Council of Mead

Archeologists Find Gateway to the Viking Empire

David Beard — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:32:00 +0000

For a century, archeologists have been looking for a gate through a wall built by the Vikings in northern Europe. This summer, it was found. Researchers now believe the extensive barrier was built to protect an important trading route.

Their attacks out of nowhere in rapid longboats have led many to call Vikings the inventors of the Blitzkrieg. "Like wild hornets," reads an ancient description, the Vikings would plunder monasteries and entire cities from Ireland to Spain. The fact that the Vikings, who have since found their place as droll comic book characters, were also avid masons is slightly less well known.

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Scientists develop new methods to discover maritime archaeology

David Beard — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:48:00 +0000

By combining meteorology and archaeology, Norwegian scientists may discover old sea routes and mooring sites, and boost our knowledge of maritime culture dating from the ancient period to the end of the Middle Ages.

“Archaeology has a long-standing tradition in protecting areas on land. But unfortunately, there is little attention to cultural monuments at the sea-shore and under water,” says meteorologist Marianne Nitter at the University of Stavanger’s Museum of Archaeology.

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Mead via Warren Ellis

Nazgul — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:31:07 +0000

Warren Ellis has a suggestion.

Sadly they only ship to mainland UK, but if anyone would like to submit a review, we’ll be happy to post it. I mean, it has the Warren Ellis seal of approval, and that counts for a lot around here.

The Vale of York Hoard

Nazgul — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:14:50 +0000

The BBC’s most excellent History of the World in 100 Objects today features the Vale of York Viking Hoard.

Viking gold ring found in Yorkshire farm field

David Beard — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:13:00 +0000

A gold ring once worn by a Viking was unearthed by a metal detector in a farmer's field in Yorkshire, a treasure trove inquest in Wakefield heard yesterday.

Dating back around 1,000 years, the large gold ring was found last April on pasture land in the Aberford area, east of Leeds. The finger ring, which is 90 per cent gold, was found by a man scouring the land with a metal detector with the permission of the landowner.

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Archeology Bite: Thor’s Hammer

Nazgul — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:48:19 +0000

“Thunderstones” positively identified in Viking graves.

Ya, we can probably file this in the “well, duh” file, but it’s nice to have good science to back things up.

"Thor’s Hammer" Found in Viking Graves

David Beard — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:15:00 +0000

Long dismissed as accidental additions to Viking graves, prehistoric "thunderstones"—fist-size stone tools resembling the Norse god Thor's hammerhead—were actually purposely placed as good-luck talismans, archaeologists say.

Using fire-starting rock such as flint, Stone Age people originally created the stones to serve as axes. But the Vikings, whose Iron Age heyday lasted from about A.D. 800 to 1050, saw the primitive tools as lightning repellent.

Because the axes predate the Viking age by thousands of years, archaeologists have long seen the stones as random artifacts, perhaps stirred up from earlier, lower burials or dropped in centuries after the Viking era.

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Folk Metal PSA

Nazgul — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:15:27 +0000

The always-awesome Eluveitie have announced a co-headlining tour with the equally-awesome Korpiklaani. I sincerely hope they announce a North American leg of this tour.

And while on the subject, Anna and Meri of Eluveitie have started a side project called godnr.universe, which should be quite interesting indeed.

Archaeologists work on Medieval site in Isle of Man

David Beard — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:32:00 +0000

Archaeologists from North America and the UK have been excavating an early Medieval site in the Isle of Man.

The team, along with local volunteers, is investigating Port y Candas, near the Ballacraine crossroads.

Archaeologist Harold Mytum said the site was of "international importance" as it is one of the few pre-Viking settlements known on the island.

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Neston to Chester pilgrimage marks Wirral’s historic Viking links

David Beard — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:43:00 +0000

WALKERS from across the country joined the annual St Olav Wirral Viking Walk from Neston to Chester.

The 13-mile trek started out from the historic St Mary’s and St Helen’s church, in Neston, which is famous for its Viking burial stone and finished at St Olav’s church in Chester.

The pilgrimage is held each year to commemorate St Olav, the “Viking Saint” and patron saint of Scandinavia, and to celebrate Wirral’s links with the Vikings.

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