#vikings

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Unusual Viking woman’s burial in Norway reveals a mysterious ritual

A chance pass with a metal detector in central Norway has uncovered one of the country’s most intriguing Viking Age burials in recent times. The find was made at Val in Bjugn, where hobby detectorist Roy Søreng uncovered an oval brooch earlier this year, an object commonly linked to women’s clothing in the 9th century...

More info: https://archaeologymag.com/2025/11/unusual-viking-woman-burial-in-bjugn-norway/

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Unusual Viking woman’s burial in Norway reveals a mysterious ritual A chance pass with a metal detector in central Norway has uncovered one of the country’s most intriguing Viking Age burials in recent times. The find was made at Val in Bjugn, where hobby detectorist Roy Søreng uncovered an oval brooch earlier this year, an object commonly linked to women’s clothing in the 9th century. His report brought specialists from the NTNU Science Museum and Trøndelag County Council to the site, where they quickly realized that the artifact was only the beginning of something far larger...

An article in the current about experiments with Period contains the following chilling passage:

"Our trials and experiments, which were carried out by two of this article's co-authors ... WITH STUDENTS AS TEST SUBJECTS, reveal something important."

KA reviews "The Long Winter of Miðgarðr" by Edale Lane, A Tale from Norvegr:

"The best part of this book was the amazingly complex character development... In highlighting these lifestyle differences between each protagonist, the author reveals the immensity of their writing talent. 5 stars."

https://www.queeromanceink.com/2025/08/01/review-the-long-winter-of-midgardr-edale-lane/

@lgbtqbookstodon @diversebooks @bookstodon

Sunstones are a clear crystal(Iceland spar), which were said to be used during the Viking-age to help locate the position of the sun for navigation. 🧭☀️

Due to lack of archeology finds, their use is debated, but one 2011 study does show that the crystals work for the task. In it, people were able to find the sun on dark cloudy days with incredible accuracy.

📰 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspa.2011.0369
📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq9NE2qQzTo
🖼 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunstone_(medieval)#cite_note-Ropars11-25

Demonstration of a sunstone used to locate the sun's position by comparing the intensity of the ordinary and extraordinary images of a black dot marked on the crystal's surface opposite the observer.
Iceland spar, possibly the medieval sunstone used to locate the Sun in the sky when clouds obstruct it from view.

New: Edale Lane's FF historical fantasy The Long Winter of Miðgarðr:

Three disparate women; one common goal: survive. Jorunn holds fast to duty and honor. The stalwart shieldmaiden is admired for her skill and courage in a harsh landscape beset by dangers and enemies. Would she sacrifice it all for the love...

https://www.queerscifi.com/new-release-the-long-winter-of-midgardr-edale-lane/

@LGBTQBookstodon @diversebooks @bookstodon#book @EdaleLane

cover - The Long Winter of Miðgarðr - Edale Lane

In Icelandic legend, elves are said to inhabit the large volcanic rocks found all over the island. Locals will sometimes paint doors on the rocks or construct tiny houses on them, making little shrines to mark where the elves are so they won't get disturbed.

elf houses in Iceland