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Handled Cup on display in Shetland Museum and Archives
Stone cup from Yell. Donated by Robert Tulloch, Lerwick. ARC 7540.
Knattleikr, a Viking ball game
Knattleikr is a game known from the Icelandic sagas. It's rules are not known, but it is known that it involved a bat and a ball, and that people could get injured playing it. This article discusses an attempt to recreate the game.
Icelandic Horse
The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse from Iceland that developed from horses taken to Iceland by the original Viking settlers. It is small, often pony-sized, but very hardy.
Pagan Scandinavians ate horse meat as part of their religious…
Pagan Scandinavians ate horse meat as part of their religious…
Houses and domestic life in the Viking Age and medieval period: material perspectives from sagas and archaeology
This PhD thesis examines how houses were used in the Viking Age and medieval period, and compares archaeological evidence with the medieval Icelandic sagas.
Sagas and Stories
The Icelandic Saga Database is a website dedicated to making the sagas of the Icelanders available online. The sagas are predominantly in modern Iceland, but some are provided in Old Norse, and translated versions of many are available in Danish,…
Objects found in a male Viking grave near Larne in 1840, at the Ulster Museum.
Objects found in a male Viking grave near Larne in 1840, in County Antrim. The grave dates from the 10th century. On loan from Duke of Northumberland at the Ulster Museum. The objects include an iron sword, an iron spear-head and ferrule, a bronze…
Bronze pin and bone or antler comb found in a male Viking grave near Larne in 1840, at the Ulster Museum.
Bronze pin and bone or antler comb found in a male Viking grave near Larne, County Antrim, in 1840. The grave dates dating from the tenth century. On loan from Duke of Northumberland at the Ulster Museum, Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Wooden Platter on display in Shetland Museum and Archives
Viking-Age wooden platter. Parish Unknown. Donated by Lerwick Town Council. AGR 65420
Slik fjernet vikingene lus
Vikings are often portrayed as barbaric, dirty warriors. However, archaeological finds indicate that they were well-coiffured, well-clad, and, not least, well-combed.
Dogs
Dogs are known from the Mesolithic period onwards in Scandinavia. They would have been used by the Vikings as guards, hunting animals, and even as pets. Dogs similar to the Norwegian Elkhound are known from the Mesolithic period, and remains of…
Adze, Auger and Tethering Pegs from the Gokstad Burial
An adze (left), a spoon-shaped auger with a looped handle (centre) and some wooden tethering pegs.
Hoe from the Oseberg Ship Burial
A wooden hoe that was buried with the Oseberg ship burial.
A pitchfork from the Oseberg burial
A wooden pitchfork from the Oseberg burial
Spades from the Oseberg burial
A number of wooden spades were found as part of the Oseberg burial
Saw Blades and a Draw-Knife Blade in the National Museum of Ireland
Two iron saw blades (13-14) and an Iron draw-knife blade (15).
Keys and Locks in the National Museum of Ireland
These keys and locks show that Vikings locked things away too.
Iron Tools in the National Museum of Ireland
A chisel, a punch and two iron files are evidence of everyday activities in Dublin in the Viking Age. These were all found in Fishamble Street.
Iron Implements in the National Museum of Ireland
From left to right these are a fork, a fish hook and a bill hook.
A table laden with Viking food at Stamford Bridge
A table at Stamford bridge with food and vessels laid out to show the types of food available to Vikings
The Hørning rune stone at Moesgaard Museum, Denmark
The Hørning stone (DR 58) was carved by an emancipated slave in honour of his master. The inscription reads: tuki : smiþr : riþ : stin : ift ¶ þurkisl : kuþmutaR : sun : is : hanum ¶ kaf : kul : uk :…