Latest news with #Viking-age
The Herald Scotland
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
New Viking displays bring Orkney's Norse past to life
Designed to share and celebrate the region's Norse heritage, the exhibition has been supported by a generous legacy donation from a former Orkney resident who emigrated to Australia, who left an express wish for his donation to be used to support Viking heritage and history. 'This exhibition not only brings history to life but also reconnects our community with its Viking past,' said Nick Hewitt, Team Leader (Culture) at Orkney Islands Council. 'We've worked closely with local craftspeople, historians, and experts to create something truly special - something that belongs to the people of Orkney.' READ MORE: Astonishing exhibition proves there's still something about Mary Queen of Scots Scottish band to have track housed at virtual Spanish Civil War museum Perth Museum celebrates first birthday after 'remarkable' year of success A key feature of the exhibition is Ragna, an interactive AI-powered Viking woman, offering a first-of-its-kind experience in museums. Visitors can ask Ragna about Viking life in Orkney, bringing historical storytelling to life in a way that museums have been unable to do up until now. Her background story has been written by Tom Muir, local storyteller and Exhibitions Officer at The Orkney Museum for years, and Dr Siobhan Cooke-Miller, Archaeology Curator for the Council. Dr Siobhan Cooke-Miller said: 'Our Viking and Norse past has shaped Orkney's identity and has had a lasting impact on our islands which we can see in our landscape, place-names, language and our rich heritage. "For the people of Orkney, and the thousands of visitors who come to the islands every year, the artefacts and the world class experience made possible by James Groundwater's gift offer an unparalleled and tangible window to our Viking past and the people in a way that transcends the passage of time and brings it to life.' Other highlights include rotating displays of artefacts from the National Museum of Scotland and Orkney's own collection as well as new interpretation panels and multimedia experiences, providing fresh perspectives on Orkney's Norse history. A Viking-age brooch (Image: The Orkney Museum) Councillor Gwenda Shearer, Chair of the committee responsible for the Council's Culture Services said: 'This is a once-in-a-generation overhaul of galleries showcasing one of the most intriguing aspects of our heritage, made possible only by an incredibly generous bequeath. 'We hope everyone will come and see the results of this amazing gift to the people of Orkney. 'Our Culture Services team have sought to incorporate some of the latest understandings and display technology into the new galleries and we're counting down to the time when all can be revealed!' The new exhibition at Orkney Museum opens on Saturday, May 10. To celebrate the exhibition's opening, the museum is hosting special guided walk through tours and Q&A sessions with members of The Orkney Museums team.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A Passerby Went for a Casual Stroll—and Stumbled Upon a 1,000-Year-Old Viking Artifact
A passerby discovered a rare Viking-era iron bracelet in a wetland on the Swedish island of Öland. The open-ended bracelet style is rare in large part because of the use of iron. Officials plan to undergo a deeper search of the area to see if the find was a one-off or if there is a hoard stashed nearby. In a new discovery announced by the County Administrative Board of Kalmar County in Sweden on a translated Facebook post, someone who officials are calling 'an attentive person' discovered what first appeared to be an unremarkable, rusted-out bracelet. Instead, the find turned out to be a rare example of an iron arm brace from the Viking era. Karl-Oskar Erlandsson (an archaeologist from Kalmar) said that from the over 1,000 Viking-era bracelets in the country's State Historical Museum, only three of the ancient objects are made of iron. This is in part because iron is a highly corrosive material, and experts believe that the oxygen-poor environment of the wetland helped preserve the bracelet better than others like it. That preservation also allowed for the fine craftsmanship of the piece to shine through after 1,000 years. 'The newly found armband is beautifully ornate with rows of points and has animal heads at the ends,' the statement read, regarding the C-shaped bracelet and the raised dots on the exterior. 'Similar findings have been made on Gotland, but this particular variant we have not yet found an exact equivalent to.' Öland was once a key trading post for Sweden, especially during the Viking age. The country's second-largest island sits off the southeast coast of the mainland, surrounded by the Baltic Sea. It was at one time known for the Borgholm Castle, and is also home to Solliden Palace—a royal family summer retreat. Officials have plans to search for more information about the origins of the bracelet, hoping they can find a marking from a workshop or blacksmith once they preserve the armband. Maybe there's even more rare treasure to find, although the fact that the bracelet was discovered in a wetland makes it less likely that it came from a lost settlement or gravesite, the statement read. Still, once the weather allows, officials plan to scour the area with metal detectors to see if they can discover more lost Viking-age treasure. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Miami Herald
14-02-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Cannibal-filled caves and threads of gold: Take a look at the latest discoveries
