A-Z Archaeology: B - Birka - a podcast by UoM CAHAE Society

This week Jenny and Nikki have been abandoned by Alice, but joined by special guest Alex, a Scandinavian history and rune expert to talk all things “Birka”. This includes discussing the historical context of the sites, the runes found at the site and throughout the Viking world and also a discussion on the scientific analyses used to find out more about the individuals buried at Birka- including the “Female Viking Warrior” of Grave BJ581. They also repeatedly mention moving to Scandinavia and the fact that Alex is very possibly being paid by the Scandinavian Tourism Board. Join us next time for “C: Cabinets of Curiosities”.

Bibliography:

Barrett et al. (2001). Diet and ethnicity during the Viking colonization of northern Scotland: evidence from fish bones and stable carbon isotopes, Antiquity, 75, 145-154.

Hedenstierna-Jonson et al. (2017). A female Viking warrior confirmed by genomics, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 164, 853-860.

Linderholm et al. (2008). Diet and status in Birka: stable isotopes and grave goods compared, Antiquity, 82, 446-461.

Price et al. (2019). Viking warrior women? Reassessing Birka chamber grave Bj. 581, Antiquity, 93(367), 181-198.

Richards et al. (2006). Stable isotope palaeodietary study of humans and fauna from the multi-period (Iron Age, Viking and Late Medieval) site of Newark Bay, Orkney, Journal of Archaeological Sciences, 33, 122-131.

Further episodes of The UoM CAHAE Society Podcast

Further podcasts by UoM CAHAE Society

Website of UoM CAHAE Society