Excitement is rising among Viking fans worldwide as the third and final season of "Vikings: Valhalla" premieres on 11 July Netflix once again takes us back to the captivating history of the Norsemen rekindling our fascination with these legendary warriors offers a wealth of travel destinations for those looking to delve into Viking history From interactive museums to dramatic time travel and culinary experiences Photo: Jann Lipka/imagebank.sweden.se (Download) "Vikings: Valhalla" has taken viewers on an adventurous journey focusing on a new generation of heroes in the early 11th century The series explores the strained relationships between the Vikings and the English "When we started this project five years ago I worked hard with this cast and crew to create a fulfilling journey," said Jeb Stuart "It made sense from a story point of view that the travels of our Leif and Harald would end with our third season And we really can't wait for the fans to see the conclusion of this chapter." The first season premiered on 25th February 2022 reaching 113.38 million hours viewed in its first week the series had been viewed 80.5 million times with a total of 194 million hours viewed in the first nine days The newfound fascination with the Vikings makes it the perfect time to visit Sweden visitors can discover numerous locations and experiences that bring the history of the Norsemen to life At the Viking Museum in Stockholm The exhibition highlights life without kingdoms or parliaments and shows the roles of children and women in the Viking Age Regularly updated research constantly enriches this experience The Historiska Museet in Stockholm features the exhibition "The World of the Vikings," which opened in 2021 With more than 2,500 objects and interactive stations visitors learn fascinating facts about astronomy This museum is a highlight for history enthusiasts and offers a unique opportunity to explore Viking culture On the island of Björkö in Lake Mälaren lies Birka, an open-air museum and former Viking settlement This important archaeological site is best explored on a guided tour The museum and the reconstructed Viking village provide comprehensive insights into Viking life and their trade routes The atmosphere at Birka brings the past to life and offers an unforgettable experience Just outside Uppsala are the impressive burial mounds from the Viking era, also known as the king's mounds. Alongside a captivating VR experience at the nearby Gamla Uppsala Museum visitors can learn about daily life in a Viking village The guided tours offer a close look at the religious and cultural customs of the Viking Age combining archaeological finds with modern technology to make Uppsala an exciting destination Gotland, with the UNESCO World Heritage City of Visby The island is rich in Viking burial grounds and rune stones The 15-acre burial ground in Stenkyrka and the rune stones in Buttle and Hablingbo give visitors a fascinating glimpse into Viking life with its famous city wall and numerous medieval churches and ruins In the Tanum World Heritage Area in West Sweden offering a unique look at daily life and spirituality from over 3,000 years ago with its detailed information and interactive exhibits makes the historical significance of this place even more vivid Photo: Emelie Asplund/imagebank.sweden.se (Download) Skåne features the open-air museum Foteviken and the VikingaTider archaeological theme park providing exciting insights into Viking life visitors can experience experimental archaeology by participating in activities like blacksmithing VikingaTider brings the agrarian lifestyle of a thousand years ago to life with introductions and craft demonstrations These lively museums make history tangible and engaging The restaurant Aifur in Stockholm serves dishes from the Viking Age Visitors enjoy authentic Viking experiences The atmosphere and carefully prepared dishes make a visit to Aifur a special highlight of any Viking-themed holiday For those wanting to take a piece of Viking culture home, Handfaste in Stockholm offers an extensive selection of authentic Viking souvenirs From jewellery and clothing to various accessories The quality and variety of the products make Handfaste a popular destination for anyone looking to bring home a piece of Viking heritage More about the Netflix series "Vikings: Valhalla": Valhalla | Netflix official website More information about Sweden's legendary Vikings – beyond the ruthless stereotype Press photos: Find press photos here Visit Sweden has an official assignment from the Swedish government to market Sweden as a destination Our vision is that Sweden by 2030 is the world's most sustainable and attractive destination built on innovation conscious and creating lasting value with regard to our guests https://corporate.visitsweden.com/om-oss/en/ Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience increasing numbers of people started going to the grave with animal companions the higher a person’s station in society the more animals they were likely to take with them But the species that seems to have been ubiquitous was