What Was The Origin Of Viking-Age Artefacts? New Study To Examine 90 Iron Weapons From The Era
An international team of researchers are examining the chemical makeup of iron artefacts from the Viking Age to uncover new insights into where they came from.
New Delhi: An international team of researchers are examining the chemical makeup of iron artefacts from the Viking Age to uncover new insights into where they came from. The Viking Age was the period from 800 AD until 1050 AD, during which the first kings appeared.
Scientists To Examine 90 Iron Viking-Age Artefacts
The scientists will examine 90 iron Viking-age artefacts to gather previously unknown information about historic events, according to a statement issued by the University of Nottingham in England. The artefacts are weapons that were used in the battles at Fulford in North Yorkshire in Bebington Heath on the Wirral, a peninsula in North West England.
The statement said that other material comes from the Viking camp at Torksey in Lincolnshire, and from the former Viking seaport of Meols. In the present day, Meols is a village located on the north coast of the Wirral peninsula.
What Was The Viking Age?
Danish prehistory culminated in the Viking Age. The first kings appeared during the Viking Age. These kings ruled an area roughly corresponding to present-day Denmark, according to an article published by the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen.
Denmark was named for the first time around 965 AD, on King Harald Bluetooth's rune stone at Jelling. Denmark's king ruled over England and Norway during certain periods, at the end of the Viking Age, the article said.
The Viking Age was characterised by sea travel and expeditions to foreign territories, and Vikings set sail in ships and fleet to trade, obtain revenues, and conquer new land. During the Viking period, the old Nordic religion was replaced by Christianity.
The Viking Axe from Mammen is one of the most famous artefacts from that period. During the winter of 970-971 AD, a magnate from Mammen was buried in a grave with significant furnishings, including an ornamental axe and a large candle. The magnate was given an expensive costume, and the axe was a ceremonial one with silver decoration.
What Was The Origin Of Viking-Age Weapons?
In 1066 AD, a battle occurred between Norse invaders and the Anglo-Saxons in Fulford. This took place immediately before the better-known battle of Stamford Bridge, the statement said.
The Norse victors at Fulford had abandoned a number of short-lived iron recycling sites when they were defeated at Stamford Bridge. At these iron recycling sites, archaeological material including iron weapons were found.
According to the statement, the iron material from Bebington Heath was recovered from the possible location of the battle of Brunanburh which occurred in 937 AD, between Norse-Scottish and Anglo-Saxon armies. The material has been typologically assigned to the late Saxon/Viking period, the statement said.
Also, the material shows parallels with the artefacts from Fulford. The site of the winter encampment of the Viking Great Army in 827-873 AD was Torksey, Lincolnshire, in the lower Trent Valley. Iron working is documented at Torksey, the statement said.
Techniques Being Used To Determine The Chemical Makeup Of The Artefacts
The scientists from University of Nottingham are working with the University of Toulouse in France, the University of York in England, Fulford Battlefield Society, and the Nottinghamshire-based British Geological Survey at Keyworth to identify the chemical isotope signature of the iron. The researchers are performing lead, strontium, and iron isotope analysis in order to identify the chemical isotope signature, the statement said.
Lead isotope analysis has been proved effective in determining provenance of ancient metal artefacts of silver and copper. The researchers have already conducted a successful pilot study on a smaller sample of artefacts that showed this combination of analyses is effective in determining the earliest known history of iron artefacts, even when the items are highly corroded.
Professor Stephen Harding, an expert in the scientific study of Viking artefacts, and research lead, said that in the study, the researchers shall be testing their hypothesis that it is possible to use isotope analysis with iron to pinpoint more specifically than ever before where the artefact originates from, according to the statement.
He further said that if successful, it could lead to this method being used with many more historic artefacts, which will help researchers learn more about historic events and people.
Mark Pearce, Professor of Mediterranean Prehistory, added that this is an exciting collaboration that will use the latest scientific techniques to reveal the unique isotope composition of these ancient artefacts and how this informs researchers where they were made. He added that the project will revolutionise researchers' understanding of archaeological iron objects, finally giving them a method to accurately pinpoint their origin.
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