Vikings Unearthed FULL SPECIAL | NOVA | PBS America
PBS America・66 minutes read
Vikings were brutal warriors, traders, and explorers who used advanced technology and navigational skills to establish settlements in North America. Archaeologists uncover Viking secrets, like metal production and ship construction, with potential new Viking sites emerging in North America.
Insights
- Vikings were known for their brutality and violence but were also skilled traders and explorers, venturing further than any Europeans before them, showcasing a multifaceted society with complex capabilities.
- Advanced technology like satellites is aiding archaeologists in uncovering Viking secrets, including early metal production and ship construction, revolutionizing the understanding of Viking history and expanding knowledge about their technological advancements.
- Despite inconclusive radiocarbon dating results, evidence of iron processing and metalworking at Point Rosee in Newfoundland suggests a potential Norse settlement from the Viking age, challenging historical perceptions and indicating an earlier Viking presence in North America than previously thought, offering a new chapter in Viking history.
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Recent questions
Were Vikings primarily known for violence?
Vikings were indeed known for their brutality and violence, as they were fearsome raiders and traders who traveled far and wide. Their reputation for violence stemmed from their raids on Christian monasteries, where evidence of monks being killed and precious objects looted showcased their aggressive nature. However, Vikings were not solely defined by violence; they were also skilled traders and explorers who ventured further than any Europeans before them, showcasing a multifaceted society beyond their brutal reputation.
How did Vikings construct their longships?
Vikings constructed their longships using a clinker design, which involved splitting oak wood into halves and quarters to form planks for the boat. This design required less waterproofing, making the ship lighter and faster, showcasing their maritime prowess. The oak wood used was both strong and flexible, allowing the longships to withstand powerful winds and waves. Additionally, traditional Viking longships were sturdy and flexible, with a rounded hull and shallow keel, making it easy to land on beaches for attacks, highlighting the strategic construction of their vessels.
What technology aids in uncovering Viking secrets?
New technology, like satellites, plays a crucial role in aiding archaeologists in retracing Viking steps and uncovering new settlements. Archaeologists, such as Sarah Parcak, use satellite technology to search for Viking remains in North America, identifying potential sites based on distinctive longhouse shapes. Through near-infrared imaging, satellite technology reveals buried structures, showing subtle differences in vegetation that indicate ancient building foundations. This cutting-edge technology has revolutionized the field of archaeology, allowing researchers to uncover hidden Viking secrets that were previously inaccessible.
Did Vikings establish trading networks?
Yes, Vikings established extensive trading networks, as evidenced by artifacts found in various regions. In York, artifacts like coins from Uzbekistan, a ring from Russia, and a brooch of Irish design were discovered, indicating a vast European trading network. The Vikings thrived on a rich diet in York, with archaeological studies revealing details about their food sources, cooking methods, and the presence of parasite eggs. This emphasis on trade and commerce showcases the Vikings' role as skilled traders and their ability to establish prosperous urban centers through their extensive trading networks.
What was the significance of L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland?
The discovery of L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland confirmed Viking presence in North America, overturning early history perceptions. This site provided evidence of a Viking settlement in North America, showcasing the Vikings' exploration and settlement in the region. The discovery of almost 100 nail fragments at L'Anse aux Meadows indicated metalwork, particularly for boat repair, showcasing the Vikings' skills in craftsmanship. Additionally, the presence of butternuts at the site suggested that the Norse had traveled far south, possibly to Vinland, where wild grapes grew, hinting at the extent of Viking exploration in North America.
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Summary
00:00
Uncovering Viking Secrets: Raiders, Traders, Explorers
- Vikings were Scandinavian warriors known for their brutality and violence.
- They were also traders and explorers who ventured further than any Europeans before them.
- Archaeologists are now uncovering Viking secrets, including early metal production and ship construction.
- New technology, like satellites, is aiding in retracing Viking steps and uncovering new settlements.
- The discovery of L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland confirmed Viking presence in North America.
- Viking sagas tell of more Norse voyages and settlements in North America, but no other sites have been found.
- Archaeologists are using cutting-edge technology, like satellites, to search for more Viking remains in North America.
- The Vikings were fearsome raiders and traders who traveled far and wide.
- Viking society was complex, with a social hierarchy and reliance on slavery.
- The Vikings worshiped multiple gods and were part of a growing commercial trading network.
17:54
Viking Metalwork, Raids, and Longships Unveiled
- Vikings were skilled in metalwork, using a combination of welded iron and steel for the central part of their swords, with hardened steel for the edges.
- The Salme burials from the early 700s may represent the first Viking raids, leading to more frequent raids due to advanced ship technology.
- The Oseberg longship from around 800 AD had a rounded hull and shallow keel, making it easy to land on beaches for attacks.
- Traditional Viking longships were constructed using oak wood, split into halves and quarters to form planks for the clinker design.
- Clinker design required less waterproofing, making the boat lighter and faster, with oak being both strong and flexible.
- Viking longships were sturdy and flexible, able to withstand powerful winds and waves, showcasing their maritime prowess.
- Viking raids on Christian monasteries were violent, with evidence of monks being killed and precious objects looted.
- The Vikings established bases for trading in various regions, including the Shetland Islands, where they built longhouses for communal living.
- Archaeologist Sarah Parcak uses satellite technology to search for Viking settlements, identifying potential sites based on distinctive longhouse shapes.
- Sarah's technology reveals buried structures through near-infrared imaging, showing subtle differences in vegetation that indicate ancient building foundations.
34:37
Viking Conquest and Settlement in Britain
- The Shetland Islands are among the first places in Britain settled by the Vikings, who transitioned from raiding coastlines to launching full-scale conquests.
