The Vikings in Scotland

Viking Age finds from Scotland

The pictures above show several Viking-related finds from Scotland.

The Thistle Brooch is a tenth-century artefact. These large brooches were impressive, display items used to fasten a cloak. The pin on them could be up to 30cm long! They were intended to impress people and show off, like driving around in an expensive sports car.

The Hanging Lamp is made of stone and is a typically Viking Age item. It would have been filled with tallow (animal fat) and a wick would have been put in it. When the wick was lit, it would have functioned like a candle.

The Basin is made of steatite (soapstone), a type of stone that Vikings used a lot for making bowls and basins, instead of making pottery bowls and basins. Soapstone can be found in Scandinavia, Britain and Greenland.

The Runestone was brought to Edinburgh from Sweden in the 18th century but was first carved and erected in Uppland, Sweden, in the 11th century. The runic inscription says 'Ari raised this stone in memory of his father Hialm. May God help his soul.' The cross on the runestone reinforces that this is a Christian memorial.

Education Scotland: Vikings

Although the raid on Lindisfarne and the Viking invasions of England are generally better known, Vikings also raided Scotland and settled there. They ruled over Orkney, and lived in Caithness and the Hebrides. They left their mark in place names, sites of their parliaments, and in boat burials. Evidence of their later presence also includes the Lewis chessmen. The Education Scotland website provides an overview of the Vikings and links to many other sites that can help you learn about what they did in Scotland.

Viking educational experience in North Ayrshire

Vikingar! Experience is an interactive experience about the Vikings. It offers educational tours for schools as well as general visits. The experience includes learning about how Vikings cooked over an open fire, heated water in a wooden bucket, and preserved meat by leaving it to smoke in the rafters. There is the opportunity to learn about the Norse gods, and a cinema presentation of 500 years of Viking history in the west of Scotland, concluding with the defeat of a Viking army at Largs in 1263 AD. The centre also offers information panels and interactive CD-ROMs for students to learn at their own pace.