The Vikings | Episode 4: Viking Kingdoms

 

In this episode: The Vikings were feared warriors and raiders and are still widely regarded as pagan barbarians. However, it is often overlooked that they were also avid traders, mercenaries, and explorers. Their hunger for conquest drove them from Scandinavia into ever more distant lands. On their journeys of discovery, the Vikings left a lasting impact on Western and Eastern Europe, laying the foundation for entire kingdoms and states that still exist today. Their ships plied the seas and rivers of half the globe. They were bloodthirsty warriors and fine craftsmen. They were the Vikings.

The Vikings | Episode 3: Raiders & Explorers

 

In this episode: The Vikings were feared warriors and raiders, bearing striking names like Erik Bloodaxe and Harald Bluetooth. They are widely regarded as pagan barbarians, but it is often overlooked that they were also avid traders, mercenaries, and explorers. Their thirst for conquest drove them from Scandinavia into ever more distant lands. The traces of the Vikings lead to Western and Eastern Europe, the North Atlantic, and even as far as America. Their ships plied the seas and rivers of half the globe. They were bloodthirsty warriors and fine craftsmen. They were the Vikings.

The Vikings | Episode 2: Viking Weapons

 

In this episode: The Vikings were feared warriors and are widely regarded as barbarians. However, they were also avid traders and explorers who acquired knowledge on their journeys and used it to develop their society further. This was reflected in the production of their weapons and equipment. In addition to their traditional shipbuilding, they crafted swords inspired by Continental Europe. Using their ships, the Vikings seized every opportunity to expand even more rapidly. Their ships plied the seas and rivers of half the globe. They were bloodthirsty warriors and fine craftsmen. They were the Vikings.

The Vikings | Episode 1: Viking Dawn

In this episode: What were the origins of the feared warriors from Northern Europe? What drove this people to embark on such long sea voyages and raid foreign lands? A look into the time before the Viking Age reveals why the Vikings plundered and pillaged from the British Isles to the Caspian Sea. Their ships plied the seas and rivers of half the globe. They were bloodthirsty warriors and fine craftsmen. They were the Vikings.

The Woman Warrior of Birka

 In 1878, the body of a great Viking warrior was found in Birka, Sweden. For many years, the body was exhibited at the national museum without further attention to it.

But in 2017 a team of Swedish archaeologists under the lead of Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson have come to a surprising conclusion. The analysis of the DNA proves that the great warrior was not a man but actually a woman. Ever since, several counter-hypotheses have been made. Was the analysis duly made and are the results correct? Did the scientists study the right bones? What if there had been two skeletons in the grave? Charlotte is currently preparing a major scientific study to be published early 2019 in answer to the many questions raised. Based on the work of other experts, she and her team need to confirm the existence of women warriors, prove that the weapons found in the grave could be used by a woman, explain why the skeleton bore no sign of injury and show that a woman could lead the Birka garrison. All of the pieces of the puzzle will be put together in our documentary in order to tell the stry of a fascinating archaeological adventure behind the only female Viking warrior known to date.

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Legendarisk vikingastad kan ha hittats i Polen

Den mytomspunna vikingastaden Jomsborg nämns i flera av de isländska sagorna och ska ha uppförts av Harald Blåtand på en ö i Östersjön omkring år 960. Trots flera hundra år av arkeologiskt arbete har det emellertid inte gått att hitta några bevis för stadens existens – förrän nu.

På den polska ön Wolin har arkeologen Wojciech Filipowiak funnit rester av bränt trä från 900-talet, som ser ut att ha varit delar av en försvarsanläggning.

Wojciech Filipowiak var egentligen inte på jakt efter vikingar. Han grävde i stranden på Wolin för att de lokala myndigheterna har planer på att bygga ett observationstorn på det som kallas Hangman Hill. Området användes i flera hundra år som avrättningsplats och begravningsplats. Det var denna mörka historia som Filipowiak skulle avtäcka.

