The Earliest Wave of Viking Activity? The Norwegian Evidence Revisited

Abstract

This article discusses the chronology and nature of the earliest Viking activity, based on a group of early burials from Norway containing Insular metalwork. By focusing on the geographical distribution of this material and applying the concept of locational and social knowledge, the importance of establishing cognitive landscapes to facilitate the Viking expansion is highlighted. It is argued that the first recorded Viking attacks were only possible after a phase in which Norse seafarers had acquired the necessarily level of a priori environmental knowledge needed to move in new seascapes and coastal environments. This interaction model opens the possibility that some of the early Insular finds from Norway may represent pre-Lindisfarne exploration voyages, carried out by seafarers along the sailing route of Nordvegr.

Multi-isotope variation reveals social complexity in Viking Age Norway

“…Contemporaneous raids in Ireland (795 CE) developed into seasonal campaigns that necessitated the establishment of winter encampments ( Sheehan, 2008 ). Similar overwintering camps have been found throughout the Insular world and provide important evidence for Viking activity in our period of study ( Hadley and Richards, 2016 ; Heen-Pettersen, 2019 ; Jarman et al., 2018 ).…”

Visualisasi Kapal Naga Viking dan Simbol Vegvisir dalam Produk Busana Siap Pakai

“…Bangsa Viking hidup dalam kelompok independen yang dipimpin oleh kepala suku (chieftain). Mereka juga mengenal sistem pengastaan sosial yang secara umum terbagi ke dalam tiga kelas utama masyarakat: Jarl (golongan penguasa), Karl (golongan kelas bawah), dan Thrall (golongan budak) [3]. Selama periode penguasaan Viking, negara-negara Skandinavia memiliki sumber daya tenaga kerja yang tidak ada habisnya.…”

Echoes of the Past: Women, Memories and Disc-on-Bow Brooches in Vendel- and Viking-period Scandinavia

“…The material brought back to Scandinavia from Britain and Ireland ('Insular' items) through raiding and trading in the early Viking Age can usefully contribute to our discussion. Regardless of previous use, the majority of the Insular artefacts brought to Scandinavia were incorporated into female dress, or otherwise associated with women (Wamers, 1985;Glørstad, 2012;Aannestad, 2018;Heen Pettersen, 2018, 2019. Although these artefacts are often discussed, few researchers have considered that they were frequently antiquities themselves.…”