Viking Identities

Abstract

This book is the first detailed archaeological study of Viking‐Age female jewellery in Scandinavian styles found in England. Based on primary archival and archaeological research, it presents evidence for over 500 brooches and pendants, brought to light through recent metal‐detecting. The book describes these artefacts and considers a number of themes related to contemporary use, including their date, cultural background and their function in costume. This lavishly illustrated discussion includes a large number of maps and images, bringing many items into the public domain for the first time. The emphasis of the book, however, is an interpretation of the significance of the jewellery in a broader, historical context. The author argues these artefacts add an entirely new dimension to the existing archaeological evidence for the Scandinavian activity in the British Isles. The finds make possible a substantial reassessment of the Viking Age, highlighting locations of settlement not normally associated with the Vikings and suggesting limits to the extent of Scandinavian integration into Anglo‐Saxon society. The book also seeks to provide answers for one of the classic questions in the study of Viking‐Age settlements, namely what about the women? The interpretation of the jewellery offered in this book challenges traditional perceptions of Viking conquest as an all‐male affair and brings into focus a population group which has, until now, been almost invisible.

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