VV king king HeritageHeritagemagazine
1/2005
DESTINATION VIKING Högskolan på Gotland Gotland University Viking Heritage Magazine 1/05
Editorial IN THIS ISSUE The Building of a Boathouse RECONSTRUCTION of pre-historic remains is always a hot topic with various at Avaldsnes on Karmøy 3–5 angles of approach being put forward. Several articles in this issue continue Reconstruction of a this interesting discussion. Viking-age Boathouse on Let´s start with the very special reconstruction of the boathouse at the island of Karmøy 6–7 Avaldsnes in Norway, see photo on the front page. The discovery of the CastingTrefoil Brooches 8–13 exceptional remains of a Viking-age boathouse in 1990 opened up a new The Gotlandic Althing and the discussion concerning prehistoric boathouses. Here two articles allow you Cistercian monastery in Roma 14–17 to follow the reconstruction process and the thinking behind it. A Viking-age boathouse needs Viking ships! This time we are glad to be The history that disappeared 17–19 able to treat you with two stories of two famous Viking ships namely HERITAGE BOOKS 19, 29–30, 33–35 Íslendingur and Havhingsten fra Glendaloug. Íslendingur is the replica of Braslav Lake District the Gokstad ship that sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to North America in – in the Viking epoch 20–21 the year 2000, and now the captain let us take part in that voyage. Read also some personal impressions from the launch of Havhingsten in Roskilde DESTINATION VIKING last September. Vikings join in Iron-age Closly related to reconstruction is experimental archaeology, which is an Chieftain’s Feast 22–23 academic "hands-on" method used especially to find out more about how The Viking Ship Icelander 24–27 objects were produced in ancient times. New research regarding Viking-age The Viking Age – which techniques of bronze-casting has lately been realized in Denmark. We are period are we referring to? 28–29 very proud to be the first to publish the results of these experiments. Living Vikings join other So questions concerning quality, authenticity and purpose are most Living History museums important when it comes to re-creating and displaying prehistoric objects in a new liveARCH project 30 and facts. And Viking Heritage Magazine will continue to cover this theme in issues to come. The Launch of the Viking Longship – Havhingsten fra I wish you all an enjoyable read! Glendalough – at Roskilde in Denmark on Sept 4, 2004 31–33 Marita E Ekman Editor
Email: [email protected] Heritage News
HERITAGE NEWS 36–39
The coward believes he will live forever If he holds back in the battle But in old age he shall have no peace Though spears have spared his limbs. 87 4
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L R I T From Hávámal M 1 34 (Words from “The High One”) Drawing by Lou Harrison, [email protected]
About the front page The reconstructed boathouse at Avaldsnes on the island of Karmøy, Norway. Read more about it on page 3–7. Photo Karl Johan Gundersen. GODRINGS TRYCKERI,Visby GODRINGS TRYCKERI,Visby 2004 www.hgo.se/viking 2 Viking Heritage Magazine 1/05 The Gotlandic Althing Gotland’s division into and the Cistercian 20 things (dashed line) and 6 settingar (solid line). The town of Visby lay outside the thing division. monastery in Roma Map after Ersson 1974.
