Viking Heritage Number 4 • 1998 Newsletter

VIKING HERITAGE NUMBER 4 • 1998 NEWSLETTER

IN THIS ISSUE

Embla – a Viking ship has been reconstructed...... 1

Editorial ...... 2

Embla... continued ...... 3

Viking presence in France ...... 5

The Giant’s graves ...... 8 The picture shows a test of a plank’s strength. Photograph: Gunilla Larsson.

Alabu...... 10 Embla - a Viking ship has been reconstructed! Fröjel Gotlandic Viking Re-enactment society..13 The origins of the project The Embla project was initiated by the folk museum in Old Uppsala, as a collaboration project between the Department of Archaeology at Uppsala Skidbladner ...... 14 University, the county labour board in Uppsala and the folk museum, aimed at reconstructing a Viking Age ship, using contemporary methods and materials. The Department of Archaeology provided the project with Viking invasion in knowledge and teachers, the county labour board was the main financier Stockholm ...... 14 and also provided participants and the folk museum answered for inspira- tion, assistance and contacts. Gunilla Larsson, doctoral candidate with boat- building techniques during the younger Iron Age as a part of her disserta- BTC...... 15 tion, from the Department of Archaeology, was leader of the project. The boat building was carried out as a course in Viking Age boat-building techniques, in which 10 unemployed persons consisting of 5 building workers New book ...... 15 and 5 archaeologists have been taught. The composition of the group has in itself provided the grounds for a fulfilling exchange of knowledge and ex- perience among the participants. The project has received important financial help from sponsors. Skalk on the internet ....15 The boat-building has been carried out in Ensta only a stone's throw from the famous gravefield at Valsgärde, on the Fyris River, on land gener- ously contributed by Per Olof Bolin To be continued on page 3. VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998 E D I TO R I A L Here we are, with a new issue of From the first of July this year, In connection with changing the Viking Heritage Newsletter. Viking Heritage has been trans- membership in the Viking We are finally nearing our goal, ferred to the Gotland University Heritage association to a sub- of 4 issues of the Newsletter per College, and as a part of our new scription of the Viking Heritage year. The next issue is planned to strategy, we will from now on Newsletter, we have made some come before the end of this year. change the membership in the changes of the running of the We are still very dependent on Viking Heritage into a subscrip- organisation. From now on, Mr. your help in gathering material tion to the Viking Heritage Olle Hoffman ([email protected]) will for the Newsletter, and we wel- Newsletter. So, next time when be the person responsible for the come articles as well as news it is time to pay the membership Viking Heritage Server and about events, new museums, of 150 SEK (about $22), it will Database, as well as for the research projects etc, dealing be as a subscription of the publication of the Newsletter. with Viking history in broad Viking Heritage Newsletter and I hope you find the variety of terms. I do hope you will continue to articles interesting, and I wel- There has been a demand for be a part of the Viking Heritage come you to a new issue of the the possibility of subscribing to by the subscribing to the Viking Heritage Newsletter. the Newsletter, and in the Newsletter. You will of course Board, we have decided to still have access to the Viking Dan Carlsson change strategy for the Viking Heritage Server and Database, President Heritage, and the Newsletter. since we are not planning any Viking Heritage From now on we will put all our changes of strategy for the data- [email protected] efforts into developing the base. Viking Heritage Server and Data- We have also decided that in base (http://ottes.got.kth.se) the long run, we will increasingly with the aim of becoming the put the Newsletter on Internet, best site in the world for infor- since the cost of printing and mation about Vikings and shipping the Newsletter is Viking History, and at the same becoming rather expensive. time further developing the Viking Heritage Newsletter.

2 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998 Embla - a Viking ship has been reconstructed! By Fil. Kand. Gunilla Larsson, The Department of Archaeology, Uppsala University.

Continued from page 1. boat-grave 3 is 7,2 metres long and 1,5 likely seal oil and herring brine. The metres wide. The boat has been fitted soft, direct reduced iron is considered Embla´s Viking Age model: with T- shaped keel, rabbet staves, 4 to have had better corrosion resistance Embla has been built as a reconstruct- planks on each side joined together than commercial iron of today. A fur- ion of one of the boats in the boat- with iron rivets, fitted with rhombic nace for iron production was construct- graves which have been found at the and square washers on the inside. ed in Fjällnora outside Uppsala, where parsonage in Old Uppsala. During a There are traces of three frames indica- ”iron soil” (Swedish: rödjord) and bog- smaller excavation 1973 in conjunction ted by top rivets, there were probably iron ore were smelted into iron. To with installing cables, boat rivets were five frames originally. The thwarts were obtain suitable tar, a tar pile was built found. Following excavations in 1974, placed over the frames. up at the Finsta upper secondary school carried out by Else Nordahl, proved of Natural Resource Management in that the boat rivets originated from Roslagen. In order to get seal oil, which The purpose with the con- is thought to protect against ice and to pre-historic boats and that there were struction work of Embla at least 4 boat-graves from the early preserve the wood a seal was acquired Viking Age in this place. The boat- The very special thing about the recon- from which a quantity of seal oil was graves were found in the area between struction of Embla, is that it is the first obtained. This seal oil was supple- the parsonage and the East mound. time an Archaeology Department in mented with herring brine with good One of the boat-graves was chosen as a Sweden has devoted itself to experi- preservation qualities. In some cases model for the reconstruction which mental archaeology in the form of there was no information in the boat- was to be built. boat-building. The purpose was not grave about the technicalities of con- only to recreate the shape of a Viking structing the hull. This problem was Age hull, but also to produce this solved by making comparisons with Why boatgrave 3 in Old reconstruction with as contemporary better preserved boat finds from the Uppsala? methods, materials and tools as poss- Viking Age, above all the ”Vik” boat ible. In this way, the aim was to gain from Söderby-Karl (11th century) and The boat was in ”good condition” and knowledge about the conditions for the small boat from Årby in Rasbokil had been well documented, that is the boat-building at this time, possibilities, parish (9th century), which both have lines of rivets still lay in a quite undis- limitations, and problems but also to the main parts of their hulls preserved. turbed position and they had been study which traces the various Viking measured accurately one by one with Age tools leave on material in order to co-ordinates, height level and direction. The Viking Age boatbuilding be able to compare them with tool- The boat is a local find from the Old techniques, extent of preser- marks on archaeological finds. Another Uppsala parish, which is the activity vation and the properties of important purpose was to study how area of the local museum. long different operations take, and not wood The boat from the boat-grave was an least to study the characteristics of a Perhaps the most surprising feature in appropriate size for a reconstruction boat built using Viking Age methods, certain findings of boats from the and the width of the planks posed no comparing these with characteristics of Younger Iron Age and the Middle Ages insurmountable material problems. boats built with traditional boat-build- is that the wood is so well-preserved. The only remains from the boat were ing techniques. That oak lumber can remain well pre- the iron boat rivets. To obtain a picture During construction, it has been served during hundreds of years in of the boat, it had to be re-created on a necessary, in order to obtain as realistic saturated meadow lands is not remark- reconstruction sketch, according to conditions as possible, to use as a part able, but more so the fact that boat information about the position of the of the experiment some of the handi- remains can be preserved almost a hund- rivets. This was done in a 3D-program, crafts which have been prerequisite for red years in varied conditions without Microstation, with guidance from the ship building during the Viking Age. any other preservative than coating Department of Archaeology. The co- Some of those ancient techniques some parts with creosote and linseed ordinates and the height levels were fed include the production and the use of oil. Some boat parts have been exposed into the computer and finally a recon- rivets and nails from the same kind of to sunlight for several years in windows struction sketch emerged from the iron (bog-iron ore) which was used in facing south. Still there are no sunshakes printer, producing a three-dimensional the original, as well as the same finish- in the planking. Other parts have been picture of the hull´s shape.... ing agent used during the Viking Age, kept in the attic of the museum built of The reconstruction of the boat from which aside from wood tar was most slag bricks, where the author measured

