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Summer 1999 - Third Quarter
From the Editor
There's been more in print and on the web this quarter. With the approaching 'turn of the millenium'
I believe we'll be seeing several historical human intrest stories on what mankind was doing a
thousand years ago -- of course, this is great for anyone interested in the Viking Age!
Keep your eyes on the lookout as some of the publications may mention recent detailed news and information.
It's started this summer, but will it continue through January 1st of 2001?
Just noted: A friend recently did a European Grand Tour and mentioned that extra funding at many continental
institutions is allowing thorough cleaning of just about everything. If dust has disappointed you in the
past, the year 2000 may please the worldwide museum vistor.
NEWS ON THE WEB
Viking Period Stead found in North Wales
On Sept. 12, BBC News
reports on the discovery of a Viking-type settlement-place on farmland
near Llanbedrgoch on Anglesey (Northern Wales). This is another find identified by
metal-detector hobbyists and brought to the attention of the National Museum of Wales.
The site is estimated as having been used up to the 10th century and had no obvious
topographical features to indicate it had been inhabited.
The co-ordinator at the excavation site is Mark Redknap;
artefacts and the remains of 5 human burials are being
catalogued at the National Museum in Cardiff.
In an area of 100 by 130 meters a defensive wall and foundations of six buildings have found.
See http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/wales/newsid_444000/444613.stm
Lundenwic 'Business District'
A Marketplace from England’s Dark Ages was reported on in September in an article
with a worthwhile 'slide show' & audio files,
"Shop ’Til You Drop in 800 A.D.", by Jennifer Viegas of ABC News. The Museum of London
completed work at the Anglo-Saxon site of Lundenwic which "...flourished between
720 and 866..." Around 850 c.e. security measures appear to have been increased
due to Danish raiding. This included the building of a defensive ditch and may
have encouraged inhabitants to move to the nearby London by 866 when King Alfred
fortified London.
Remains of note include tanning pits, metalworking areas, bone working remains,
and a weaving house. Gordon Malcolm, primary archaeologist, believes
the centralized 'market' may also have included a butcher and a baker's shops.
The archaeological site is that of the London Royal Opera House.
....in the year 1000....
The August 16-23 print issue of US News and World Report has an intresting
feature on what life was like in the year 1000. It dedicates 60 pages
to this special report. Their website mirrors most of the report with web-links at
U.S. News: On the eve of the year 2000, a look back 1,000 years.
Viking Age Stories include:
U.S. News: Vikings were the kings of exploration, (US News print ed., 8/16/99, page 72)
U.S. News: Norway's slave king spread Christianity the Viking way (US News print ed., 8/16/99)
Other Topics of Intrest:
Brian Boru,
Grand Prince of Kiev Vladimir, and
peasant life.
Institute of Archaeology at Lund Page
Recently found Lund, Sweden's Welcome to the Institute of Archaeology Homepage which
provides some more information about Uppåkra including 2 links to a Uppåkra information pages in english entitled
Uppåkra A Central Iron Age Site in Southern Sweden and
Current Research.
Brief notes on The Isle of Man Hoards
Discovering Archaeology Newsletter August 31, 1999 listed
a note on 'Viking Treasure on The Isle of Man' that links to http://www.anglia.co.uk/angmulti/vikings/iom/hoards.html,
Viking Treasures.
This Anglia Multimedia site provides links to their page-set about finds believed to be deposited by Norsemen from
c. 950 c.e. to the 11th century. The webpages give very general information on coin-and-jewellry hoards and states
that 11 of these are known on the Isle of Man. Anglia Multimedia produces the Vikings! CD-ROM.
Viking Conversions and Raids
Two human intrest stories from the religious publications
-- A friend of mentioned
The Christian Times August 1999 print edition, the entire publication is devoted
to the conversion of Vikings to the Christian faith. She wrote "I'm certain that much
of it is biased, but it makes a lot of references to research publications and has
a pretty thorough bibliography for most of the articles." and " ...found it fairly
informative and not terribly onesided... one article, "Faith by Force" actually
denounces the early churches tactics."
-- Christianity Today's online edition CH Issue 60 The Fury of the Norsemen
also discusses the raiding of present-day Great Britain in the Viking Age.
MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
No New Announcements
April 29, 2000, The National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC -- "Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga," and make
a two-year tour of the continent, including New York, Los Angeles,
Houston, Chicago and Ottawa.
June of 2000, the Newfoundland
Museum located in St. John's. -- "Full Circle: First Contact Vikings and Skraelings in Newfoundland and Labrador."
Corner Brook, 10 venues in Canada and the United States, and five venues in the Nordic countries and Europe.
BOOK REVEIWS
This month turns to multimedia information:
John McTiernan, director (1999); John McTiernan, Michael Crichton, and Ned Dowd, producers;
based on Novel, "Eaters of the Dead" by Michael Crichton with screenplay by William Wisher
and Warren Lewis; Andrew G. Vajna and Ethan Dubrow, executive producers.
Touchstone Pictures, Disney
Movie:"The 13th Warrior"
? ravens
From the Studio: "The 13th Warrior" is an exciting and unforgettable adventure thriller...
When an important emissary (Antonio Banderas) is abducted by a band of warriors, he is
forced to join their quest to battle mysterious creatures legendary for consuming every living thing in their path."
An adventure fantasy film that has been getting solid reveiws for its genre. This is based on
source material about arab writer Ibn Fadlan and Beowulf presented in a typical Hollywood style. Cast including Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Dennis Storhoi, Vladimir Kulich, and Omar Sharif.
Creighton's book is supposed to be fascinating 'summer reading material', especially if you've
read the sources as well. Both the book and the movie are fictional -- be certain to look up
the facts....many will be adding this to their VHS and DVD collections at home.
Richards, Julian D., Marcus Jecock, Lizzie Richmond, and Catherine Tuck. (1995).
"The Viking barrow cemetary at Heath Wood, Ingleby, Derbyshire"
Medieval Archaeology 39(1995), pp. 51-70.
Web mirror at Ingleby
4 ravens
Reveiw article on the Ingleby site including recent survey information of this late
9th century/early 10th century Danelaw cemetary. Includes discussion of the site relationship
to the nearby Mercian mausoleum and the Repton-on-the-Trent locale burials and encampment of 873-874.
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