Posted on 09/07/2004 7:53:26 AM PDT by 68skylark
LONDON (AP) -- Archaeologists in northwestern England have found a burial site of six Viking men and women, complete with swords, spears, jewelry, fire-making materials and riding equipment, officials said Monday.
The site, discovered near Cumwhitton, is believed to date to the early 10th century, and archaeologists working there called it the first Viking burial ground found in Britain.
The only other known Viking cemetery was found in Ingleby east of Cumwhitton. It was excavated in the 1940s, but the bodies had been cremated and not buried.
Local metal specialist Peter Adams made the find at the end of March and reported it to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which is run by the Museums, Libraries and Archive Council.
``This is tremendous news, a unique discovery which will improve people's understanding of the area and its history,'' council chairman Mark Wood said.
The Vikings, inhabitants of Scandinavia from 800 to 1100, traded with, and raided, much of Europe, often settling there. They invaded and conquered England in 1013.
The burial ground was unearthed when Adams found two copper brooches. The grave of a Viking woman was found underneath, and further excavation led to the discovery of the graves of another woman and four men.
Among the items found in the graves were weapons, spurs, a bridle and a drinking horn, as well as a jet bracelet and a copper alloy belt fitting.
Adams described it as ``the find of a lifetime.''
Rachel Newman, of Oxford Archaeology North, said: ``We could not have expected more from the excavation of the site.
``We knew the brooches found by Mr. Adams came from a burial of a Viking Age woman, which was exciting and of great importance in itself. But we did not expect to find five other graves complete with such a splendid array of artifacts. It truly has been an amazing few months excavating this extremely important Viking Age site.''
Arts Minister Estelle Morris said: ``We should all be grateful to Mr. Adams, who recorded his find so promptly. As a result, the experts have been able to learn more about this fascinating site and uncover the secrets of a time capsule more than 1,000 years old.''
Some of the items found were to be shown Tuesday at the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in the nearby city of Carlisle.
[Vikings] invaded and conquered England in 1013.
I'm not familiar with what happened in 1013 -- does anyone have a little backgroung information to share?
I'll have Spam, eggs, sausage and Spam.
I don't know about that but I do believe that a photo of John Kerry was found in the tomb with the caption, "100 gold coins for return of lost POODLE shown above..."
I thought that stuff about Viking funerals burning boats was Hollywood-History....Would have been too expensive and time consuming except for a king.....
GGG ping...
"The Fury of the Northmen," by John Marsden, a very good treatment of the whole Scandinavian Migration period, does not even list 1013 as a significant date. Nor did the Vikings "conquer England" at any point, since there was no "England" to conquer, only a group of warring kingdoms of various ethnic backgrounds.
Go VIKINGS!!!
From the BBC:
Invaders
Swein and Cnut 1013
Image from the Danelaw period In 1013, King Swein of Denmark (with his son Cnut) sailed up the rivers Humber and Trent to be accepted as king in the Danelaw. By Christmas, all England submitted to Swein, and King Ethelred had fled to Normandy. In 1014, Cnut became the leader of the Danes on his father's death. Ethelred returned to England, but was so ill that his son Edmund Ironside had to assume responsibility for defence of the country against Cnut.
At a truce after Ethelred's death, Edmund and Cnut agreed to divide the kingdom between them, but Edmund died shortly after, and Cnut became king of the whole country (marrying Ethelred's widow). The brief reigns of his two successors were undistinguished, and in 1042, Ethelred's son, Edward, was invited to return from Normandy as king, despite other claimants to the throne existing.
****
They're still using "England" in an anachronistic usage, to some extent ... Ethelraed's kingdom wasn't exactly a united polity, as was demonstrated in the runup to 1066.
Valhalla!!!!!!!!
Immigrant Song (Led Zepplin):
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
>from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods
Will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying:
Valhalla, I am coming!
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
>from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
How soft your fields so green,
Can whisper tales of gore,
Of how we calmed the tides of war.
We are your overlords.
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
So now you’d better stop and rebuild all your ruins,
For peace and trust can win the day
Despite of all your losing.
> I'm not familiar with what happened in 1013 -- does
> anyone have a little backgroung information to share?
Prince Johnathon Feeble Kerryton (later shortened to
Kerry) deposed the sitting king in a castle intrigue,
and crowned himself King John the 1/3.
The Vikings, sizing up mettle of this man, invaded
immediately.
Where are the kitties?
Thanks, saved me a lot of typing.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
Real Vikings: Fran Tarkenton, Bob Brown, John Gilliam, Karl Kusulke, Roy Winston, Bobby Bryant, Alan Page, John Marshall, Carl Eller, ...
I thought this a Super Bowl thread....
George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent
I didn't even know the Vikings played in England. Gosh...yah learn something new every day.
George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent
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