3 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998

about 100 % air humidity during parts fibre system, which may cause a plank Viking Age allowed for construction of of the year with 60 % as the lowest to twist when it cracks. This is an light boats, which were both fast and during summer. An analysis of one advantage at those places in the hull easily-manoeuvred and they could also piece of planking by Ingvar Johansson, where a twist is needed, when the twist be more easily pulled across land be- of The Institute of Technology, showed occurs as a natural asset, a necessity in tween navigable passages. no evidence of decay. former times when the wood could not Their boat-building technique and Axel Lindberg who has participated be steamed to the right shape. the light draft were one of the main in the mounting of the ”Riddarholmen At one of the few Swedish buildings explanations for the successful Viking ship” at the Medieval Museum in of replicas with this method, ”Blanka” expeditions. Thanks to these factors the Stockholm, reported that the same built with the Medieval find Vikings could sail up on any shallow observations had been made regarding ”Helgeandsholmen X” as a model, the shore or bank and the radially cracking this boat find which has a similar story boat-builder Axel Lindberg could technique permitted to take the hulls after it was found, being kept unpreserv- observe one of the determining advan- being stranded. This meant that it was ed in a museum storehouse for decades. tages with this method. The planking possible to attack almost anywhere on The explanation as to why the finds he produced was up to 20 times foreign coasts. The shallow boats could have been so well-preserved is to be stronger than sawn timber and could easily sail up the rivers in Western found in the boat-building technique. be bent a great deal without breaking Europe and Russia, the land transport past rapids could be carried out without any special arrangements thanks to their extremely thin hulls and their light weight on account of the radially cracking technique. Today building is done with dry material which is sawn tangentially or radially. This means many fibre open- A (radially split logs technique). B (tangential sawing). From Lindberg 1990. ings which any boat-owner under- stands will quite easily allow a lot of The technique during the Viking Age even if they were thin, only 22 mm. sun shakes in the planking. The plank and the Middle Ages was to build the From the length of the rivets used, is twisted by softening it in hot steam ships with raw, radially split logs oak. Embla´s planking be estimated to be in a steaming drum after which it is The method implied that a wedge was even thinner, 10-15 mm. During the bent to the right shape before it is allo- driven in where a pith ray was found Embla’s construction we used only wed to dry, when it resumes its hard and the log was then cracked into two radially cracked planks 10-12 mm and stiff state. halves with a club and wedges, and thick with 80 kilos, respectively 160 then into fourths and the fourths into kilos. Both held and were bent up to This was the first part of the article. eighths. At best a sixteenth could be 25 cm. The second part will be published in produced from larger logs. With this The radially cracking technique the next issue of ”Viking Heritage method the fibres were kept intact offer- during the Newsletter”. ing no entrance for drought or decay. A tree trunk consists of longitudinal and radial fibre- and canal systems. The longitudinal system transports for instance nourishment to the branches and provides stability to the trunk through stress (Lindberg 1988 appen- dix II). The radial system, the pith rays, takes care of the functions in the radial direction. Uneven lighting, wind or nutrient input causes twists in the latter

4 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998 Brief presentation of a thesis on the Viking presence in France from the 9th to the 11th century: sources and set of problems. By Jean-Christophe Guillon, University of Paris I