the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) More dogs have been found associated with human burials than any other species in Scandinavia and they persisted in this way to the end of the Viking Age when most other animals had already disappeared from funerary assemblages Some of the best examples come from the elite burial grounds of central Sweden and the famous Gamla Uppsala-seat of Swedish kings of the Vendel Period The dog of choice of the Swedish Iron Age aristocracy appears to have been the sight hound (tall These animals were probably employed in a form of game coursing that may have also involved raptors such dogs have been known from graves at Vendel and Valsgärde and the present research confirms their appearance at Gamla Uppsala six Viking Age boat graves have been located Two of these are currently under study by the company Arkeologerna; the present study deals with the three of the remaining four in which dogs could be identified Two of these belong to the sight hound type confirming the persistence of this elite pastime even after Uppsala’s status as a royal centre diminished in the Viking Age This research helps to fill a longstanding gap in our knowledge of this society: the widespread keeping of dogs has been well known but their remains have long gone understudied Osteological analysis of the dogs and their treatment in graves is the first step towards a better understanding of their roles in the dual spheres of life and death in Iron Age Scandinavia Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" There are some things that we take for granted So why has it taken so long to shine a bright light on North America’s earliest dogs Dog domestication has undergone something of a renaissance in recent years As each generation of researchers deconstruct and unpack their own preconceptions of the world around them it reveals new shortcomings in our understanding of the past If we have learned anything in Viking Age studies in the past decades it is that they saw the world differently from modern Western Society Paul Clarke (Chief Technology Officer at Ocado) documents Ocado’s journey with building synthetic models of its business its platforms and its underlying technologies He explores the potential benefits of digital twins including the opportunities for creating digital twins at […] AD 790-1050) represents the very notion of uprootedness and social transformation Yet there are signs of inherent nostalgia in Scandinavian Viking Age communities; hundreds of rune stones scatter the landscape with tales of genealogies and memories and older burial mounds are reused for new graves Burials show that the communities also […] Learn how a group of ordinary people inspired the book when they reclaimed over 240,000 apartments back from corporate landlords 🔗 Medievalists.net A unique find of two boat burials from the Viking Age have been discovered in Sweden One of the two graves was intact with remains of a man The two boat burials were found during an excavation at the vicarage in Gamla Uppsala last autumn A medieval cellar and a well were excavated and then one of the boats was observed beneath the more modern structures The two boat burials have been excavated during the last month and the results are sensational the last burial ship here was excavated 50 years ago,” says archaeologist Anton Seiler A ship burial was a specific funeral practice in which the dead person was placed in a ship or boat often along with rich gifts like jewellery or sets of weapons and other objects This kind of grave typically dates back to the Vendel Period (around 550–800 AD) or the Viking Age (800–1050 AD) when it otherwise was common to cremate the dead The graves can therefore be very well preserved This custom was probably reserved for people of a higher social standing in society only around ten boat burial sites of this kind have been discovered previously mainly in the provinces of Uppland and Västmanland in central Sweden “It is a small group of people who were buried in this way. You can suspect that they were distinguished people in the society of the time since burial ships in general are very rare,” says Anton Seiler, who works at The Archaeologists part of the National Historical Museums in Sweden One of the two newly discovered graves was intact while the other was damaged Remains of a man was found in the stern of the intact boat burial that probably belonged to the man were found in the bow they might have been sacrificed to accompany him in death Archeologists also found personal items including a sword Wood and clinch-nails of iron that were used in the construction of the boats were also found The fact that it’s an intact grave undisturbed by plundering makes this a particularly interesting opportunity to study these kind of rare burial traditions with modern scientific analysis methods and documentation techniques This is the first time in Sweden these kind of methods are used in relation to this grave type ”It is extremely exciting for us since boat burials are so rarely excavated We can now use modern science and methods that will