Pictured here is the only known 3D representation of a Valkyrie, discovered by an amateur metal detectorist near Hårby, Denmark in December.

The figurine is described as “thumb-size”, made from gilded silver with black niello inlay. It is believed to date to 800CE. Previously, small flat images of women believed to be Valkyries have been discovered at Viking age sites, but this figurine is completely unique. 

It is well known that Viking explorers used the sun and stars to navigate across open seas, but what did they do when the sun and stars weren’t visible? For centuries legends have told of various tools that Vikings used to help navigate, among them the fabled Sunstone. Now, researchers believe they have finally found one of these stones. 

Until recently, nothing was found among Viking artifacts that matched descriptions from the sagas. However, researchers now believe the mythical sunstone was a calcite-like crystal known as Iceland spar. After extensive tests, researchers now believe that this crystal can be used as an incredibly accurate navigational aid.

Fragments of Iceland spar were first found, or first recognized, in Icelandic Viking settlements only last year.

(Source: independent.co.uk)

Vikings made some of the most impressive sea voyages of their era, and all without the aid of compasses, charts, maps or any other navigational tool. Instead, Viking explorers used landmarks, stars, sea animals and their own memories to navigate.

Vikings were incredibly familiar with weather patterns and the migration paths of various animals, such as sea birds and whales. Explorers sometimes waited weeks for the perfect weather to set out on an expedition. For all their skills, however, Viking navigation was far from accurate, and several discoveries were made entirely on accident. The discovery of North America, for example. 

Archaeologists at Baffin Island, Canada believe they have located the new world’s first Viking outpost discovered in 50 years.

While excavating a structure, archaeologists uncovered whetstones, tools used to sharpen blades, with traces of copper, bronze, and iron. These materials were used by Viking explorers, but were unknown to the local peoples. Further evidence that this site was used by Vikings include the discovery of yarn spun with typical Viking techniques and other tools similar to those used by Viking settlers in Greenland. 

(Source: ahttp)

Archaeologists in Poland have discovered a viking cemetery dating back to the 11th century CE. The graveyard holds about 50 people, both warriors and families, in arranged plots. 

The individuals are believed to be from a high-status community, based upon the items they were buried with, and that many of them came from abroad. Most notable, the find supports the chronicles of Gallus Anonymous, Poland’s first historian, who records a military stronghold filled with elite foreign warriors near this locations. 

Erik the Victorious is considered the earliest known king of Sweden, ruling from 970-995CE. That is, he is the oldest king about which anything is known. His status as king of Sweden has been debated by scholars. Erik’s son, Olof Skötkonung, is documented to be the first king accepted by the people of both Svealand and Götaland.

A fascinating new discovery has been made by archaeologists in Norway. 10 kilometers north of Trondheim archaeologists have uncovered the foundations of a pre-Christian “god temple” that was in use from the 5th-10th centuries.

The site shows evidence of animal sacrifice, and is believed to have been deliberately dismantled and hidden from early Christian invaders nearly 1000 years ago. This is a unique find in Norway, where large pre-Christian ritual sites have not been discovered before. 

The French region of Normandy gets its name from Norman invaders who plagued France during the 9th century. After the death of Charlemagne Viking raids in France became common. In an effort to stave off these attacks the fiefdom of Normandy was given to the Viking leader Hrolfr, known as Rollo the Dane. 

[Picture: Statue of Rollo, Duke of Normandy, in Rouen, France.]

Very recently, archaeologists from Oslo’s Museum of Cultural History and the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research discovered evidence of a new viking settlement in Sandefjord, Gokstadhaugen; in eastern Norway. 

The settlement consists of 15 buildings, an 80 meter long street and a port discovered so far. 

Tafl games were ancient Germanic and Celtic board games played on a checkered board by two teams of players. Popular in Scandinavia was the game Hnefatafl. This game appears in the archaeological and written record, although the exact rules and manner of play are unknown. 

It is theorized that Hnefetafl was a strategy game made to replicate a Viking raid, with the attackers outnumbering the surrounded defenders 2 to 1. The goal was for the attackers to defeat the defending king, and for the defenders to get the king safely to one corner of the board. This is interpreted from descriptions of the game found in several sagas.

New evidence suggests that the first Viking settlements in southern Greenland were able to cultivate and grow wheat.

Archaeologists from the Danish national museum found grains of burnt barley from the time when Erik the Red and other Icelanders moved to Greenland a thousand years ago. The find is the first evidence of cultivation in Greenland for this time.

(Source: icenews.is)

Two enormous runestones in Jelling are some of the most famous in Denmark. The older of the two was raised by King Gorm in memory of his wife. The inscription bears the earliest known use of the name Denmark. It reads “King Gorm made this monument in memory of Thyre his wife, Denmark’s adornment.”

The younger and larger stone was raised by Gorm’s son, King Harold Bluetooth, and commemorates his parents as well as his own accomplishments.

In the coming year archaeologists will be surveying and excavating sites in Sherwood Forest believed to have been used by vikings.

Local historians found references in a 200 year old document to people meeting on a hill within the forest, and clues within lead to a standing stone and a place now identified as Thynghowe. These historians believe that the site was used as an assembly place by viking settlers, a theory which will be investigated by archaeologists. 

Runic graffiti in the Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia recognized in the 1960’s is believed to have been carved in the 11th century or earlier by Viking mercenaries.

The only legible part of the carved inscription is the name Halfdan (or Halvdan), but some scholars believe the carving originally read “Halfdan carved these runes”. Or the Viking Age equivalent of “Halfdan was here”.

Several other pieces of graffiti in the Hagia Sophia are also attributed to Norsemen.