First of all, it is important to define the by observing the flights of the religious tions of the Peran camp (Côtes d'Armor). terms and limits of this study. This dis- communities. We may then observe the Recently, in the storerooms of the cussion of Viking presence does not limit evolution of the panic waves and the museum of Montereau (Seine et Marne) itself to the archaeological aspect of the return to a sense of security, thus permit- in 1993, a sword similar to the one from Viking raids but extends to their impact ting us to draw up a relatively complete the Peran camp was identified as prob- on the Frankish society through the cartography of the Viking raids. The ably having been used by the Vikings. By dukedom of Normandy among others. written sources also serve to provide an studying the geographical origin of their France was chosen as a geographical estimate of the total number of Norman distribution we notice that many of these framework but this does not refer to the groups, but in many cases, these esti- weapons have a continental origin. The current national territory which was not mates are incorrect. Can we believe monk presence of these weapons, both in relevant in the political context of that Abbon, a contemporary of the Paris siege Scandinavia and in the Carolingian period. Western France resulting from in 886, who talks about an army of Empire, shows us the lack of respect for the Carolingian divisions and the France 30000 Vikings incapable of taking over a the Carolingian regulations forbidding of the year one thousand in the reign of fortified township like Paris defended the export of weapons from the Frankish Hugh Capet are a better territory for only by 200 Frank knights? While these countries and the booty of high-quality researching this archaeological and his- estimates have no statistical value they do Frankish weapons acquired by the torical analysis. The Viking raids in provide evidence of mental shock! Vikings during their raids. It must be France took place from the end of the On the other hand, the archaeological noted that most of these weapons were 8th century (799: first raid on the coasts sources offer a more tangible research discovered near places where the Viking of Vendée related in the annals) to the study although they are not lacking pro- presence is verified by written sources. middle of the 10th century (939: the blems in interpretation. The archaeology Archaeological discoveries are not limi- Normans of the Loire river are chased out of the Viking invasions is still awaiting ted to a few isolated weapons. of Brittany by Alain Barbetorte's some structured supervision, despite a Fibulas with ”iron and bones” were Bretons). However one must acknow- few recent discoveries. It is essential to found accidentally in 1870 by a road- ledge the creation of the dukedom of record and examine as many material worker in Pîtres. Abbot Cochet, curator Normandy and the fate of the isolated traces as possible which can testify to the of the Museum of Antiquities in Rouen, Scandinavians and the bands of Viking Viking presence. By occupying whole bought them in 1870 for their collection. mercenaries in the Franks’ and Normans' regions and staying there longer periods, At first, he attributed them to being part service after the period of the great raids- sometimes for many months, Normans of a Scandinavian warrior's dress. Five a situation that lasted until at least the have left traces of their presence in the years after this discovery he realised that 11th century. places they have been in, either remains the two fibulas belonged to the burial This study is based in part on reading of their camps, or abandoned weapons, place of a 9th century Viking woman written sources, originating from differ- boats or ordinary objects. because in that period dress burials with ent orders: royal and monastic annals, French soil and most particularly funeral furniture had disappeared in chronicles, chapters, hagiographical Normandy and Brittany has revealed Western Europe. accounts and various works in prose and artefacts proving the Viking presence but, These tortoiseshell-shaped fibulas are verse. Most of the authors of these works in most cases, it is a case of isolated dis- of a type found widespread in were clergymen who found themselves on coveries. A lot of these discoveries were Scandinavia. According to Birgitta the side of the victims in the assaulted weapons retrieved during the dredging of Elmqvist, this type of fibula would have countries. Their monasteries and churches, the Seine and Loire rivers. The been manufactured during the second being without defence, were the favourite Norwegian archeaologist Haakon half of the 9th century and could have prey of Viking warriors. For this reason Schetelig, during his field trip in France come from Norway. The presence of this their writings have to be examined with a in 1927, was the first to draw up a list of Scandinavian burial place can be explain- degree of caution. They have a tendency these weapons. Unfortunately, he limited ed by the history of the Norman raids in to exaggerate facts. This systematic and himself to visiting museums close to the the lower valley of the Seine; in 855 a critical perusal will produce a chronology waterways used by Scandinavians. He group of Vikings invaded the camp of of events. counted 29 weapons (including 21 Pîtres and took possession of it. This Unfortunately, this chronology will be swords, 7 spears and 1 axe); 15 of these tomb, which seems isolated, is close to a incomplete because in many operational weapons came from the Seine, 13 from place of worship and an indigenous theatres the clergy flees from the the lower Loire and the Vendée, 1 from necropolis. H. Schetelig points out that Normans, thus depriving the historian of Picardie. The Swedish archaeologists, the presence of this Viking burial place valuable information. Part of this study Arbmann and Nilsson completed this near a church and a local necropolis has already been carried out by the inventory in 1968 with two axe heads reminds us of the situation of the Viking German historian Walter Vogel, but his kept in Rouen. A sword from the Viking tombs in the British Isles. One of the best work does not exceed the year 911. This period was discovered in the storerooms known discoveries which was made in preliminary study allows us to calculate of the Denain museum (Nord) in 1987. 1906 by captain Le Pontois and Paul Du the impact of the raids on the mentalities More recently, a sword and two Nordic Chatellier, is a ship grave found on the and psyches of the attacked populations spearheads were found during the excava- Groix Island (Morbihan). Only a great

5 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998

quantity of rivets and traces of the stern houses and a well. Some pieces of the decoration similar to the one represented archaeological furniture resembled on the Gotland engraved stone (Sweden) Scandinavian material from the Viking remain of the carbonised remains of the period: penny from York, card-combs, boat which was about twelve meters long. pickaxe, casserole, spearhead. An analysis We must mention the presence of two of the rampart's glazed clay has been charred bodies and important funeral fur- dated to between 910 and 920 to linking niture which had been badly damaged by it to the annals which relates that Alain oxidation and fire. The remains of two Barbetorte, count of Brittany, attacked a swords were found, the possession of one Viking fortified place near Saint-Brieuc. allows Dr Müller-Wille to date the site to Despite these signs, J. Nicolardot remains the second half of the 10th century. We cautious in his conclusions. can assume because of the unusual shape There are few discoveries considering of some shield umbos that the Vikings the number of raids between the 9th and used weapons made in Brittany. This the 11th centuries. Most of the French burial place could have belonged to a specialists in the Viking field explain the Viking chief from Nantes. The existence scarcity of Viking traces by the fact, on of this ship grave , an undeniable pagan the one hand, that the French archaeol- rite, allows us to visualise the Vikings ogists who can identify Scandinavian being strongly established on the island materials are few and far between and, on acceptance of the Frankish administration. in order to practice their religion without the other, that no systematic research has A first criticism is required: these three being disturbed. ever been conducted in France. This re- phases are not simultaneous for all In 1964, on the beach of Reville search could be conducted on the sites French operational theatres. On the (North Sea) a Frankish necropolis was stated in the written sources such as the Seine, phase 1 starts in 820, phase 2 in discovered during low tide. Among the towns temporarily held by the Vikings 845 and phase 3 in 911 when the county graves, three burial places were different (Nantes, Angers, Rouen,etc.) and the of Rouen is granted to Rollo. For the from the others. Two were delimited by camps established on the maritime and Normans operating on the Loire phase 1 stones representing the shape of a ship , fluvial islands (island of Jeufose and begins in 799, phase 2 in 855 and, phase the third was made of four right-angle Oscelle on the Seine river, island of Pont- 3 in 927 with the cessation of the county slabs in the middle of three concentric de-Cée and Bièce on the Loire river, of Nantes to Viking Rögnvald. These stone circles. All three contained small island of Ré and Normoutier on the three phases, thus defined, have their fragments of charred bones. According to Atlantic). A study of this kind might be own set of problems. During the first Michel de Bouard these come from disappointing materially since archaeol- period it is vital to ask the question : Viking burial places. Currently this ogists would rather inspect longer periods where did the Vikings come from? The Norman attribution is being questioned. of occupation; it is of little use to study main two sea-river ports of the Seine and Nevertheless, only one object has been the movements of an active minority , the Loire, Rouen and Nantes, before the found, a Nordic vase resembling a kind such as the Vikings, on a such a short Scandinavian raids, were linked to the of pottery discovered in Birka (Sweden). time range. Moreover, during their trade with England for the former and to Nowadays all those vestiges are sub- period of stability, their ”acculturation” Ireland for the latter. Rouen was mostly merged in the sea. was very quick. Despite these restrictions attacked by the Danes operating in the According to some archaeological find- it would be wise to speak to Scandinavian English Channel and Nantes by the ings, it seems that the Vikings construct- researchers about making a study of the Norwegians sailing in the Irish rivers and ed or rebuilt fortifications to serve as Viking material and ask the British the Atlantic. Even if many Viking groups shelters or as operational bases. Thus a archaeologists to undertake a comparison were composed of different nationalities , large earth wall closes the peninsula from between the attempts at establishing did each one have its own operational La Hague (North Sea) to Hague Dike. Viking colonies in France, in Great zone corresponding to old commercial The 1951-1953 French-Scandinavian Britain and in Ireland. waterways from North-West Europe? excavations revealed the presence of a Study of the written sources allows us During the second phase, the necessity defence system (traces of a wooden pali- to write up a preliminary chronology of of maintaining a large manpower to ran- sade) similar to the oldest part of the events. It is relevant to use Lucien som local populations should be translat- danevirke erected by the Danes at the Musset's three-phase chronology. The ed, in the terrain, by the discovery of beginning of the 9th century. Originally first phase is the direct looting which shelters and Viking winter quarters. the Hague Dike was a Celtic construc- starts with coastal raids, then with attacks However, neither has ever been definitely tion (900-800 BC, C14); according to on towns and monasteries from water- located. It's very likely that the Normans Michel de Bouard, the eastern part had ways. The second phase begins when used previously established fortifications been made by the Vikings. No objects of Vikings come up against an organised to their advantage. Written sources quote Nordic origin have ever been found to state; the danegelds appear. To preserve the examples of Angers, Saintes, Rouen corroborate this hypothesis. the peace the Franks pay the Normans to and Pîtres. The political game, difficult Between 1983 and 1990 the team of depart. When the country no longer has to apprehend, of this agitated period the archaeologist Jean Nicolardot excavat- wealth with lay- and religious people in must also be taken into account. ed the camp of Péran (Côtes d'Armor). charge the third phase emerges: direct Relationships between the Vikings, the This Celtic oppidum was restored at the exploitation. The Vikings seek a political Franks and the Bretons were often ambi- beginning of the 10th century, as indicat- legitimacy with authorities of the guous. Often Norman gangs fought with ed by the discovery of a coin from York country. The latter grant it with condi- either one of the belligerents for money made between 905 and 925 found in the tions: baptism, defence against other in return. Thus Weland, chief of a burnt rampart. This fortification contains Viking groups, cessation of raids, Norman army operating on the Seine,