generate new results We will also put the boat burials in relation to the very special area that is Old Uppsala and the excavations done here before” Selected parts of the find will go on display at Gamla Uppsala Museum and Stockholm’s Swedish History Museum We've created a Patreon for Medievalists.net as we want to transition to a more community-funded model We aim to be the leading content provider about all things medieval podcast and Youtube page offers news and resources about the Middle Ages We hope that are our audience wants to support us so that we can further develop our podcast and remove the advertising on our platforms This will also allow our fans to get more involved in what content we do produce Member Login Aristos is a Newsweek science and health reporter with the London He is particularly focused on archaeology and paleontology although he has covered a wide variety of topics ranging from astronomy and mental health Aristos joined Newsweek in 2018 from IBTimes UK and had previously worked at The World Weekly He is a graduate of the University of Nottingham and City University You can get in touch with Aristos by emailing a.georgiou@newsweek.com. Languages: English either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Archaeologists have discovered two Viking burial ships in the Swedish municipality of Uppsala A find of this type is rare in the country only around ten discoveries of this kind have been made to date in the Scandinavian nation "This is a unique excavation, the last burial ship was examined 50 years ago," Anton Seiler, an archeologist who works with several Swedish museums, told The Local The two vessels—which Saeiler describes as a "sensational" find—were excavated near the grounds of a vicarage in the village of Gamla Uppsala last fall where individuals were placed in full-sized boats They are thought to have been reserved for individuals with high status "It is a small group of people who were buried in this way," Seiler said "You can suspect that they were distinguished people in the society of the time since burial ships in general are very rare." The archaeologists only found the remains of one individual as is common with other burial ships in the region this person was laid to rest beside several objects—including weapons shields and a comb—they may have been given to take into the afterlife The team also found the remains of animals Although it remains unclear when this burial took place most grave ships of this type originate from the Viking Age (793–1066 A.D.) of Scandinavian history or the era immediately preceding it which is known as the Vendel Period (500-793 A.D.) researchers also discovered another ship associated with a burial practice in the Scandinavian region Archaeologists from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) discovered a huge 66-foot-long Viking ship using an advanced new ground-penetrating radar technique in Østfold County The radar data that the NIKU team collected indicated that the ship was once embedded within a large burial mound which was gradually destroyed by farming activity over time the ship appeared to have survived totally intact despite lying just 20 inches below the topsoil "This find is incredibly exciting as we only know three well-preserved Viking ship finds in Norway [all] excavated a long time ago," Knut Paasche head of the Department of Digital Archaeology at NIKU and an expert on Viking ships Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all but two incredibly rare boat burials have been excavated in Uppsala and indicates the burial of a high-status male "This is a unique excavation," said archaeologist Anton Seiler of Swedish archaeology firm The Archaeologists "The last excavation of this grave type in Old Uppsala was almost 50 years ago." Ship burials are found all across Europe They seemed to have been reserved for the upper echelons of society These elite individuals were interred inside a ship The addition of horses, dogs, and hunting birds was also not uncommon "It is a small group of people who were buried in this way," Seiler explained (The Archaeologists/State History Museums) These graves usually date back to the Iron Age, around 550 CE, and up to around the end of the Viking Age, in 1050 CE. But the ravages of time are not kind - sometimes all that remains for us to find is the ghostly imprint of where a now-rotted ship once lay only around 10 boat burials of this kind had been previously discovered and those not always in the best condition so two newly discovered ones are a big deal - especially when one of those is still intact The two were found at a site in Old Uppsala The team had been working on the site of a new vicarage under construction; they had excavated a medieval well and cellar when someone spotted one of the boat graves poking out from beneath a more recent structure probably when the 16th century cellar had been built on top of it The other contained the skeleton of an adult man in the stern and the skeletons of a horse and dog in the bow shield and spear - as well as an ornate comb Because it's been so long since