinland, the Viking name for America. It first came to light in 1957 when it was offered for sale by an anonymous private library. It was thought to date from the mid-fifteenth century, and to be based on…
Forged Vlfberht Swords
An account in The Guardian (27 December 2008) discusses how a modern collector had taken a sword thought to be made by the famous smith Ulfberht to the Wallace Collection, where it was found to be a fake. The sword was not of the same high quality as…
View from the Gallery of St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
Image taken on the Orkney Viking Heritage Project Field Trip of the interior of St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall. The Cathedral was founded by Earl Rögnvaldr of Orkney in 1137.
Tjängvide (I) Picture Stone from Gotland
Tjängvide I (G 110) dates from c.700-800 AD and is now on display at Statens historiska museum in Stockholm. It is one of several Gotlandic picture stones with similar motifs; a ship under sail below and a scene that appears to be a welcome to…
Viking Comb
A Viking comb and a bronze pin found at Larne, County Antrim, and are on display in Ulster museum, Both items were found in 1840 in a male Viking grave dating to the tenth century.
Although television and film often depict Vikings as muddy, filthy…
Although television and film often depict Vikings as muddy, filthy…
The Gjermundbu Helmet
The Gjermundbu helmet is the only Viking Age helmet that has been found in Norway. It was found in a burial mound near Haugsbygda in Ringerike in 1943 along with remains of mail armour, 2 spears, 2 axes, 4 shield bosses, spurs stirrups, and several…