6 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998

did not disdain to besiege his compatriots from Oissel Island for King Charles the Bald. Robert the Strong, Marquis of Neustrie and lay abbot of Saint-Martin of Tours, was killed in Brissarthe (Maine-et- Loire) by the Vikings from the Loire accompanied by Breton soldiers. The last phase is the most difficult to study. It concerns the creation of the dukedom of Normandy and the fate of the Normans from the Loire. One question needs to be asked: why did the Norman state of Nantes disappear so rapidly, contrary to the one of Normandy? What were the real terms of transfer of the Rouen county in 911 to Rollo by Charles the Simple? No definite proof has been brought forward as to the existence of the famous treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte. The dukedom of Normandy (certified denominat- ion since 965) possessed an original political and legal system. The Normans took over a jurisdiction and an administration inherited from the Franks but with Norse elements. We can quote the heimfor (the prohibition of the assault against houses), the ullac (the banishment), the more danico used by the first Norman dukes population in its entirety remained a around the year one thousand. Foulques (legal cohabitation insuring the children minority and the actual conditions for Nerra, count of Anjou, reclaimed all his of this union the same rights as a legiti- their establishment still elude us. estate during his wars, in order to secure mate child). This last practice was to be The problem of the Norman colon- control of the Loire valley. The history of severely punished by the Church in the isation need not preclude the Viking these isolated Nordics can only be revea- 11th century. William the Conqueror, expeditions led in the 11th century. They led by reading the written sources. born from such a union, would have dif- were sporadic and ordered by people of In conclusion, we know very little ficulties establishing his legitimacy. These distinction. The future king, Saint-Olaf about the Viking presence in France. To two features, Nordic and Frankish, co- of Norway, came to Rouen by order of remedy this problem, it would be neces- existed for a century. Duke Richard II in 1014. He was baptis- sary to re-organise all the available know- Later Normandy belongs by its admin- ed and led war-like expeditions in ledge before proceeding, to study the istrative organisation and its language, to Brittany and in the Poitou. He acted as material preserved in museums, to under- the history of France. When did the leader of the Duke of Normandy’s take prospecting on the ground. It is a colonisation of the region begin, before mercenaries. The time of profit-seeking huge task but one which is necessary. or after 911? For the historian Jean adventurers had passed. Other Renaud colonisation occurred at two Scandinavians were given tasks to per- Jean-Christophe Guillon levels. First there was the division of form by noble Franks. Thus, Geldouin, a E-Mail : [email protected] Rollo's companions (known through the knight of Danish origin, received custody Text translated by Frédérique Blondel texts by their Scandinavian names: Torke- of several fiefs in Anjou and Touraine til, Torsten or their nicknames: Robert from the count of Blois and Champagne the Dane, ancestor of the Harcourt family, and Roger of Montgommery ex Some References : Nothmannis Northmannui) and an agri- Arbman, H., Nilsson, N.O., 1969 : Armes scandinaves de l’époque viking en France, cultural colonisation that remained limit- Meddelanden fran Lunds universitets historika museum, 1969 ed to the Caux country and to the Lower Cassard, Jean-christophe 1996 :Le siécle des vikings en Bretagne. Ed Seine. However, the coastal establish- Jean-Paul Gisserot ments founded by the Vikings have left Chatellier (P. du), Le Pontois (L.), 1908 : La sépulture scandinave à barque de l’île de an important heritage in the toponymy Groix. Bulletin de la société archéologique du finistére. T.XXXV, 1908 (with harbour names of Norse origin Musset, Lucien 1971 : Les invasions : Le second assaut contre l’Europe chrétienne. Ed such as Dieppe, Honfleur). The topony- PUF mic study of Nordic origin names allows Nicolardot , Jean-Pierre, Guigan, Philippe 1991 :Une forteresse du Xe siècle : Le camp us to identify two distinct Viking groups. du Plédran, Revue archéologique de l’Ouest, T.8, 1991 The oldest group, established in the Caux Perin, Patrick 1989 : Les objets vikings du musées des antiquités de la seine maritime à country, the Lower Seine, the Auge Rouen, recueil d’études en hommage à lucien Musset, country and the Roumois, would be of Cahiers des annales de Normandie, no 23, 1989 Anglo-Danish origin. The Nordic com- Renaud, Jean 1989 : Les vikings et la Normandie, Ed. Ouest France Université munity fixed in the north of the Cotentin Shetelig, Haakon 1940: Viking antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, T.IV, 1940 would be Celto-Norwegian. The Viking