Nu tror arkeologen att han i stället har löst ett av vikingatidens största mysterier.

Sagorna älskade jomsvikingarna

Wolin har i åratal betraktats som en av de troligaste placeringarna för Jomsborg. Ön var en del av Tyskland från 1871 till slutet på andra världskriget, och tyska arkeologer sökte under 1930-talet igenom ön på jakt efter den legendariska vikingastaden, men hittade inget.

Medan lokalstyret på Wolin ofta har framställt ön som den historiska hemvisten för Jomsborg, så har många historiker ansett att staden enbart skapats av sagornas författare.

Det finns många myter förknippade med de så kallade jomsvikingarna från ön. Jomsvikingarna ska ha varit ett förband av hårdföra och oerhört disciplinerade vikingar, som ska ha varit verksamma i Östersjön och Skandinavien på 900-talet.

Historierna om dessa fruktade vikingar och legosoldater blandar fritt historiska händelser med sagor. Jomsvikingen Palnatoke nämns till exempel ofta i sagorna och ska bland annat ha dödat Harald Blåtand genom att skjuta honom med en pil i rumpan, och som kom ut genom munnen.

Med det nya fyndet har Jomsborg förflyttat sig lite längre bort från sagorna och närmare verkligheten.

Vikingatidens New York

Enligt de gamla sagorna var Jomsborg vikingarnas maktcentrum i det baltiska området. Karolina Kokora, direktör för Wolins historiska museum, beskriver staden som ett ”medeltida New York i Östersjön”.

Det var ett myllrande handelscentrum med en heterogen befolkning bestående av vikingar, germaner och slaver. Staden hade en formidabel fästning och en lång pir, som kunde ta emot åtskilliga vikingaskepp.

Staden hade emellertid en utsatt position och belägrades och förstördes flera gånger. Först av den dansk-norske kungen Magnus den gode år 1043, och 1185 ska staden ha jämnats med marken av den danske biskopen Absalon. Efter det försvinner den befästa staden från de historiska källorna.

Det krävs givetvis ytterligare analyser och forskning för att kunna slå fast om det verkligen rör sig om den legendariska staden, men Wojciech Filipowiak anser att det redan är ”till 80 procent säkert” att det förhåller sig så.

”Debatten om Jomsborgs placering – eller om staden verkligen har existerat – har pågått länge. Förhoppningsvis kan jag bidra till att avsluta den”, säger Wojciech Filipowiak.

Magnet fisherman finds Viking sword

 First of all, there is such a thing as a magnet fisherman: ie, someone who uses a powerful neodymium magnet on a rope to retrieve metal objects from bodies of water. I did not know this. Secondly, magnet fisherman Trevor Penny pulled up an intact Viking sword from the River Cherwell in West Oxfordshire last November.

Magnet fishing usually pulls up relatively modern debris — tire rims, keys, bicycles, unexploded ordnance — not iron swords hundreds of years old. Penny didn’t know what it was at first, but after consulting with friends and knowledgeable acquaintances, he called it in to the Portable Antiquities Scheme finds liaison officer in Standlake. The finds liaison officer identified it as a Viking sword dating to between 850 and 975 A.D. It is the oldest object ever discovered in Oxfordshire by magnet fishing.

It looks like a Petersen Type M to my untutored eye, based on the hilt shaped like a capital I, the long blade and the date range. Type M swords in good condition can retain traces of organic remains (wood, leather, cloth) on the grip, so it’s important that this sword be carefully conserved. It is corroded, but there could be organic treasure hiding underneath that crusty exterior. Thankfully, the sword is already in the hands of museum professionals and will remain there.

Mr Penny confirmed that it will be retained by Oxford museum services and will either stay in Witney or be put on display in a museum.

He added: “There was a little dispute with the landowner and the rivers trust who don’t permit magnet fishing. The latter sent a legal document saying they wouldn’t take action on the condition the sword was passed to a museum, which I had done.”