Viking ‘party hall’ where Norse chieftains may have chugged ale found buried under British farm
A VIKING drinking hall that could have been a watering hole for a high-ranking chieftain around 1,000 years ago has been found in Scotland.
Archaeologists discovered what they think is an ancient party place underneath a farm in Orkney.
Researchers from the University of the Highlands and Islands worked alongside students and residents to uncover the site.
They think that it was probably a building of high status and could date back as far as the 10th century.
The site, at Skaill Farmstead in Westness, Rousay, has evidence of stone walls and benches as well as artefacts like pottery, a yarn spindle whorl and a bone comb.
Westness is mentioned in a Norse historical text called the Orkneyinga Saga as the home of 12th century chieftain Sigurd.
The drinking hall appears to be 43 feet long.
The researchers hope that it could reveal so much more about the lives of British Vikings including what they ate and farmed.
Orkney is considered to have been a seat of power during the Viking Age.
Dan Lee, co-director of the archaeological project, said: “You never know, but perhaps Earl Sigurd himself sat on one of the stone benches inside the hall and drank a flagon of ale.”
Archaeologists have been searching for a hall at the Skaill Farmstead for a while as Skaill actually means hall in Norse, the language Vikings used.
The farmstead is being excavated so researchers can find out more about what happened there from the Viking Age to when the site was eventually abandoned in the 19th century.
A brief history of the Vikings
Here's what you need to know...
- The Viking Age is a period in European history and dates from around 800 to 1050AD
- Some groups of Vikings did live on for a bit longer after this period in different countries across the globe
- They originated in Scandinavia and travelled all over the world on their famous Viking ships
- They are well known for colonising and brutally raiding new areas
- Vikings created a trade network that spanned the globe and evidence of similar house styles, jewellery, tools and lots of other everyday equiptment can be found in many different countries
- The Viking Age in Britain ended when the Norwegian king Haraldr harðráði was killed at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066
- Vikings are usually depicted as having horns on their helmets but there is only one well preserved helmet from the Viking Age and this does not have horns
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Would you like to have partied with the Vikings? Let us know in the comments!
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