- The Great Heathen Army invades England, with hundreds of warriors huddling in camps during winter, notably at Repton, a significant Christian religious center.
- Archaeologist Martin Biddle uncovers evidence of grim events during the Viking invasion in Repton, including a defensive ditch and a Viking warrior's unusual grave.
- The Viking camp in Repton, shaped like a horseshoe, is enclosed by a defensive ditch about four meters deep and five meters wide at the top.
- A Viking warrior's grave in Repton reveals a unique burial with a sword, a wild boar's tusk, and a necklace with glass beads and a silver hammer of the god Thor.
- A mass grave discovered in the vicarage garden in Repton contains over 260 bodies, mainly young adult males, suggesting a highly selected population of war dead.
- The Vikings, initially conquerors and pillagers, eventually settle in England, establishing prosperous urban centers like York, where they coexist with Christian Anglo-Saxons.
- Viking York showcases a blend of pagan and Christian cultures, as seen in a coin with Christian symbolism mixed with pagan imagery like Thor's hammer pendant and a sword.
- Viking trading networks are extensive, with artifacts like coins from Uzbekistan, a ring from Russia, and a brooch of Irish design found in York, indicating a vast European network.
- The Vikings in York thrived on a rich diet, with archaeological studies of excrement revealing details about their food sources, cooking methods, and the presence of parasite eggs.
50:32
Insights into Viking culture and exploration
- The sagas, written in old Norse, provide insights into Viking culture from 1,000 years ago, although they are not entirely reliable.
- The sagas offer information on personalities, family life, sailing directions, and Viking history.
- Viking governance in Iceland is detailed in the sagas, with chieftains gathering annually at Thingvellir, the oldest parliament site globally.
- The Viking parliament in Iceland resolved disputes, amended laws, and imposed sentences of outlawry.
- Eric the Red, banished from Iceland, embarked on exploratory voyages, showcasing Viking daring and exploration.
- Viking navigational skills involved using subtle clues to locate land, known as extended landfall.
- Eric the Red founded Greenland, naming it to attract settlers, leading to a thriving Viking community for 500 years.
- Vikings in Greenland farmed, hunted seal, and traded walrus ivory, eventually converting to Christianity.
- Leif Ericson, son of Eric the Red, discovered new lands in North America, as detailed in the sagas.
- Archaeological evidence at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland confirmed the presence of a Viking settlement in North America, overturning early history perceptions.
01:06:11
Viking Iron Production in North America
- The native peoples in the region did not know how to produce iron from iron ore naturally found in rocks.
- Evidence suggests that the first iron in the New World may have been manufactured in a small hut at L'Anse aux Meadows.
- Metalwork, particularly boat repair, was evident at L'Anse aux Meadows with the discovery of almost 100 nail fragments.
- The small quantity of iron produced at L'Anse aux Meadows was likely used to make new nails for boat repairs.
- Viking blacksmiths were skilled at making nails, with thousands needed to build a single ship.
- The process of making a Viking nail involved heating iron in a clay furnace to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hammering it while red hot, and rust-proofing it with oil.
- The camp at L'Anse aux Meadows included a blacksmith's furnace and various turf structures, such as longhouses and smaller huts.
- The discovery of butternuts at L'Anse aux Meadows indicated that the Norse had traveled far south, possibly to Vinland, where wild grapes grew.
- The sagas described multiple Viking settlements in Vinland, including one named Hop with abundant wildlife and agricultural resources.
- Satellite technology led to the discovery of a potential Viking site at Point Rosee in Newfoundland, with magnetometer surveys confirming the presence of hotspots possibly indicating Viking structures.
01:22:11
"Viking Archaeological Discovery at Point Rosee"
- Viking sites are often found on beaches where ships could land.
- Sarah and her team have 14 days to find archaeological proof at Point Rosee in Canada.
- The site is flat and exposed to the Atlantic Ocean.
- The site is surveyed and divided into grids for accurate measurements.
- Test trenches are opened guided by magnetometer data and satellite imagery.
- On day three, test trenches are dug, but nothing significant is found.
- On day five, evidence of possible ironworking is discovered, including a cracked stone.
- Magnetometer readings suggest dense metal or fire remnants in the soil.
- Organic material like seeds is found for potential radiocarbon dating.
- Viking expert Doug Bolender examines the findings and suggests the site may be a Norse activity area.
01:38:19
"Viking Presence in North America Revealed"
- Sarah and Dan eagerly await the results of radiocarbon dating to confirm if the site dates back to the Viking period, after a year of processing data and a month in the field.
- The radiocarbon results indicate dates from the 1600s and 1800s, which contradicts the expected Viking period, suggesting potential later intrusions and mixing at the site.
- Despite inconclusive radiocarbon dates, Viking expert Doug Bolender remains optimistic, considering the possibility of plant growth over centuries obscuring the true age of the site.
- The archaeologists find no evidence of the site being historic, lacking expected objects like glass or pottery, leading to doubts about its Viking origins.
- Metallurgy analysis is conducted to determine if the site is Viking, as Native Americans did not smelt iron, unlike the Vikings.
- Microscopy and chemical analysis of metal samples reveal evidence of iron processing, indicating potential Viking presence at Point Rosee.
- The discovery of bog iron ore and evidence of metalworking suggest the site could be a Norse settlement from the Viking age, supported by historical accounts of Viking exploration in North America.
- The findings at Point Rosee hint at a new chapter in Viking history, shedding light on their early presence in North America, preceding Columbus by 500 years.