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Throughout history, cultures have left behind a trail of breadcrumbs for archaeologists to follow. New sites and artifacts are found all the time, revealing forgotten secrets of the past. Here are some of the latest discoveries: Brain-eating cannibalistic community lived in Poland cave 18,000 years ago, bones show In southern Poland, researchers revisited the Maszycka Cave, where they found evidence of cannibalism among the Magdalenian people 18,000 years ago. Using 3D microscopy, they analyzed cut marks on bones, suggesting the community consumed human flesh for survival. This discovery sheds light on the harsh conditions faced by prehistoric communities. | Published Feb. 7 | Read More | Archaeologists discover Roman villa in France — then unearth soldier's wedding ring In Soissons, France, archaeologists unearthed a Roman villa dating back to the first to fourth centuries, revealing Roman influences in the region. Among the finds was a grave containing a German World War I soldier's remains, identified by a wedding ring inscribed with his wedding date. This unexpected discovery connects ancient Roman history with more recent events. | Published Feb. 6 | Read More | Viking-age hoard found in Scotland a decade ago had indecipherable runes — until now In Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, a Viking-age hoard containing silver and gold artifacts was discovered, with one arm band featuring indecipherable runes. Historians have now translated the runes to mean 'this is the community's wealth/property,' suggesting communal ownership of the hoard. This discovery provides insight into the social structures of Viking-age communities. | Published Feb. 11 | Watch the video | Rare 1,600-year-old purple fabric — woven with gold threads — found in France. See it In Autun, France, archaeologists discovered a 1,600-year-old fabric woven with gold threads in an ancient burial site. The fabric, once a symbol of elite aristocracy, was found in a lead coffin, along with other exceptional artifacts. This rare find offers a glimpse into the luxurious burial practices of the time. | Published Feb. 12 | Read More | Ancient chief buried 'extremely rare' Roman equipment. Archaeologists just found it Near Løsning, Denmark, archaeologists uncovered a stockpile of weapons and rare Roman equipment buried by an ancient chief 1,500 years ago. Among the finds were two iron plates identified as parts of a Roman helmet, a rare discovery in southern Scandinavia. This excavation highlights the cultural exchanges and conflicts during the Iron Age. | Published Jan. 31 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of intriguing archaeological discoveries from around the globe. Check back to see the latest finds.
BBC News
13-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Archaeologists find 'significant' Viking building
Grampus Heritage Archaeologists have unearthed what they believe to be a Viking-age building in a recent dig. Teams of volunteers dug up High Tarns Farm in Silloth, Cumbria, in July after crop marks indicated a structure had previously been on the land. Carbon dating of a timber building they discovered suggested it was a "large hall of the late-Viking age", archaeologist Mark Graham of Grampus Heritage told volunteers. Mr Graham added the significance of the discovery in shedding light on the early medieval period and social structure in rural Cumbria was "hard to overstate". More than 50 volunteers carried out the dig. Mr Graham told BBC Radio Cumbria: "That excavation [was] totally delivered by community volunteers giving their time every day to come out to the trenches and uncover our shared past." Grampus Heritage In a letter written to volunteers, Mr Graham said load-bearing timbers they had found had a 94% chance of dating back to 990–1040 AD. Similarly, a charcoal production pit and a corn dryer were likely to date back to the late 10th to early 11th Century, he said. "It seems most likely that the hall is the focus of an early medieval manor farm," Mr Graham said. He explained the site appeared similar to high status Viking age farms in Denmark, because it encompassed not only the hall but also the social structure and broader agricultural activity associated with them. Mr Graham said it was a remarkable discovery. "You really do not find much archaeology from that period [the Viking age] in our county," he said. "It's a big gap in our knowledge." Grampus led the excavations, which had been funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. A full excavation report would be released "in due course", Mr Graham added. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here Archaeology Silloth History
BBC News
13-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cumbria archaeologists find 'significant' Viking building
Archaeologists have unearthed what they believe to be a Viking-age building in a recent of volunteers dug up High Tarns Farm in Silloth, Cumbria, in July after crop marks indicated a structure had previously been on the dating of a timber building they discovered suggested it was a "large hall of the late Viking age", archaeologist Mark Graham of Grampus Heritage told Graham added the significance of the discovery in shedding light on the early medieval period and social structure in rural Cumbria was "hard to overstate". More than 50 volunteers carried out the excavation on the a letter written to volunteers, Mr Graham said load-bearing timbers they had found had a 94% chance of dating back to 990–1040 a charcoal production pit and a corn dryer were likely to date back to the late 10th to early 11th Century, he said."It seems most likely that the hall is the focus of an early medieval manor farm," Mr Graham said the site appeared similar to high status Viking age farms in Denmark because it encompassed not only the hall, but also the social structure and broader agricultural activity associated with such a led the excavations, which had been funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.A full excavation report would be released "in due course", Mr Graham added. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here