By Majvor Östergren place. Thus Gotland constitutes a parallel to the Icelandic social The organisation of structure during the corresponding the Gotlandic society period. Possibly both go back to an The organisation of the Gotlandic society all-Germanic structure with certain during the Viking Age and early Middle regional differences but common basic features. Ages was based on things (20 in total), On the cadastral map The Swedish royalty and the three tredingar (thirds) and six sättingar there are two meadows on Bishop of Linköping diocese seem to (sixths). The highest governing body was Roma monastery’s domain called have had a relatively little effect on the Althing or Gutnaltinget, which Burs Tingsängen and Kräklinge Gotland and the Gotlanders. For consisted of 20 thing judges presided over Tingsängen. Moreover there are example there were no royal officials by a chief judge and, following the two big bogs, located in direct on the island. Gotland was not introduction of Christianity, even the connection to each other, called included as part of the king’s royal three tredingar deans. Nordermyr or Rute, Endre, Lina, Dede tour of the country either. The Prior to Christianisation the Althing and Forsa Tingsmyr and Wallgiärdemyr or Bishop in Linköping did not have the was not only the highest judicial and Burs, Garda and Halla Tingsmyr right to certain taxes that he had on the administrative unit but also the highest respectively. Burs Tingsängen lies on the mainland nor part of the religious body, which means that the place boundary between Björke parish “tenth” either. The tax burden where the Althing was held would also approximately three kilometres southwest was low. have been the most of Roma monastery, while Kräklinge Moreover Gotlanders had important cult Tingsängen and the two bogs lie directly their own mint, introduced about adjacent to, southeast and straight east of 1140 AD and which was clearly the monastery respectively. implemented under the auspices of the Burs, Kräklinge, Rute, Endre, Lina, Althing. The leading social class consisted Dede, Forsa, Garda and Halla are all of the independent farmers and it is most names of nine of the 20 Gotlandic things. likely that the Gotlandic thing decisions Four lie in Nordertredingen (of seven), originated exclusively from this social three in Medeltredingen (of six) and two class. in Sudertredingen (of seven). It is quite likely that the names on the The Althing’s location at Roma 17th century map stem from at least The Althing’s location in Roma parish is • Roma medieval if not pre-historical name use. supported by a German translation of The names can hardly have been added Gutasagan from 1401 (see VHM 4/2004 after the Reformation in the 1520s, when eds. note) and has been generally accepted the Roma monastery in practice was put by researchers, just like the view that the on equal footing with a King’s demesne. Althing was of vital importance for the It is also highly probable that these establishment of the Cistercian monastery thing-names are connected with the in Roma. location of the Gotlandic Althing, which However there has never been any thereby can certainly be considered have Gotlandic concrete proof that the Althing had its been located in Roma parish. The area at things with the meeting place in just Roma. Not before Roma monastery, later Roma Kungsgård things mentioned 1990, when the author noticed some (a royal desmene), is an excellent strategic marked as part of interesting information on the cadastral choice of location in the middle of the Roma monastery map of Roma parish from 1699, at the property on the cadastral island close to important communication same time as a couple of archaeological map from 1699. routes, both waterways and roads. The surveys shed new light on the history of thing-names imply that the individual the Roma monastery. things owned or had the right to use
www.hgo.se/viking 14 Viking Heritage Magazine 1/05
Map from the 1699 cadastral map of the area between Roma church, Roma monastery, Björke and Halla churches, with indicated thing meadows and bogs. Drawing, Stefan Pettersson and Helena Duveborg. special land areas adjacent to the Thing meant that they were also important as It is fully possible that the find material site. navigable water routes. from Guldåker is a sign of a trading place The Althing was probably held around located directly adjacent to the Gotlandic midsummer every year and would have The archaeological surveys Althing’s meeting place during the Viking collected a big number of people and even In the spring and the autumn 1990 a Age. The finds indicating trade (like animals that were brought along, e.g. couple of archaeological surveys were fragments of coins and weights) originate horses. People gathered to discuss undertaken with the aid of metal mainly from the 10th century. important matters of common concern, detectors in the fields around Roma Yet another survey was carried out in a made sacrifices, and decided about Kungsgård. In the so-called Gold Field field that was earlier part of the Kräklinge marriages, planned trading voyages and Guldåkern (the field got its name during Thing meadow. Here, in a concentrated engaged in trade. 