The woman and the belt plate The time around and after 1400 BCE was a good time in the North, and this was manifested through very rich equipment in the graves, such as bronze and gold. While a man's [...] graves we find jewellery and belt plates together with a dagger with an ornate handle (which otherwise belongs to the man's equipment). This could point toward the woman with executive power and status. [...] two large spiral armrings and a bronze knife. The knife looks like a dagger with its rich decorated grip, with the coils, and a length of about 18 cm. This entire finding belonged to a woman. The belt
But it is not. The best belt plates - like the one from Langstrup - are extremely thin. It is therefore very difficult if not impossible, to find a bronze cast today, who by this technique - called the 'lost wax' [...] from Langstrup The belt plate was produced in Denmark There is no doubt that the belt plate from Langstrup is produced in what is now Denmark, probably not far from the finding place. It belongs to the period [...] But it was only in the North that the spiral decorations was this popular and ubiquitous. Although the spiral decorations had its origin from far away, it was made 'our own', and used as decorations on northern objects.
now has eleven items on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. These include the Five Ring Fortresses, Roskilde Cathedral, the Jelling Monuments, Kronborg, Stevns Klint, the Wadden Sea, Christiansfeld, the Parforce Hunting Landscapes in North Zealand, and in Greenland, Ilulissat, Kujataa, and Aasivissuit - Nipisat.
and therefore in Denmark, were mostly red-haired. However, in North Scandinavia, in the area around Stockholm, blonde hair was dominant. Hygiene and beauty Combs of wood or bone are amongst the most common finds [...] They are like date palms and their skin is reddish". The most important knowledge about the physical appearance of the Vikings comes from archaeological finds of skeletons from the period. Up until now, around [...] by the Vikings. Archaeological finds of ”beauty items” from the Viking period show that such equipment has not significantly changed over the years. If we examine “the toilet bags” of the Vikings we find beautiful
Viking helmets The popular image of the Vikings is one of fearsome warriors wearing horned helmets. Many depictions of the Vikings display this particular attribute. However, there is only one preserved helmet from the Viking Age and this does not have horns. It was found in the Norwegian warrior’s burial at Gjermundbu, north of Oslo, together with the only complete suit of chain mail from the period. Parts of helmets have been found in Denmark, including “brow ridges” to protect the warrior’s face in battle. The lack of helmet finds may also be partly due to the fact that no tradition existed
It is also a picture that can be confirmed when the archaeological evidence is examined, including objects left behind by the Vikings, which we sometimes find today. What do the written sources tell us? [...] in 826, where he was baptised and received precious baptismal gifts. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle The Lindisfarne stone. Photo: Wendy North. "In this year came dreadful forewarnings over the land [...] of how the Vikings plundered and laid waste to a monastery on the island of Lindisfarne, off the north-east coast of England. It was written down in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which is one of the most important
The old religion Piece of jewellery depicting a valkyrie. Found at Tissø. In the early Viking period the Nordic gods were worshipped in Scandinavia. Christianity was being adopted in Europe and therefore the Vikings in the north stood out as different. The Christians of Europe called the Vikings heathens. This term was used indiscriminately for those with differing beliefs. However, the Vikings [...] and the Midgard serpent – a great sea snake, which stretched around the whole world.
The Viking merchants brought back goods to the Scandinavian trading towns, which they had acquired in exchanges on their travels. Ottar, a merchant from North Norway, described his trading trips to the south. [...] trader al-Tartushi. He was disappointed to find a town so lacking in goods and wealth, when he visited it in the 900s. However, by Nordic standards Hedeby was a flourishing and busy town. Scandinavian [...] attracted merchants. A modern Viking making jewellery. Foto Alan Mark. Local production Archaeological finds from the trading towns of the Viking period indicate what types of products local craftsmen sold.
of 16 long houses, which are arranged in blocks of 4 houses positioned around a shared yard. In two of these yards – the ones placed in the north-east and south-west parts of the fortress respectively – small, rectangular buildings were located. Near the north and west gates there were also two small, square houses. Traces of a number of other buildings have also been found in the area but it is unclear [...] house types. The outer rampart demarcates a square area to the north, which contained the burial place of the fortress where 135 graves containing at least 157 people have been found.
was another important trading town in the Viking Age. A trading centre was founded here at the beginning of the 700s on the north side of the Ribe River. Both locations were a vital part of Viking trading [...] king Godfrey destroyed the trading town of Reric in North Germany in 808. After the attack Godfrey forced all its tradesfolk and craftsmen to move to the trading centre of Hedeby, and to sell their goods [...] safe journey – free trade in the Viking Age Trading ships and trade centres were attractive targets for plundering and long-distance transportation of goods over land or sea was always a risky business.
