The Salme ship burials, discovered in Estonia, are among the most remarkable Viking-Age finds in the Baltic region. The graves contain the remains of 41 Scandinavian men buried in two ships - an extraordinary war band that set out from central Sweden in the 8th century. Who were these men, and what brought them to their final resting place on the Estonian coast?
In this captivating presentation, the estonian archaeologist Marge Konsa investigates how age, status, and roles may have varied among the deceased. Particular attention is given to the diversity of swords found in the graves, from simple single-edged blades to richly ornamented double-edged weapons with gold wire and gemstone inlays. What do these finds reveal about the composition of Viking war bands, and the kinds of men who joined them?
Togheter with Marge will Faravid Svalfors af Ugglas and Thomas Cederroth from the Svíar association talk about their experiences during the making of recreated objects from the Salme boat burials. In collaboration with Estonian and Swedish archaeologists, Faravid and Thomas Cederroth have recreated many of the objects from the Salme boat burials. The ambition has been to depict what the warriors might have looked like in their equipment while they were alive. Along with this the audience gets a chance to see the objects up close.
Marge, Faravid and Thomas will togheter with this talk offer a rare glimpse into the world of the Salme warriors, both in death and as they might have appeared in life. This lecture will be in English