a grave of this kind has been discovered the team will be able to apply scientific techniques never before used on one We don't know much about the graves yet - when they were interred Osteologist Ola Magnell excavating the horse and dog skeletons "It is extremely exciting for us since boat burials are so rarely excavated," Seiler said "We can now use modern science and methods that will generate new results We will also put the boat burials in relation to the very special area that is Old Uppsala and the excavations done here before." Meanwhile, parts of the discovery will be on display at the Gamla Uppsala Museum and Swedish History Museum in Stockholm Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries royal palaces and the pleasures of the Stockholm Archipelago lie within easy distance of the Swedish capital There’s a profusion of exciting things to see in the city of Stockholm. And once you expand your radius from Gamla Stan dynamic towns and Viking culture to the mix The Stockholm region is easy to drive around and even easier to explore on public transport. Conveniently, SL Travelcards allow unlimited travel on all buses and local trains in the area making exploring the region a seamless breeze From Drottningholm Slott to Vaxholm in the Stockholm Archipelago here are the best day trips from Sweden's capital city Travel time: 40 minutes to 1 hour each way A lively college town that's rich in history, Uppsala is one of Sweden’s oldest cities It’s also next-door to one of the most important pre-Viking sites in the country reading the informative plaques throughout the site If you feel like a strolling or cycling further, Eriksleden is a 3.75-mile (6km) “pilgrims path” between the cathedral in Uppsala and the church in Gamla Uppsala become King of Sweden around 1150 – until the Danes beheaded him 10 years later The story is that his head rolled down the hill; where it stopped a spring rose up The main trail also provides access to a ridged wilderness hiking area called Tunåsen with a panoramic viewpoint (follow signs along Eriksleden just south of Gamla Uppsala to “Utsiktsleden”) SL commuter trains run frequently (every 30 minutes or more) from Stockholm’s Central Station and City Station to Uppsala’s central station Bus 801 goes frequently from Stockholm Cityterminalen to Uppsala station via Arlanda Airport in about 45 minutes Buses for Gamla Uppsala leave from Stora Torget in central Uppsala The grand 17th-century palace of Drottningholm is home to the royal family for part of the year – and open for informative 1-hour guided tours for visitors all year long (in English three times daily from June to August The tour will take you through the highly ornamented State Bedchamber of Hedvig Eleonora with its opulent baroque interior (it’s the envy of everyone on Pinterest) The library of Lovisa Ulrika is a bright and impressive room with most of its original 18th-century fittings intact (even if most of her 2000 books have been moved to the Royal Library in Stockholm for safekeeping) The palace grounds are open for individual roaming Take the tunnelbana (metro) to Brommaplan, then change to the bus to Drottningholm. There’s also a well-marked bicycle path from the center of Stockholm to the palace (13km / 8 miles). In summer, regular boat services leave for Drottningholm from Stadshuskajen On the island of Björkö in Lake Mälaren, the historic Viking trading center of Birka makes for memorable day trip. This UNESCO World Heritage site was founded around 760 CE to expand and control trade in the region While not much remains today (other than a cemetery with some 3000 graves – and a beautiful Swedish island) the fun in visiting here is imagining the place bustling with traders and craftspeople centuries ago The site also contains excavated remains of a defensive fort and the harbor If your imagination needs jump-starting, visit the superb Birka Museum where exhibits include artifacts from the excavations copies of the most impressive objects uncovered and a scale model of the village as it would have looked in Viking times Strömma Kanalbolaget runs round-trip cruises to Birka from Stadshusbron in central Stockholm. Since the trip takes 2 hours each way (the boat ride is glorious), plan on a full-day outing. Cruise prices include museum admission and a guided tour in English of the settlement’s burial mounds and fortifications. ShareSaveBETAThis is a BETA experience. opt-out hereLifestyleTravelViking Grave Discovery In Sweden Leaves Archaeologists StunnedByDavid Nikel A member of the Arckeologerna team at the grave site in Sweden Swedish authorities have announced the first Viking boat grave discoveries in the country in more than 50 years Archaeologists taking part in a routine dig in Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala) were shocked as they unearthed the Viking boat graves that included human remains A comb and shield were among the items found at the Viking grave in Sweden The last excavation of this grave type in Old Uppsala was almost 50 years ago,” said archaeologist Anton Seiler The fact the grave contents are so well-preserved