19th century, when three gold coins were area, Viking-age objects of a different It is tempting to compare this with the found there) northeast of the monastery nature than the objects in the Guldåkern description of the Icelandic Althing, and north of the ancient Kräklinge Thing were found. The find material can where the equivalent to the Gotlandic meadow a find was discovered which probably be linked to the remains of a Thing, godordet, had their own special indicated that the place must have had a typical Gotlandic settlement from mainly houses – sheds – for accommodating their special function. It was not a typical find the Viking Age, but also the Vendel thing-men. These sheds were owned by from a ploughed-over Gotlandic Period. Among the objects are two the “godarna” – the equivalent of the farmstead. Instead it gives the impression fragmentary silver coins, a piece of melted Gotlandic Thing judges – but rich and of having originated from a trading place, silver, whole and parts of bronze jewellery, otherwise influential persons could have reinforced by the way the objects were bronze bars, a bronze casting cone and 12 their own sheds. According to the spread out in the field. The objects have pieces of melted bronze, that is a relatively description in the Icelandic Sagas, these been found scattered over an area of 200 x rich trace of remains from making bronze sheds were located at a certain distance 300 meters with certain concentrations. handicrafts. from each other. However the presumed trading place It might seem rather odd that the doesn’t seem to have had any great extent Linking the Althing to Roma monastery things also had a share in the bogs at the of the activities so typical for these places, It is probably no coincidence that the Althing place, but on one hand, the like bronze casting. There are few bronze Thing names exist just within Roma wetlands have always been important for smelts and casting cones are missing. On monastery’s domain and that the grazing and the animals also needed the other hand, several parts of pieces of monastery is situated right next to the pasture while the Thing was being held, silver were found, a small silver bar, a bent Thing names. while, on the other hand, the bogs can finger ring of silver, just over 20 silver The monastery was probably also have provided straw thatch for the coins (mainly fragments of Arabic coins) established in the year 1164, according to things’ sheds. Moreover during the Viking and just over 40 weights. The weights are Yrwing, on initiative of or in consultation Age, the bogs were actually lakes, forming of varying shapes and age but most of with the Gotlandic Althing, and for that large connected water systems, which them are polyhedral (multi-sided). very reason was situated at the thing site.
15 www.hgo.se/viking Viking Heritage Magazine 1/05
Possible scenario at the Gotlandic Althing site. Drawing Pelle Fahlén.
The Althing was not only enterprises in the regions where divided between the Althing and the the highest administrative and they established themselves. town, while the county council was judicial body, but also the highest Yet another strong link between the gradually weakened. Finally, during 15th religious body. It seems natural therefore Althing and the monastery is the name of century, the Althing in Roma had had its that, after the introduction of the monastery itself. The original name day. The power now lay completely with Christianity, it is also the Althing that that the monastery received when Visby’s burghers and the Danish sheriff in takes the initiative in building a church consecrated was obviously Guthnalia, Visborg’s castle. (which is clear from the Gutasaga) and which is a latinisation of Gutnalting, establishing the monastery. meaning the Gotlanders’ Althing. The The Gotlandic Althing’s meeting Moreover Gotland with its leading monastery would hardly have received place – common land? position within the eastern sea trade that name had it not been located in right It is possible that the area at the present ought to have been of particular interest next to the Althing meeting place. Roma Kungsgård has served as a kind of to the Cistercian order. The Cistercians During the Middle Ages, concurrent common ground, where the 20 things had were known to be great innovators with the development of the town of the right to use certain special land areas involved in the most important Visby, the political power on Gotland was as well as parts of the