Document Type

Paper

Publication Date

12-2-2016

Abstract

I argue that historians and archaeologists should consider the Viking perspective in the form of sagas when analyzing Viking activity in England, in tandem with the Anglo-Saxon record. This way, it is possible to garner a more complex understanding of the past, as scholars can take both the Viking and Anglo-Saxon view in account in order to complete the picture. In addition, this allows archaeologist to interpret Viking artifacts from a Viking cultural perspective, not the Anglo-Saxon perspective. This removes a middle-man from the analytical process and allows archaeologist to consider what would be closer to a primary source on the interpretation of artifacts. In order to address this issue fully, I shall first provide the historical information presented by written sources other than the sagas. Second, I shall describe the types of Viking artifacts found in England and how they can be analyzed. Third, I shall explain the faults of the sagas as historical sources. Fourth, I shall use Egil’s Saga as an example and explain how instances in this particular saga can be used to aid archaeologists.

Primo Type

Text Resource

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