The Gundestrup Cauldron, 2nd-1st century BC, in the National Museum of Denmark: The cauldron shows evidence of Celtic workmanship, but was recovered in a bog in Gundestrup, Denmark. This is evidence of

trade between Celtic society and Scandinvia.

Ptolemy’s world map, c. 200 AD. The map demonstrates Roman knowledge of the world, and includes a rather inaccurate depiction of

Scandinavia.

Map of Europe at the height of the Roman Empire, circa 117 AD.

Map from Lynn Hunt, The Making of the West, Volume 1.

Maps of Scandinavia: left—map of important areas and sites; right—environmental map of Scandinavia. Left map from Henry Loyn, The Vikings in Britain; right map from Vikings: the North American Saga,

edited by William Fitzhugh and Elisabeth Ward.

Reconstruction of an early medieval Viking house, Stöng, Iceland: stone base with timber and turf walls. Image from Medieval

Scandinavia: From Conversion to Reformation, circa 800-1500, by Birgit and Peter Sawyer.

A nobleman’s outfit and jewelry worn by men: left-reconstruction of an outfit found in the Mammen grave, Jutland, Denmark; right-ring

brooches worn by Scandinavian noblemen. Images from Vikings: The North American Saga, edited by William Fitzhugh and Elisabeth Ward.

Weapons used by Viking Age warriors: left top-arrow heads; bottom center-a striking sword (2 ft long) and a “weapon knife” (1 ft long); right top-axe head from Mammen grave. Images from Vikings: The North

American Saga, edited by William Fitzhugh and Elisabeth Ward.

Evidence of women’s role in society. Left—keys carried by the wife of a householder; center—an amulet whose hairstyle indicates a high status woman; right—a reconstruction of a Finnish noblewoman’s dress. Images from Vikings: The North American Saga, edited by

William Fitzhugh and Elisabeth Ward.

Jewelry worn by women: left-oval brooches; center-beaded necklace of glass, crystal, and carnelian; right-box brooch from Gotland. Images from Vikings: The North American Saga, edited by William Fitzhugh

and Elisabeth Ward.

A chieftain’s settlement at Borg, Norway, inhabited from the 6th-10th centuries. Images from Vikings: The North American Saga, edited by

William Fitzhugh and Elisabeth Ward.

Evidence of daily life in Viking communities: left—carving of a smith at work, Hylestad Church, Setesdal, Norway; right top—ice skates made from bone; right bottom—soapstone bowls. Images from Vikings: The North American Saga, edited by William Fitzhugh and Elisabeth Ward.

The Runic alphabet. Image from Robert Ferguson, The Vikings: a History.

The Gokstad Ship, built c. 870-890, buried c. 900, and excavated in the late 1800s. Now housed in the Viking Ship Museum, Oslo, Norway.

The Oseberg Ship and headpost, built c. 820, buried c. 825, and excavated in the early 1900s. Now housed in the Viking Ship Museum,

Oslo, Norway.

Objects from the Oseberg ship burial: left top-horses and cart buried with the Oseberg woman; bottom-embroidered textile that may depict

the procession to the Oseberg woman’s burial; right top-buckets decorated with brass and enamel. Images from Vikings: the North American Saga, edited by William Fitzhugh and Elisabeth Ward.