and undisturbed is especially exciting for the team That's because it will be the first opportunity archaeologists have to study Viking burial traditions with modern scientific analysis methods in Sweden "We can now use modern science and methods that will generate new results We will also put the boat burials in relation to the very special area that is Old Uppsala and the excavations done here before,” said Seiler Such a find was not at all what archaeologists were expecting at the beginning of the project economic and political settlement as far back as the 3rd century The routine dig began in the grounds of the vicarage last fall The work involved excavating a cellar and well that were known to date from the Middle Ages Osteologist Ola Magnell and archaeologist Anton Seiler excavating the boat grave one of the boats was gradually revealed beneath the structures and archaeologists have spent the last month excavating the two burial boats It's thought the damage caused to the second boat was done when the cellar was built sometime around the 16th century Once archaeologists have finished their analysis parts of the discovery will be put on display at Old Uppsala Museum and the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm A new order from Sweden (12 vehicles to be delivered in Uppsala) has been secured The first regular service operations for the MAN Lion’s City 18 E have begun these days: the articulated battery-electric bus can now be seen on the streets of Cologne every day MAN Truck & Bus handed over the first fully-electric articulated […] there is another order for the Lion’s City 18 E from Uppsala in Sweden Gamla Uppsala Buss AB (GUB) has ordered 12 electric articulated buses from MAN Truck & Bus since these are the first electric buses to be seen on bus routes in Uppsala the framework agreement with Gamla Uppsala Buss includes an option for a further 65 MAN electric buses extending to 2023 covering 45 Lion’s City 18 E and 20 Lion’s City 12 E solo buses More than 330 buses pull up at around 750 bus stops every day in Cologne covering a network of almost 600 kilometres the Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (KVB) want to convert all bus routes to operation with electric buses a MAN Lion’s City 18 E is now in operation in the city on the Rhine with zero local emissions taking passengers on route 127 – one of the longest lines in the KVB bus network – to their destination safely comfortably and in an environmentally friendly manner “It’s the very first fully-electric articulated bus we’ve delivered to a customer and it’s now showing what it can do on KVB scheduled services in Cologne. That was, of course, also something special for us,” says Rudi Kuchta, Head Business Unit Bus at MAN Truck & Bus “We have been driven by the topics of climate protection environment friendly drives and innovations for many years And we have been pursuing a clear strategy of reducing emissions as far as possible That is why e-mobility is for us the future We are therefore very delighted about being the first transportation company to use the MAN Lion’s City 18 E on scheduled services and being able to experience the state-of-the-art electric bus,” says Stefanie Haaks The fully-electric articulated bus will shortly be in operation on the streets of Barcelona making it the second MAN Lion’s City 18 E to be delivered for scheduled services “The vehicles for Cologne and Barcelona are part of a field trial Working together with transportation companies which will then be used to continually improve our city buses,” says Kuchta A further important milestone on the e-mobility roadmap is set to start in April: series production of MAN Lion’s City 18 E will start at MAN’s Polish plant in Starachowice. The Lion’s City 12 E has already been in series production there as a solo bus since October 2020 “The aim was and is to fully integrate the series production of our electrically powered city buses with the production of conventional city bus types together on one production line And we have succeeded,” Rudi Kuchta explains A great deal of thought was necessary to fully integrate the production around 30 to 40 per cent of the body shell alone is different to that of its conventional counterpart the batteries and other high-voltage components That is why before starting production in Starachowice new systems had to be purchased or existing ones upgraded processes had to be re-engineered and around 3,500 employees had to go through extensive training The first electric articulated buses to roll off the production line in Starachowice will be going to Nuremberg. At the beginning of the year, the VAG Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft in Nuremberg ordered 28 MAN Lion’s City 18 E in addition to 11 Lion’s City 12 E bestowing MAN Truck & Bus with the largest e-bus order to date as part of a tender it is also the very first order for our fully-electric articulated bus © Copyright 2012 - 2025 | Vado e Torno Edizioni | All rights reserved | P.I and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and timely travel news delivered to