Pic: alphagalileo

Archaeologist Magnus Artursson at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, demonstrates in his thesis that societies during the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age had a significantly more varied and complex structure than was previously thought reports alphagalileo, the European research specialists. This power structure was based on social networks rather than on permanently established institutions. Society was organised into small and medium-sized chiefdoms that were typically involved in ongoing struggles for dominance between various powerful families.

Based on a discussion of previously-known and newly-discovered settlement material, the author of this thesis examines the development of society during the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age (2300 – 500 BC) from a community history perspective. Artursson also makes comparisons of the nature of grave and sacrificial material in order to create a more detailed picture of how societies looked and changed over time. Continue Reading »

Pic: Reuters

New research suggests the Vikings were model immigrants who co-existed peacefully with the natives reports the Independent. It’s amazing how coincidences work, isn’t it? There we were innocently giving feedback from Kent in our latest show, the Spring Equinox 2009 Holiday Special, SP10, in which he wonders what the links were between the Celts and the Vikings, and here we are! New research has shown that there was a peaceful inter-mingling.

For centuries, they have been stereotyped as marauding barbarians arriving in their helmeted hordes to pillage their way across Britain. But now a group of academics believe they have uncovered new evidence that the Vikings were more cultured settlers who offered a “good historical model” of immigrant assimilation.

The evidence is set to be unveiled at a three-day Cambridge University conference starting today, when more than 20 studies will reveal how the Vikings shared technology, swapped ideas and often lived side-by-side in relative harmony with their Anglo-Saxon and Celtic contemporaries. Some may have come, plundered and left, but those Vikings who decided to settle rather than return to Scandinavia learnt the language, inter-married, converted to Christianity and even had “praise poetry” written about them by the Brits, according to the experts. Continue Reading »

Country Around Staigue Fort Pic: jen-the-librarian

The Irish Times for Saturday, December 6th reports that the economic boom may be over, but its flurry of road building has uncovered a wealth of archaeological finds with lasting value. In particular, digs along proposed routes have shed light on “unknown” archaeology that may not have otherwise been examined, according to Rónán Swan, acting head of archaeology at the National Roads Authority. The scale of road-related archaeological digs has increased massively in recent years – in 1993 there was one road excavation, in 2007 there were 579 – and they usually turn up something of interest, says Swan. He says:

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Hungate excavations project director Peter Connelly said:

To find these timbers so well preserved is very exciting. Viking cellars were used in different ways by different people, much in the same way as cellars are used today. Craftspeople appear to have worked out of their cellars as well as using them for storage, with the living quarters on the floor above.

The trust is carrying out the excavations in York over a five-year period on behalf of Hungate (York) Regeneration Ltd, a joint venture between Crosby Lend Lease, Evans Property Group and Land Securities, which are creating the new Hungate neighbourhood.

Read the full story at The York Press.

Pic: Kormákur & Chydzik

Agreements have been reached with producers that a huge Hollywood movie on Vikings directed by Iceland’s leading director Baltasar Kormákur and written by Icelandic screenwriter Ólafur Egilsson will be shot in Iceland. It is by far the largest project that I have ever participated in. We are talking about an USD 40 to 60 million [EUR 23 to 44 million] movie. Huge deal. Kormákur told Fréttabladid.

The movie is based on scenes from the Icelandic Sagas and has been introduced as a “spaghetti-western-Viking-movie.” Shooting is scheduled to take six months and the story takes place in winter, spring and summer. The film’s working title is Saga.

Its production demands considerable manpower and is expected to have extensive positive effects on Iceland’s film industry and the country’s economy as a whole.

Saga has the same producers as Kormákur’s Inhale (formerly known as Run for Her Life), a company called 26 Film.

The company’s representative Michelle Chydzik Sowa is currently in Iceland and on Friday she and Kormákur flew over the highlands in a helicopter to scout shooting locations.

See the full article in visir.is

[Source]

Pic: FOX News

FOX News reports that in Copenhagem, Denmark, Danish archaeologists say they have found a well-preserved Viking shield that is more than 1,000 years old. Archaeologist Kirsten Christensen says the wooden shield has a diameter of 32 inches. It was found Tuesday during excavations near Viking-age castles, some 60 miles west of Copenhagen.

Christensen said Thursday it is the first time such a shield has been found in Denmark.  She said the moist soil in the area is “ideal to preserve wood.”

The fir shield is believed to date from the late 10th century.

Read the full story at FOX News.

Pic:Novopress

The Viking replica longship Sea Stallion returns to home waters in Roskilde today, after a 2,800 nautical-mile round trip between Denmark and Ireland.The return of the ship with 60 multinational crew – under sail or rowing, depending on weather – will be greeted by countless vessels at sea, and up to 10,000 people ashore. Young pupils from Dublin’s St Patrick’s Cathedral School and choir, along with members of Dublin Civil Defence were among an Irish welcoming party who flew to Denmark from Dublin yesterday. The Sea Stallion, known in Danish as Havhingsten fra Glendalough, left Dublin port on June 29th, and navigated via the southern English coast and Holland. Project leader Preben Rather Sorensen described the initial return leg between Ireland and England as the “hardest yet”, and four crew had to be transferred to the support ship, Cable One.

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Pic: novopress

The effects of climate change on the permafrost in Greenland mean that many historical sites will be lost Archaeologists from the National Museum in Greenland have warned that the permafrost currently protecting many historical sites, will begin to thaw, leaving the sites open to the elements.

They fear that climate change will speed up the thawing process and many historical sites, such as Viking settlements and Inuit kitchen middens in western Greenland, will be destroyed. Continue Reading »

Pic: IceNews

A complete interactive listing of all the museums, galleries and multimedia exhibitions in South Iceland has been launched on the new travel website, South.is.The huge area of South Iceland, with its few inhabitants and many sheep, does not immediately seem like prime museum territory – but the website South.is begs to differ. Listings on the site exist for dozens of museums and galleries, and over 40 churches of interest.

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A replica Viking longship has set off on a 2200km return journey from Dublin to Denmark.The Sea Stallion of Glendalough began the six week trip from the mouth of the River Liffey after almost a year on display in Collins Barracks museum. More than 1,000 people turned out to wish the vessel and its 65 crew a safe journey.

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