vikings 1

Learning about Viking Age archaeology now -- just getting into it. York (or Jorvik, as it was known) yeilded a very rich site at Coppergate during the 1970s -- and that site also turned up features and artifacts dating back to the Angle's occupation (famously, the helmet), and a Roman garrison town.

But now I'm excited about the 1960s finds in Newfoundland, because a Swedish scientist has recently found a dental connection between Vikings and New World natives -- apparent ritual carving of the teeth.

This implies more than mere encounter. Some intimacy, mutual understanding, and communication may have existed between the two cultures for such a ritual act to be appropriated.

Sources to follow:

Canadian Parks historical site info for L'anse aux Meadows:
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/meadows/index_e.asp

Vikings in America:
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/vinland.html

UNESCO World Heritage site for L'anse aux Meadows:
http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=4

York's Viking Age from the York Archaeological Trust:
http://www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/trialsplash2.htm

Viking Age Timeline:
http://faculty.washington.edu/akn/051002_files/frame.htm

Virtual Tour of Ribblehead Farm in Yorkshire from BBC (.wrl):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/launch_vr_viking_farm.shtml