The so-called sunstone has long been the subject of scientific intrigue after it was described in one Icelandic saga as a magical gem which, when held up to sky, would show the position of the sun even before sunrise or after sunset. This beats all the modern navigation tech that we now have. Google it, it’s mind blowing.

History books, films and TV series teach us that the Vikings were just wild men on  the rampage – which of course they were. They were efficient at it. Modern day man is no different, except we call it imperialism….

They were also great farmers too. One thing that they were exceptional at, was sword making. They were using smelting techniques that would remain unknown to the Vikings’ rivals for centuries. The Ulfberht was a revolutionary high-tech tool as well as a work of art. Considered one of the greatest swords ever made.

One thing which some of us tend to overlook, is the skill of their smiths, their gold and silver smiths. Their jewerly is absolutely beautiful, so good in fact that many companies and craftmen still produce replicas to this day. In the title of this piece “In our opinion! Some of the most beautiful Viking finds ever found…” was just us being a bit tongue in cheek, we haven’t included the major finds like the boats and major burial finds. But we have included the moulds for making silver pendants, as this, to us, shows mass production and also shows the ‘new’ religion of Christianity creeping into Viking society.  Have a look below see what you think

Derek McLennan, a metal detector enthusiast, spent a year on a piece of ground in Dumfries and Galloway before he came across Britain’s biggest ever haul of Viking treasure. Newly Discovered Viking Hoard In Scotland Included A Gold Pin In The Shape Of A Bird. source

Shipwreck found with Viking sun stone An oblong crystal found in the wreck of a 16th-century English warship is a sunstone, a near-mythical navigational aid said to have been used by Viking mariners. source

Viking round shield: The sagas specifically mention linden wood for shield construction, although finds from graves shows mostly other timbers, such as fir, alder and poplar. These timbers are not very dense and are light in the hand. The size was usually 75 – 90 cm in diameter. (9th-century wooden shield). source

Ulfberth sword found in Finland. Smelting technology that wont be repeated by any other culture for centuries. The Vikings were among the fiercest warriors of all time. The feared Ulfberht sword. Fashioned using smelting techniques that would remain unknown to the Vikings’ rivals for centuries, the Ulfberht was a revolutionary high-tech tool as well as a work of art. Considered one of the greatest swords ever made. source

Realms Of Gold The Novel: Harrogate Hoard: Viking Gold The hoard was found by father and son David and Andrew Whelan while metal detecting near Harrogate in 2007. David described the find as a “ball covered with mud”. Picture: British Museum Trustees. source

Just look at the artwork in the treasure chest. Simply beautiful. source

The Vikings explored the northern islands and coasts of the North Atlantic, ventured south to North Africa and east to Russia, Constantinople, and the Middle East. They raided and pillaged, but also engaged in trade, settled wide-ranging colonies, and acted as mercenaries. Vikings under Leif Ericson, heir to Erik the Red, reached North America and set up short-lived settlements in present-day L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, and Labrador, Canada.

Viking expansion into continental Europe was limited. Their realm was bordered by powerful cultures to the south. Early on it was the Saxons, who occupied Old Saxony, located in what is now Northern Germany. The Saxons were a fierce and powerful people and were often in conflict with the Vikings. To counter the Saxon aggression and solidify their own presence, the Danes constructed the huge defence fortification of Danevirke in and around Hedeby.

The Vikings soon witnessed the violent subduing of the Saxons by Charlemagne, in the thirty-year Saxon Wars in 772-804. The Saxon defeat resulted in their forced christening and the absorption of Old Saxony into the Carolingian Empire. Fear of the Franks led the Vikings to further expand Danevirke, and the defence constructions remained in use throughout the Viking Age and even up until 1864.

The south coast of the Baltic Sea was ruled by the Obotrites, a federation of Slavic tribes loyal to the Carolingians and later theFrankish empire. The Vikings – led by King Gudfred – destroyed the Obotrite city of Reric on the southern Baltic coast in 808 AD and transferred the merchants and traders to Hedeby. This secured their supremacy in the Baltic Sea, which remained throughout the Viking Age.

Viking sword hilt (9th century, Museum of Scotland). source

Viking Age moulds for making silver pendants,Crucifixes & Mjolnir (Thor’s Hammer). The far right mold could be used for making either depending on the customer. Mjolnir pendants only became popular to compete with the crosses worn by those with the new religion at the spread of Christianity. This is early day mass production. source

Viking Box brooch made of partially gilt bronze, covered with silver and gold decorated with niello, filigree, and granulation. Martens Grotlingbo, Gotland, Sweden, eleventh century. Statens Historiska Museum, Stockholm. source

A hoard of 1,000-year-old artefacts including more than 200 coins, ingots pieces of silver jewellery, found buried in north Lancashire. The British Museum are examining the hoard after it was discovered in a lead pot by a metal detector enthusiast. The hoard buried at a time when the Anglo-Saxons were attempting to take control of the north of England from the Vikings. source

The small figurine of Freya. A newly discovered female figurine amulet from Revninge in the east of Denmark represents a very interesting find due to her remarkably detailed Viking Age dress. This small gilt silver figurine contains a wealth of detail giving new knowledge about costume and jewelry of the period. source

The Viking era Jelling Cup, said to be used by Gorm the Old (bef. 900-c. 958 AD), the first historically authenticated King of Denmark and the first Viking ruler to tolerate Christianity. This silver chalice was found at Gorm’s capital at Jelling, in Jylland, Denmark. source