La presenza di vichinghi in vaste aree dell’Inghilterra influenzò l'emergere di una cultura anglo-scandinava. Il tutto fu rafforzato nel 1013 quando il re danese Sweyn Barbaforcuta invase l’Inghilterra nel 1013. Oggi riscontriamo lo stile scandinavo, con le sue forme caratteristiche e i suoi motivi decorativi i molti reperti archeologici. Qui, gli elementi scandinavi si fondono con le tradizioni anglosassoni. E non è sempre facile distinguere tra prodotti locali e importazioni.
Wickham Market, Suffolk, 878
Silver
On loan from Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service, Inv. IPSMG: R.2003.12
Valkyries are female figures from Norse mythology. They are also associated with the tradition of women warriors, who have been mentioned in various sources and recently seem to have found confirmation in new archaeological evidence. Some evidence suggests that in Viking Age Scandinavia women were actively involved in fighting. The finding of the pendant in York testifies to the Scandinavian influences that affected England and especially York during the Viking Age.
Manningtree, Essex, 9th–10th c.
Gold
On loan from Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service, Inv. COLEM:2019.28
Weeley, Essex, 900–1100
Gold
On loan from Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service, Inv. COLEM:2019.39
The two golden finger rings were crafted in a Scandinavian artisan’s tradition. While one ring (2) has a diamond-shaped ring plate with a punched decoration, which is reminiscent of hourglasses, the other (3) was made of two interwoven gold wires. Golden rings of this type were typical of Viking jewellery and were found in numerous graves and hoards in Scandinavia. The rings found in England prove that Scandinavians had settled there.
York, 850–950
Copper alloy
York, York Museums Trust (Yorkshire Museum), Inv. YORYM : 1973.24
Strap end were attached to the ends of belts as decorative elements and to give them additional weight. The strap end on display is an impressive example and has a refined decoration in the Scandinavian Borre style. The copper adds to is precious appearance.
York, 866–1000
Copper alloy
York, York Museums Trust (Yorkshire Museum), Inv. YORYM : 1947.551.49
The so-called Schwertortband, a decorated sword guard, was located at the end of the scabbard sheathing a sword or knife. The scabbard was usually made of organic material such as leather or wood. The sword guard was meant to decorate the sheath and at the same time to prevent that the point of the weapon penetrated the scabbard. Thus, it also protected its wearer from injury. This elaborately designed sword guard is decorated in the so-called Jelling style.
Bossall/Flaxton Hoards, 920–930
Silver
York, York Museums Trust (Yorkshire Museum), Inv. YORYM : 1948.700
The bracelet is decorated with punched ornaments and was originally part of a larger coin hoard, but most of this hoard was melted down. Silver jewellery was very popular among the Scandinavian settlers of York. This bracelet was not only a piece of jewellery, but might also have belonged to a person who used it as a status symbol to demonstrate his or her wealth.
Coppergate, York, 866–1100
Lead
York, York Museums Trust (Yorkshire Museum), Inv. YORYM : 1980.7.7606
This pendant has the form of an anchor and was probably used as an amulet. Its shape also reminds of pendants in the shape of Thor’s hammer, which were very popular in Scandinavia. Maybe the owner of this pendant had a connection to shipping. Ships and navigation on water played an important role in the life of Viking Age Scandinavians.
York, 866–1100 (1–4)
Wood (1); iron, bone (2); deer antlers (3); leather, bone (4)
York, York Museums Trust (Yorkshire Museum), Inv. YORYM : C629 (1); Inv. YORYM: 1948.620 (2); Inv. YORYM : 1977.7.1065.a–b (3); Inv. YORYM : 1977.7.4422 (4)
These objects of daily use show that York was an important centre of production for everyday objects. The wooden spoon as well as the knife and the comb with its case show different kinds of decorations: The handle of the wooden spoon (1) is decorated with scrollwork, the knife (2) is ornamented with a pattern of dots and circles. The comb and its case (3), on the other hand, were produced with an eye for detail. The ornate comb also refers to the high value that personal hygiene had among the inhabitants of York and in general among Viking Age Scandinavians. The leather shoe (4) was produced by a craftsman who used the reversible shoe technique. For this, the leather was cut to the required form, shaped and then sewed together. Then the shoe was turned inside out so that the seams were on the inside.
York, 866–1000
Bone
York, York Museums Trust (Yorkshire Museum), Inv. YORYM : 1948.626
This small piece of bone depicting a small head is an unusual find: it possibly represents an inhabitant in Anglo-Scandinavian York. The plaque probably once was attached to an unknown material using the holes representing the eyes and the nose to fix it to a support.