7 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998 THE GIANT’S GRAVES A 19th century discovery of human remains on the U.K. island of Lundy By: Keith S. Gardner, F.R.S.A. Thynne House, 81 West Town Rd., Backwell, North Somerset, BS48 3BH, United Kingdom Introduction: The island of Lundy lies off the west 19th century antiquarians regarded human remains found on Lundy Island coast of England, 20 km out in the as Viking. Atlantic. It is a granite plateau, 150 m. More recently this has been regarded as an over-romantic view, but high, 410 hectares in extent measuring 5 km long x 8km wide. The Bristol comparison between certain aspects of this discovery and other finds Channel was a popular haunt of the elsewhere in the UK suggest that there might well be an Hiberno-Norse long-boats (AS Chronicle AD 833- association. 878) and Lundy actually figures in the Orkneyinger’s Saga (78) when Swein Asleifarson pursued Holdbodi to the ”Giant’s Graves”. ii) Levelling of this site and the con- island but could do nothing due to the These were unsuccessful in that no struction of a further defended struc- stronghold there. cist structure was found but more indi- ture of early 13th century. vidual burials were revealed and in iii) Demolition of this by mid-13th both cases appeared to be dated by century. [Both the archaeological and coins and pottery to the 15th century.. historical evidence support this inter- History of Events: The present author, involved in the pretation] In 1856 an extension of farm buildings 1960’s in an island-wide archaeological iv) A post 13th century midden uncovered human remains, most survey conducted excavations in the extended over the site and continued notable of which was one contained in field adjacent to the farm buildings in use until the mid 15th century. a cist, the body, presumably extended erected in the mid 19th century. Two v) A Christian cemetery was laid out (?), allegedly 2.5 m in length. Other sites of relevance were discovered: after the 15th century but was itself bodies, heads to the west, extended in a i) a rock-cut ditch associated with to be the site of a midden by the row, and a pit containing disarticulated occupation material of the mid 12th early 17th century. bones were also found, and apparently century, possibly the site referred to vi) 19th century farm construction associated with the pit were some glass in the Saga. This was sealed by a removed grave slabs and eventually beads and some fragments of gilt massive 2m. thick wall, ostensibly uncovered the burials which are the bronze, pottery and shells. part of the 13th century stronghold subject of this note. The tale grew with the telling as of the documented Marisco family. All this is quite straightforward, the Victorian antiquarians and journalists ii) a Christian cemetery, with burials only anomaly being the ‘Giant’ and cist embellished the facts with fancy, but in orderly rows, parts of which were grave, and the peculiar ‘pillow’ stone, more recently contemporary letters be- detected from the field notes of the together with the early glass beads and tween members of the family and friends 1928 /1933 investigators. One grave fragments of bronze, (the pottery and have been traced and we can now sum- was completely excavated and show- shells found in 1856 being probably marize the few facts as follows. ed the burials to have been dug the same as encountered in the 17th A number of skeletons were found in through a midden of the 14th / 15th century midden). a line about .6m deep; one was enclos- century and to have been sealed by a ed in a cist and was of a remarkable midden of the early 17th century Discussion: Where in the above size. The skull of this ‘giant’, was which contained large quantities of sequence should the ‘Giant’ be placed ? resting in a shallow basin cut into the limpet shells and pottery, and which It should be said that no datable ani- end of a granite block measuring 1.4m. overlay a granite grave slab of trape- mal remains have been found on any x .3m. x .3m, which formed part of the zoidal shape, other examples of site older than the 12th century mid- cist. The ground was described as which are still to be seen in the 19th den. Victorian reports of the opening ‘slightly mounded’, and a layer of lim- century foundations of farm build- of a ‘cist’, presumably Pre-historic, pro- pet shells lay over much of the area.. ings. duced no skeletal material. The island has one of the most The sequence of activity on this site important Celtic Early Christian sites 20th Century Excavations: would therefore seem to be : in the UK, with many cists and a In 1928 and 1933 two separate i) 12th century occupied and defend- ‘founder’s grave’, and 4 inscribed me- attempts were made to re-discover the ed structure. morial stones of the 5th / 6th centuries.

8 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998

Not even a human tooth has survived the acidic peat soil. Whilst an early Chapel has not been located there exists the probability of such a structure; the early cemetery however is 500 m to the west of the‘Giant’s Grave’.Even so the ‘pillow stone’ is best explained as a pillar stoop, for holy water, and thus presumably derived from a Chapel. Over 140 years have elapsed since the discovery and there is now little firm evidence with which to date the ‘Giant’. Much has happened in Viking studies since that time however, even in the UK, and there are a number of circumstantial parallels which may be of relevance. It appears to have been common practice for Viking burials to have been associated with Early Christian sites, even if the deceased were not themselves Christian.[eg Balladoole and Jurby, Isle of Man]. Such burials are usually in slab lined cists and pillow stones are not uncommon. Examples of stone simulated ship burials [eg Westness, Orkney] have been described as oval ‘cists’ with a stem or prow-stone. Is this the function of the Lundy ‘pillow’, removed from a Christian site ? The adjacent ‘pit’ is paralleled at Repton, where again disarticulated remains, dated to c AD 875, were found this time in an earlier Christian Location map and plan of Bull’s Paradise and Shippens area by K. S. Gardner. structure and interpreted as the possibly exhumed remains of the ‘Great Army’, brought to Repton to accom- this view. ture, suggesting at least an Early pany the occupant of the focal cist, Associated with the beads in the 19th Medieval date for the Giant. coincidentally also a ‘Giant’ discovered century account, were pieces of red It is not typical of the 16th century in the 17th century. The site, not pottery and limpet shells which we burials, although the 7 bodies ‘in a row’ uniquely, continued to be used as a regard as compatible with the 17th most probably are of this date. The Christian cemetery. Although the century midden, but the fragments of ‘Giants Grave’ seems to have stood Lundy pit burials could have been the bronze, gilded, perforated and rivetted alone, arguably accompanied by the pit result of 16th grave clearances the evi- are strongly reminiscent of the shoulder burials. dence there was for the re-interment of of a Viking ‘tortoise’ brooch, often The glass beads seem to be from a earlier grave occupants, fragmented, joined in pairs by a short ‘chain’ of Hiberno-Norse context, but could be with the newly dead. glass beads. late survivals. On balance the circum- The glass beads, although of a com- In conclusion we may summarize by stantial evidence suggests an interment mon type, have generally been regarded process of elimination. The burials perhaps contemporary at the latest with as 9th century Hiberno- Norse and were not Prehistoric or Early Christian, the 12th century occupation, and spec- there is little from the although in a cist, because i) on Lundy ulatively even that of a player in the extensive excavations in bones do not survive 1000 years & ii) tales of the Orkneyinga Saga. Dublin, Repton or York the integral ‘pillow’ stone is paralleled to confidently challenge in Early Medieval local church furni-