bog. Within these areas – named after the things – there was pasture for the horses and houses built for accommodation while the thing was in session. From the Icelandic Sagas, we know that each farm was represented with several persons at the Thing. Therefore there could have been several thousand people who gathered at Roma every year . However it is possible that the things did not each have an area with their own “sheds”. Since only Burs and Kräklinge Tingsängar are known, it might very well be that only the Sixth (sättingar) (Bro, Burs, Hejde, Hoburg, Kräklinge, Rute) had areas with “sheds” and that the things within each sätting had to share the areas. The Cistercian monastery ought to have been erected on the Althing’s common land and probably in close proximity to the site for the Thing A selection of the objects found in the so-called Guldåkern on the property of the Roma monastery. Drawing Pelle Fahlén. proceedings. Exactly where the Thing site
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The ultimate forum for all those A magnificent find interested in Vikings and the Viking Age! Viking Heritage Magazine, Gotland University, of runes on a lead Cramérgatan 3, 621 67 Visby, Sweden. Tel. +46 498 29 97 43, +46 29 98 30, plate in Skänninge, Fax +46 498 29 98 92 [email protected] Sweden www.hgo.se/viking Gotland University: www.hgo.se Archaeologists have made a remarkable Publisher and Editor-in-chief Danish find of around sixty rune inscriptions on a Dan Carlsson, [email protected] sheet of lead-plate. Earlier only around a Editor archaeologists total of 20 sheets of lead-plate are known Marita E Ekman, [email protected] from Sweden. came to visit The plate is 2 x 3 cm and only 1–2 Language and translation check mm thick. There are around sixty Luella Godman, [email protected] Last autumn a group of archaeologists millimetre-high runes inscribed on both from Denmark came to Gotland to study the front and back, most likely with a Subscriptions the historical places of the island. Here sharp small knife. Subscription rate, four issues they are having a friendly chat, visiting The plate was found in the excavations Sweden 250 SEK Denmark, Finland, Norway and the Baltic the editor of this magazine. of a grave in a monastery church. It was Photo: Ken Ravn Hedegaard. countries 260 SEK slightly damaged, so the whole inscription Other countries 300 SEK could not be seen. What makes it so As a new subscriber you will receive the interesting is the fact that the inscription guidebook, Follow the Vikings. Highlights of is not in Latin, but in the language of the the Viking World, as a special gift. This book people. According to Helmer Gustavson, contains 50 of the most important destinations in different countries, selected by A 900-year- the rune expert, the inscription is an international group of archaeologists and probably a prayer for the dead, most likely is richly illustrated in full colour. Ave Maria. Subscription conditions old stave For orders outside Scandinavia we can only accept payment in advance by credit card (VISA, Mastercard, Eurocard). church Within Scandinavia orders can be sent In search for by mail order or payment in advance by credit card. discovered Vikings in Iran NEW! Digital subscription A digital version of Viking Heritage In Aidt, near Thorsø on Jutland, This winter Danish archaeologists have Magazine is now available at reduced Denmark, archaeologists have found travelled to the coasts of the Caspian Sea price! See: www.hgo.se/viking the traces of a wooden medieval in northern Iran to find out more about Subscription information church. This is a very uncommon the relationships between Iranians and [email protected] Vikings. discovery, especially as there were no Tel. +46 498 29 98 29, +46 498 29 97 43 When examining Viking-age silver Viking Heritage webshop burials at the site. coins found in Denmark, Nadia Haupt, a www.hgo.se/viking The church is 12 x 6 meters. The researcher at Copenhagen Museum, Advertising find comprises 22 postholes, all of discovered more than one thousand coins Luella Godman, which are 80 cm deep. The church and relics that did not belong to the [email protected] has a nave and a choir, as known Danish or other Scandinavian cultures. Viking Heritage [email protected] from Romanesque churches, and is She became interested in where these Layout and printed dated to 1050–1150 AD. items originated and what kind of by Godrings Tryckeri, Visby, influence the Eastern cultures had on Sweden 2004 It is located about 50 m from the Scandinavia in the Viking period. ISSN 1403-7319 church in Aidt. Around 20 wooden The fieldwork done in Iran will now churches of this kind have so far been be followed by studies in Denmark. found in Denmark. Source: www.payvand.com Source: Berglinske.dk This project is co-financed by the EU-programme Interreg IIIB Baltic Sea Region.
