It has long been thought that the Vikings in Scandinavian countries were equally aggressive. That was not the case. A new study suggests that the Norwegians were the fiercest and most lawless Vikings of all.
Remains excavated from ancient graveyards in Norway show far more skeletal trauma than those from Denmark. While 33% of the Norwegian skeletons showed past injuries and 37% showed signs of violent death, only 6% of those in Denmark died violently, nearly all by execution.
Researchers also found far more weapons among Norwegian remains. In Norway, they uncovered over 3,000 swords dating to the Viking and Late Iron Age eras. In Danish cemeteries, they found just a few dozen. The authors of the study believe this shows weaponry played a far greater role in Norwegian Viking society.
Weapon-related lesions identified on ancient Norwegian bones. Photo: Lisa Mariann Strand
The team combined the study of the remains and weaponry with that of runestones –- the ancient Scandinavians’ attempt at record-keeping.
The Danish communities showed far more social structure and authoritative figures. Their violence was relatively controlled. The deaths by execution imply that violence was meted out as punishment, whereas the high levels of injury in Norway suggest that it was interpersonal.
Danish Vikings also had large fortifications, which suggests large work forces, coordinated efforts, and an organized society. Their punishments and levels of aggression reflect this.
Norway was more lawless
In stark contrast, the Norwegians’ world was more decentralized and rife with lawlessness. Ultimately, personal grievances led to personal violence. Gender played no role in how barbaric an attack was. Norwegian women and men both had similar amounts of trauma.
“The use of violence does not appear to have been reserved for Norwegian men, hinting at a level of gender equality in terms of social status,” explained the authors.
“These patterns suggest that we are talking of distinct societies in the regions of Norway and Denmark,” added lead author David Jacobson.
The findings not only add to the idea that Viking communities had significantly different cultures but that societies with stricter authorities and hierarchy had lower levels of violence. This was also the case in parts of North and South America.