9 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998 ALABU By Jens N. Nielsen, Aalborg Historical Museum, Algade 48, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark

In 1994 a large building foundation was cleared away in the city centre of the Limfjord city of Aalborg to make room for a new building site. Before the new buildings were erected the city museum was given the opportunity to conduct archaeological excavations. This was much appreciated since written sources had revealed that the Franciscan monastery of the city had been situated in this area. Fourteen years previous parts of the foundations had been uncovered on a nearby building site. These investigations could now be followed up and soon it became evident that other parts of the monastery had also survived the centuries. In some places the masonry was preserved up to 3.4m high. There was a danger that the construction work would remove all traces of the ruins, but thanks to the good The stratigraphic succession in the oldest parts of Ålborg. The layers have been provided will of the building contractor, C. W. with dating information. At the bottom left is a hearth from the earliest activities at the Obel A/S - and a generous contribut- craft site. Photograph: Jan Slot-Carlsen. ion from the municipality- it was possible to preserve them in a basement beneath the projected building. As a The Franciscan monastery is mention- the case in Ålborg, where the original welcome fringe benefit, delay in con- ed for the first time in written sources surface was found 4 metres beneath struction could be reduced consider- in 1268. My intention at this time is today´s street level at this excavation. ably. Excavations were discontinued not to present the numerous new Excavations naturally come across the but the site was covered with a thick details on the monastery which were latest cultural layers first, after which layer of sand. When the piles had been revealed during the excavations. The you travel further and further back in driven for the foundation and the base- fact is that important observations were time as you progressively dig down ment walls raised, the sand was once made under the monastery church and through the layers. If we want time to again removed and excavations could it is those I am going to discuss. move in the right direction, so to be resumed, under shelter - an unusual Most of us know that there are speak, we must relate the results from occurrence for an open-air occupation metres-thick layers of waste beneath the bottom upwards. like archaeology. the oldest Danish cities. This was also The oldest activity in the place was revealed as thin stripes of soil in the light bedding sand, unmistakable traces of the prehistoric wooden plough. Outside the basement we had earlier found traces of buildings that may be contemporary with the plough marks. Fire-cracked stones from a hearth have been dated by the Thermoluminescence method to about 800 AD (Skalk 1970:3), which indicates that village farmers may have been active here. The next layer is about one century younger and of a quite different nature. It is a question of a number of small hearths and a larger pit - perhaps a A section of Ålborg´s street system. The interesting remains and traces of the craftsman´s working place - but it was monastery have been marked. Map: SKALK. especially two ditches which attracted

10 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998

en that a regular settlement pattern, Judging from the finds the handicraft with a system of parallel ditches demar- site was used about one and a half cen- cating two rows of plots, was located in tury, around the middle of the 11th a bigger area with a large number of century, but it is unlikely that it was in the craftsmen at work as early as the constant use. Markets were often occu- beginning of the 8th century. While pied at intervals and were in most cases Ribe played an important role in dominated by local inhabitants, once north-western Europe, the same can or twice a year there were bigger events not be said about Ålborg. with people from near and far. We Owing to the expansion of the exca- don´t know much about the size of the vation area, unfortunately only one site, a number of separate finds from ditch was located and the plot-system is the Viking Age have been found in until further notice only conjecture, nearby parts of the city, but too few to Formations in the lowest parts of the pending confirmation, or the emer- provide a sharp picture. excavation. The earth wall represents gence of other theories in the future. In the latter part of the 11th century deposits from the craft site period. Above There was a chance of further discovery radical changes occurred. Crafting it the foundation of an oven from the in 1980 when the neighbouring site activities disappeared and were replaced oldest of the five succeeding houses, all was excavated but then it was the by dwelling houses. They became with their gables towards Algade. monastery which attracted all attent- evident first and foremost by floorings Photograph: Stig B. Møller. ion. If the theory about the ”Ribe of clay and chalk, almost like horizon- system” is accepted, it is interesting to tal layers over one another, separated by attention. One of the ditches contained note that the two northward ”sites” run waste layers up to half a metre thick. traces of poles indicating that a fence into a cross road or street, in the form Unfortunately the narrow excavation had been standing here. The other of remains of plank pavement. This circumstances made it impossible to ditch intersected the first and may paving was preserved up to one and a uncover a house site to its full extent. therefore be younger, the soil layers tell half metre wide but was originally Furthermore the southern part of the us that the ditch was cleaned out wider. These remains may be a floors had been cleared away during repeatedly in order keep it open. precursor to Algade, implying that the construction of the medieval monas- During the next 150 years garbage street lives up to its name- al is an tery. Remains from five houses in all accumulated on both sides of the ditch. abbreviation of the word adel, old. were found, all orientated with their The diversified contents of these garbage layers tell us a lot about what happened in the place. The finds indicate primarily handicraft activities: cut off pieces of bone and antler from comb- making, a melting pot, bars and remains from bronze casting, while iron slag points reveal forging activities. Glass beads and slag exist, but so rarely that it can not be determined whether a bead-maker also worked here. Spinning and weaving have left behind reels and weaving weights. Whetstones of slate and fragments of green slate vats, both of Norwegian extraction, indicate trade contacts with far distant places but local trade was apparently more important: Animal bones, carbonised barley, sea mussel shells, fish bones and hazelnut shells give samples of foodstuffs the craftsmen were able to barther for. The collected material gives a picture of a place of handicraft with elements of trade. The open ditch, which may mark a boundary presents the possibility that the whole place has been divided into small lots for the simple craftsmen in the same way known from Ribe A crucible made out of clay with a tubular opening. Coatings inside show that it has (Skalk 1988:4). There it has been prov- been used during bronze casting. Photography: Jan Slot-Carlsen.