your inbox daily Megan started with SmarterTravel Media’s Airfarewatchdog way back in 2008 She has spent nearly every summer (or at least part of it) on Prince Edward Island She has started to go out of her comfort zone while traveling- most recently exploring caves and boogie boarding on a FlowRider Helmets with horns on them, pillaging villages, brute force – these are the things that many people think of when they hear the word “Viking.” However, those images are far from the truth. Horns on the helmets started because of a costume for an opera The areas surrounding Stockholm and Uppsala in Sweden provide genuine interactive ways to see how the Vikings lived Uppsala, an academic city centering around Uppsala University, is steeped in history, and like most of Sweden, that includes the Vikings. Uppsala has a quaint yet vibrant feel to it that a lot of university towns have: it’s lively with a fantastic area for shopping and eating right along the river you may suddenly find yourself looking at a runestone where the center was located until the building of the Uppsala Cathedral is a short train ride away and has an immersive experience for learning about the Vikings Panama Travel Guide: What to Do in Panama Currently closed for renovations, Gustavianum houses the university’s archeological artifacts for public viewing The university has a range of Viking objects A large Viking exhibition is slated to open in June 2024 Originally the center of the city, Gamla Uppsala housed a pagan temple and served as a burial ground for royal Vikings there is an interactive museum on the site that features a VR experience that allows you to step back in time to old Uppsala and see the area as it looked over a thousand years ago Old Uppsala is also home to the royal mounds which date back to the 5th and 6th centuries and are graves of royal Vikings Stroll the grounds and view the large burial mounds Located less than 30 miles south of Uppsala, Gunnes Gård a living history open-air museum is on the site of an old Viking farm from the 11th century The buildings were built where archaeologists found foundations of the original buildings so you can really get a feel of the actual layout of what an iron-age farm was like Kids and grownups will love visiting with the hens and there is typically a fire burning that guests are welcome to use to cook sausages or other meats to eat while onsite and several rune stones throughout the grounds each with a different theme including house and reconstruction which displays a ship that sank during its first sailing in the 17th century Stockholm became a hub post-Viking era but still houses many Viking-related attractions The Ultimate Europe Summer Packing List you must visit the Viking Museum located on Djurgården Wander the exhibits to learn more about the Vikings and view artifacts from the Viking age One of the highlights of the museum is the ride Ragnfrid’s Saga which takes visitors on a Viking journey through Europe and back in the 10th century The museum includes a gift shop that promotes local while audio tours are available in nine different languages the Viking Museum is located along the water Vasa Museum (featuring a fully intact 17th century ship) and Junibacken- a museum dedicated to Swedish children’s literature (Pippi Longstocking fans must not miss it!)  The moment you step through the enticing entrance to Aifur you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time The dark hall aligned with candles leads you to your host who will ask your name and where you are from He will then blow a horn an​​d announce your arrival to the crowd that is dining which typically is followed with cheers and applause Wooden benches and candles scattered throughout the restaurant add to the vibe Enjoy traditional Viking food like King Björns Gillesgös at Birkavis (goose one of the most common meals during the Viking age) Tore Hjort’s hunting prey with raw lingonberries (venison) You can keep it traditional by ordering a glass of mead to enjoy with your food as well Skip Overpriced Airport Food: How to Pack Food and Drink for a Flight The two-hour boat ride drops you off for a five-hour visit on Birka where you can take a guided tour of the 17-acre island There are over 3,000 burial sites on Birka including the 1878 excavation of a Viking warrior believed to be a male until 2017 when DNA proved otherwise The museum has an exhibit dedicated to her as well as other Vikings buried on the island there are ferries available to and from Birka By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. © 2025 Smarter Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. 