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Tel +44 498 223 000 Fax The big event when the +44 498 223 203 Swedish crown princess Victoria came to Gotland for the opening ceremony of Gotland Viking Island 2005, has inspired the artist Ingvar Westöö to make a new picture stone, this time a paper work of art. The princess came from the sky to light the first of all the bonfires around the coast of the OvN FiE kR C eC E R O l& N E T l island. Art by Ingvar Westöö. Copyright: The e V e T V C T A Sl E N aG E l nC E s Documentation Group Rex Mundi. www.valleviken.com
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ZZZODQVPXVHHWJRWODQGVH A~chbjhZZie 39 www.hgo.se/viking 9 9 9 1 - 7 9 9 1 m o 1/2002 2/2002 3/2002 4/2002 r f Viking-Age women in runes pictures Vikings on Saaremaa (Ösel) In the footsteps of the Vikings • New excavations in Sweden and s • Freyja, a goddess of love and war • Schleswig and Haithabu • Destination Viking Baltic Stories Russia • Imaginary Vikings e u • The women in wagon burials • Wooden disc • Woolen sail • The game of Knátteleikr • The • Dublinn’s Vikings • Fortresses s s • From Viking Age to the Middle Ages • Neighbourhood of Trelleborg cult site of Rösaring • Filthy in Estonia and Latvia i • Mjöllnir, Thor’s hammer • Viking movies Vikings? • Vikings in Flanders • Gunne’s gård k c a b e l b a l i a v A 2/97, 4/98, 5/98, 1/99, 2/99, 3/99, 4/99 also available 2000 and 2001 are All issues from s n o g i … n t i i e r r k b i i o V h x m e e h h , t c s u t c m 1/2003 2/2003 3/2003 4/2003 m e o j r Golden Vanes • The North Atlantic The Mammen style from West Viking Age glass beads (five Vikings in North America – New and Old f d o r n Viking Heritage Resources • Masculine Pomerania • Vikings in Russia: articles) • Cultural transmission • The Kensington Runestone • s p a w , t – Feminine – Human – about a Viking- Military Affairs part 1 • Ukranenland • Children’s graves • Destination • L’Anse aux Meadows and Norstead • e s n e n age grave-field • Transvestite Vikings? • Philatelic Vikings • Golden Vanes Viking Saga Landscapes and Saga • An early Norse farm at Narsaq, e t i e s m • A Viking-age Tumour • Kaupang • Vikings in Melbourne Routes • Trondarnes • The Orkney Greenland • Diet and tableware in Wolin t d r c u Islands • Tablet Weaving l o a t c i n n s e i i - v e o r , s l s , s a n t o o s n i i t e o a u v p s a s w i c e x i e SOLD OUT SOLD OUT e v h f t g o s n i e s l k i n t i V o t i t , n s a i t k a n o e m o s b e e r h 1/2004 2/2004 3/2004 4/2004 t p w e A Silver Hoard from Isle of Man Viking-age Women • Food and Drink • Viking-age Sorcery • • Gotland Viking Island • , s n d e l • Vikings in North America • Norse padlocks • Excavations in Viking festivals in Adelsö, Karmøy, ”Should a man commit adultery” r d d i o Discovering Viking heritage milieus in Shetland • Grettis Saga on Iceland Foteviken • International volunteers Gold and silver hoards • Paviken s n w e a Denmark • The Far Routes of History • The kitchen garden • Gisla-Saga project, Iceland • No Gute by the name of Sven – about the Faroe Islands • Nordic mythology on new stamps • Battling for beer • • Viking Age sorcerers • • Eiríksstadir, Iceland • Viking events L’Anse aux Meadows and Vinland Exploring the Viking heritage B Now you can also order and pay from our website www.hgo.se/viking Prices: Issues from 2004 SEK 60 per copy All prices include taxes. Postage will For orders that include be added. We can only accept Issues from 2000-2003 SEK 50 per copy payment in advance by credit card. all available back issues ✄ Issues from 1997-1999 SEK 25 per copy we offer 25% discount. Checks are not accepted. COPIES 1/2002 2/2002 3/2002 4/2002 1/2003 2/2003 3/2003 4/2003 3/2004 4/2004 Destination Viking Follow the Vikings I would like to order Other issues Subscription to VHM , Subscription of VHM, 4 copies per year. (For rates, see page 38) Name Address Visa/Mastercard/Eurocard number Expiry date Gotland Heritage, Viking to this order Send Sweden Visby, SE-621 67 University, +46 498 29 98 92, Fax: E-mail: [email protected] Yes