11 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998

gables towards the street. The walls mint in Ålborg during the reign of king protected river harbours. The place can were made with wattle and daub and Hardeknud (1035-42). It is, by the also generally be seen as a extraordinar- had been standing on a horizontal way, on his coins that we for the first ily good junction of land- and sea traf- beam which rested on sill stones. time see the city´s name as Alabu. Later fic. Control of this place meant power Several houses had remains of large the name appears as Aleburh. Minting and economic advantages. The three ovens. of coins, which also took place during large chalk heights were settled through- In the middle of the 13th century the reign of Saint Cnut and Erik out the entire Iron Age, but several the gable houses had to give way to the Ejegod, gives evidence of the royal locations have yielded astonishing Grey Friars. The dating is underlined power´s interest in and their presence amounts of metal items especially from by a Valdemar Sejr coin(1202-41), in the city, not least in form of a the Younger Germanic Iron Age. In found at the youngest house. Several Crown demesne. The last part of the general, the eastern Limjord area Christian graves were found beneath city´s name -borg, raises the question, import finds indicate contacts particu- the walls of the monastery church, did the city already have a castle at this larly with the British Isles and Norway, which thus are older and the question time or was it fortified? However, for but only to a lesser extent with the is whether they are from the earliest the moment, no rampart or grave has Continent. phase of the monastery or even older. been found so these questions can not With the new excavations, Ålborg´s The latter can not be excluded, since be answered. Adam of Bremen men- roots have been extended back half a Carbon 14 analysis dates one grave to tions Ålborg in his descriptions of the century, compared to what we believed around 1000 AD. Very few are interes- Nordic countries later that century. until now, with handicraft and trade as ted in only one simple dating and more But why was a city founded at this central actors during the earliest phase. graves must be analysed, in order to place? Landscape characteristics are a In this way, some new pieces have been draw further conclusions - such as that prerequisite in order to understand the added to revealing the history of the an early church has been situated here. settlement. The area around present city´s development, but further pieces Beneath the St Budolfi Church, named Ålborg and Nørresundby is characteris- are welcome. The excavation has after an English saint, remains of a ed by three large chalk heights sur- provided a foretaste of the rewarding wooden church were found in the rounded by damp meadow-lands. One information we can get if we can reach 1940´s. Since buildings from the 11th of the heights lies to the north of the the bottom of the city´s old waste lay- century have been found in the area, it fjord at Lindholm, while the others are ers.. is possible that the church was contem- situated at Hasseris and Tranders on porary. the southern side. These heights mark Lit: Erik Johansen m.fl.: Aalborgs The existence of one or two churches the most natural crossing of the eastern Historie bd. 1, 1992. in Ålborg during the 11th century is Limfjord. The fjord has also made thus a moot point. However, the sailing from long distance into the area This article was also published in importance of the city at the time is possible. The rivers, Lindholm Å and SKALK 5/97 emphasised by the fact that there was a Øster Å, also offered possibilities of

The excavations at the monastery contributed quite unexpectedly to the history of Ålborg, particularly the craft site layer from the late Viking Age (ca 900-1050). The find makes a time link between the Germanic Iron Age settlements on the chalk heights and the Medieval Ålborg. The change of the settlement’s location may reflect the increasing importance of sailing. Map: SKALK

12 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998 Fröjel Gotlandic Viking Re-enactment Society By Lothar Sempel, P.O. Box 127, Pakenham, 3810 Victoria, Australia E-mail: [email protected]

Fröjel Gotlandic Viking Re-enactment Society focuses on the Gotland Vikings from the period 650 AD to 1050 AD. The society has its headquarters at a 20 acre property in Starling Rd Officer in West Gippsland Victoria, just outside the metropolitan area. Here members are able to participate in workshops and activities ranging from forging of weapons, jewellery, clothing and items of everyday use by Vikings, to combat training with sword, spears, axes and archery. Very high safety standards are required for combat be it under stan- dard rules or our own club rules. Inter- club training sessions are a regular feature of our Sunday training. Members have participated in various inter-club events and combat days as well as displays at local shows etc. While Fröjel is a very young club and considered to be the ”new kids on the visitors and help with combat and now becoming a regular feature of the block”, our members are very dedicated safety training etc. Much of our jewel- weekend training days to the extent and very serious about accuracy. The lery has been created by Roy Castel, the that the inter club challenges are flying extent of this enthusiasm is such that jeweller from Islendinga. Roy has made thick and fast already and a Viking one of our members recently travelled many excellent copies of pieces from Games weekend and feast is planned to Gotland to participate in associate the Viking age and is presently making for early summer. Every item in the professor Dan Carlsson's excavation at copies of pieces exclusive to Gotland Fröjel display has been researched and Fröjel harbour in order that the club and Fröjel which will soon be added to proved historically correct before members would have accurate informa- our display. While some of our mem- inclusion in order that visitors can see tion about the region and the people bers do make their own, the more diffi- an accurate depiction of Viking life and they portray in their re-enactment. The cult and intricate pieces are left to Roy equipment. The members take great club is most fortunate to have Mr. Dan to re-create for us thereby ensuring the pride in the fact that every item dis- Carlsson as their patron and now use highest possible standards. played is 100% correct and to this end the Fröjel dragon as their club logo. Organisation-wise the club follows the display consists of jewellery, tools, Club displays are very impressive similar patterns to many other re- equipment and weapon found on with artifacts and replicas of exceed- enactment clubs, being democratic Gotland with many being actual arti- ingly high standards, every effort is with all members having a say in all facts or copies of artifacts found at the made to ensure that the foods, costume decisions from functions to member- Fröjel harbour excavation. Fröjel may and equipment is as authentic as ship applications. We do have the usual be the ”new kids on the block” but humanly possible and members try to office bearers and war leader plus safety they take pride in the fact that they are portray as accurately as possible the life and first-aid officer. Members will, of very accurate new kids. and times of the Gotland Viking course, be attending the 1999 traders. The members take great pride Australian Medieval Conference at in the accuracy of their endeavours and Baccus Marsh and participating in the the club owes much of its success to various activities and functions at this Dan Carlsson and Olle Hoffman from biannual event. Viking Heritage for their assistance and Our visitor to Gotland brought back patience with research into the Fröjel that great Gotland game called Kubb society from the Viking times. and it has caught on like wildfire On the home front we owe much to among the other re-enactment clubs clubs like Islendinga who are regular who have been introduced to it. It is

