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Viking Age

All articles tagged with #viking age

world1 month ago•1 min saved

Norway Uncovers Massive Viking-Age Coin Hoard, Largest in History

Two private metal detectorists in Østerdalen, Norway uncovered 2,970 silver coins dating to around 1047—the largest Viking Age coin hoard found in Norwegian history. The coins include pieces minted under Cnut the Great, Æthelred II, Otto III and Harald Hardrada, and researchers say the stash likely reflects iron-production trade in the region. Excavations continue with restricted access, and the hoard will be transported to the Museum of Cultural History’s Coin Cabinet for cataloguing and study.

via USA Today|

#archaeology #coin-hoard #museum

world1 month ago•2 min saved

Norway Uncovers Record Viking Coin Hoard

Metal detectorists in Innlandet near the village of Rena uncovered Norway’s largest Viking Age coin hoard, a find that dwarfs previous discoveries with more than 3,150 coins recovered and counting; the trove, dating to the late 10th to early 11th centuries and minted across England, Germany, Denmark, and Norway, emerged after two private citizens found a smaller batch of 19 coins on April 10, prompting a broader archaeological probe. Researchers say the coins shed new light on the era’s economy amid political upheaval and foreign wealth, with coins tied to rulers like Cnut the Great, Ethelred II, Otto III, and Harald Hardrada; the search for more treasure continues, and officials call the discovery historic.

via CBS News|

#archaeology #coins #norway

history-and-archaeology2 years ago•3 min saved

"Historians Claim Cerne Abbas Giant Represents Hercules and Served as Military Rallying Site"

New research from the University of Oxford suggests that the Cerne Abbas giant, a large hill figure in Dorset, England, represents Hercules and may have served as a muster station for West Saxon armies during Viking invasions in the 10th century. Historians Helen Gittos and Tom Morcom argue that the figure's location and characteristics align with those of a "hanging promontory" site, ideal for army gatherings. This recontextualizes the giant from a mysterious figure to a significant cultural and historical symbol in the local landscape.

via The Guardian|

#archaeology #cerne-abbas-giant #hercules

archaeology2 years ago•3 min saved

"Lost Earring Leads to Ancient Viking Treasure Unearthed by Norwegian Family"

A Norwegian family searching for a lost earring in their yard using a metal detector stumbled upon a Viking treasure buried beneath a large tree. The relics, believed to be from the Viking Age, include two bronze ornaments that were once covered in gold. The discovery confirms that people lived on the remote island of Jomfruland during that time. Archaeologists suspect that more artifacts and a Viking grave may still be buried nearby. The artifacts will be assessed for preservation, and if deemed safe, they may be left in situ rather than excavated.

via Livescience.com|

#archaeology #metal-detector #norway

archaeology3 years ago•4 min saved

Reconsidering Viking Age Shields: Ceremonial or Combat Ready?

Rolf Fabricius Warming, a Swedish archaeologist, has re-examined the 64 round shields found in a Viking Age longship burial mound in Norway. While the original assessment considered them to be constructed for a burial rite ceremony, Warming's research suggests that they were combat-ready shields with small holes around the circumference for attaching thin, parchment-like rawhide covers. The shields were ultimately used in a ceremonial burial rite, but their construction and previous uses were not as straightforward as originally reported. Warming's analysis demonstrates the importance of re-examining artifacts with new knowledge and analysis techniques.

via Phys.org|

#archaeology #burial #combat