13 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998 The Viking Inva- sion in Stockholm An exceptional and very unusual gathering of ships came about in Stock- holm from 31st of July to the 3rd of August. More than 25 Viking ship replicas had been invited to Stockholm from the Nordic countries, Germany, England, Russia and USA. The 1st of August, the Viking fleet arrived into the port at Galärvarvet in the centre of Stockholm. A lot of activities were carried out during these days. Among them appear- ances in Stockholm, Viking crafts, workshops, exhibitions, seminars and a big Viking market. Competitions between the Viking crews were also arranged. The Viking fleet then departed with all sails set on the Lake Mälar headed for the Viking trading town of Birka and the new Birka Museum. The event was arranged by the Museum of National Antiquities and Stockholm, Cultural Capital of Europe ´98. Photograph: Erik Wahlström ”SKIDBLADNER” The world´s largest sailing Viking ship visited the Medieval Week on Gotland

Skidbladner is modelled on the famous world and can take a crew consisting of maiden voyage took her from Gokstad ship from Norway and its 36 men with 32 oars. The ship is built Stockholm to Västervik and then to name derives from the Norse mytho- entirely of oak except the mast which is Kristianopel, Karlshamn, Simrishamn, logy where Skidbladner was the ship made of fir. Trelleborg, Copenhagen, Tylösand, given to Frej by Loke. The ship was About 50 people have been involved Malmö and then on to Visby where it built in Årsta, Stockholm. She is the in the construction of Skidbladner. The visited the Medieval week. After the largest Viking ship now sailing in the ship was launched June 26, 1998. Its visit in Visby Skidbladner sailed back to Stockholm to be present at the Stockholm Water Festival. When the crew visited harbours in Sweden they also served as ambassadors for the project ”No more marine litter” managed by the Swedish National Environment Protection Board. During the autumn the ship will be used for conferences in management training. • Materials: oak and fir • Length: 24,3 metres • Width: 5,25 metres • Weight: 9,5 tons • Draught: 80 centimetres • The height of the mast: 11,5 metres • Sail: 72 square metres • Building time: 4 months and 20 days • Maximum crew: 36 (Rowers: 32)

14 VIKING HERITAGE Newsletter 4 • 1998 HERITAGE News

BTC New Viking Projects BTC, the Baltic Sea Tourism attraction for Commission, and the North Sea Viking sites, Viking Legacy are introducing two dif- monuments and events. The purpose is ferent projects in co-operation for the to stimulate multi-country product SKALK Interreg IIC - a European Union sup- development, aimed at increasing the port programme for the Baltic Sea and number of visitors and the sale of the North Sea. souvenirs and handicrafts. It will present on the BTC will also be arranging a Baltic activities directed at trade, the consum- Conference & Travel Mart in St er and the media and will be a full-scale Petersburg September 28-30, where a Viking activity. It will also create very Internet presentation will be made regarding the interesting networks between museums, The Danish periodical SKALK, cultural co-operation around the Baltic archaeologists, tour operators, travel published since 1957, has at Sea. Mrs Birgitta Hoberg, the secretary trade and regional and local tourism present ca. 40.000 subscribers. of the ministerial working group on organisations. It publishes articles from the cultural co-operation, will give a pre- Via Viking will also be a part of Stone Age through recent times. sentation and the project co-ordinator bridging the spatial planning to the The following examples from for North Sea Viking Legacy, Mr Geir tourism industry. the last years, treating Viking Sor-Reime, will present their product Spatial planning and the sustainable Age matters, may be mentioned: ideas. development of tourism will be key Music instruments (1996:2), A pre-convention tour will be arranged issues in the project. the Borup Runestone, East to the old Russian capital Staraya Internet pages of Viking Offers will Jutland (1996:3), the Stöng Ladoga and along the Volkov river to be introduced and linked to the Viking church, Iceland (1996:4), recent Novgorod, an interesting St Petersburg Heritage website and the Baltic Sea excavations at Lejre, Zealand event for those interested in enlarging website on: www.balticsea.com. (1996:5), guldgubbar and long- their Viking Network. Further infor- If you are interested in the Viking houses from Strøby, Zealand mation may be obtained from the Project please contact Romy Sommer (1997:4), the origin of the town BTC office in Norrköping, Sweden, at the above mentioned BTC telephone Aalborg (1997:5), a ”phantom” + 46 11 123503, fax + 46 11 103103. and fax or Email: [email protected]. pendant from Hedeby (1997:5). The new BTC Viking project, called If you would like to be placed on the Take a look on the internet: Via Viking, is an attempt to merge the mailing list for future information www.skalk.dk interests of culture and tourism in regarding the Viking developments creating international awareness and please let us know.

Mälaren in Sweden to the Black Sea adventure in texts and pictures, New book! port of Kherson in the Ukraine. The while providing an example of venture, called ”The Holmgård experimental archaeology at the ”En vikingafärd genom Ryssland Expedition”, was an attempt to navi- same time. It gives us insights into och Ukraina”, Sigtuna Museers gate the passage ”from the Varangians the preparations before the exped- skriftserie 8, Red. Rune Edberg to the Greeks”, as described in the ition, its setbacks and successes. In (”A Viking voyage through Russia Russian Primary Chronicle. addition to meeting places out of and the Ukraine”, Sigtuna Museum’s The Holmgård Expedition 1994- history, we also get to witness article series no.8, Editor. Rune 1996 with the ship Aifur was the exciting encounters between people. Edberg) first Swedish Viking voyage on the The book is written in Swedish In 1994 and 1996, the reconstruct- Russian rivers, from the Baltic Sea to with summaries in English and ed Swedish Viking Age ship ”Aifur” the Black Sea in our times. The book Russian. made a voyage from Sigtuna on lake relates the story of the exciting

15 VIKING HERITAGE a network for Viking-related knowledge

The objectives of the network are: • To develop and maintain the Council of Europe’s Viking Routes project. • To co-operate with schools, universities etc in the field of education and training in the study of the Vikings. • To collect information of present Viking history activities, and to distribute information about Vikings and their history. • To create a fund for The Annual Viking Management Prize to the best Cultural Heritage Management of Viking History.

In promoting these aims, VIKING HERITAGE has begun an information service for its members with the newsletter Viking Heritage Newsletter. It will organize conferences and seminars and act as a monitoring and advisory body on all issues relating to an enhanced understanding of the Viking history, operating at both international and national levels.

Postal address: Viking Heritage, Gotland University College, Cramérgatan 3, S-621 57 Visby, Sweden Phone: +46 498 292063, Fax: +46 498 292108 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Internet: http://ottes.got.kth.se