2017 ShareSave A researcher at a Swedish university says that Viking burial clothes bear the word “Allah”—and some people really want to believe her But other experts are not sure the silk bears Arabic script at all never mind the word “Allah.” They warn that people being credulous of Larsson’s claim may be guided less by solid evidence than by a political motivation: the desire to stick it to white supremacists “Everybody wants a counter-narrative for the narrative that’s been put forward by white supremacists,” said Stephennie Mulder an associate professor of Islamic art and architecture at the University of Texas at Austin She was referring to the tendency of white supremacists to appropriate the symbols of Vikings whom they claim constituted a pure-bred white race; in Charlottesville neo-Nazis were seen toting banners with Viking runes The idea that Vikings were influenced by Muslims would likely be anathema to them “The Vikings are every white supremacist’s favorite white guy.” Mulder took to Twitter on Monday to debunk Larsson’s claim she described her three main issues with it the style of Arabic that Larsson says she has identified—square Kufic—is not known to have been used in the 10th century; it only became common about 500 years later It’s a style called square Kufic, and it’s common in Iran, C. Asia on architecture after 15th c., ex: Safavid Isfahan w/Allah and Ali 9/60 pic.twitter.com/pbGJNFITGk it does not say “Allah” but “lllah,” a meaningless non-word In place of an alif or “a,” it has a lam or “l.” The word “Allah” in Arabic looks like this: الله the end of the word “Allah” does not actually appear in the artifact; instead it’s part of what Larsson imagines might have existed beyond the edges of the frayed fragment we have today Larsson is looking at the pattern that’s visible and extrapolating what may have been beyond it as part of her attempt to reconstruct what the artifact might have looked like in full There is a small triangular shape, but no final ha ـه. Frag. was published in 1938 by Agnes Geijer, original drawing looked like this: 31/60 pic.twitter.com/DxDossuWzs But reconstruction drawing by @UU_University textile archaeologist Annika Larsson shows extensions on either side that include a ha. 32/60 pic.twitter.com/1NyQzcqDV2 These extensions practically double width of band Not mentioned in press accounts: Larsson’s extensions are entirely conjectural This reconstruction is unfounded according to textile expert Carolyn Priest-Dorman who told me the artifact could not have extended farther out (to include the end of the word “Allah”) given how narrow its borders are: “Larsson’s saying the artifact was wider than it is.” “She might be indulging in some fanciful readings that aren’t justified by the evidence,” agreed Paul Cobb a professor of Islamic history at the University of Pennsylvania He clarified that it’s already an established fact that the Viking world and Muslim world were closely integrated through trade and travel; he and other experts like Mulder and Priest-Dorman aren’t disputing that They’re only disputing whether these specific burial clothes truly bear Arabic script because it resonates today with a dream of a more inclusive Europe There’s a real desire to document that Vikings had interactions “That flies in the face of the white supremacists who see Vikings as Nordic warriors defending Europe from foreign pollution when nothing could be further from the truth They were one of the great international societies of the Middle Ages.” In fact, for Vikings, Arabic may have come with cultural cachet. They circulated coins bearing Arabic inscriptions, as well as weights for measuring silver bearing pseudo-Arabic inscriptions (writing that imitates the look of Arabic but doesn’t get it quite right). In a journal article for Current Swedish Archeology scholar Lotta Fernstal writes that Vikings may have used the language to “‘spike’ certain objects with additional meaning” as part of constructing their self-image Arabic and/or Islamic was alluring and desirable perhaps as an ideal image of the ‘Other’ as part of a Viking Age Orientalism,” she adds it wouldn’t be surprising if Vikings were to have bought funeral clothes with Arabic inscriptions buying a perfume that says ‘Paris’ on it,” she told me “Baghdad was the Paris of the 10th century this is what Arabic must have signaled: cosmopolitanism.” Priest-Dorman added that it wouldn’t be unusual to find an eclectic mix of styles in the burial finery of a single Viking woman “Everything beautiful goes with everything else beautiful—that is the Viking aesthetic.” the critics believe there isn’t yet enough evidence to support Larsson’s claim and are concerned by how quickly her non-peer-reviewed findings went viral “If stories like this are not fully fact-checked the journalists are just pushing their PC agenda,’” Mulder said Or as Cobb put it: “The story might well support my political views about Europe Larsson indicated to me that additional details of her research are forthcoming Another word that she says she discovered in the burial clothes—“Ali,” the name of the fourth caliph of Islam revered especially by Shia Muslims—does not appear in the same artifact that purportedly bears the name of God It is to be found on other ribbons that I’m working with and that is to be published in a coming work.” Responding to critics who say that the burial clothes say “lllah” and not “Allah,” Larsson wrote it is still Kufic … that’s interesting.” She does not agree with the experts who say that there’s a dating issue with that claim and that “lllah” is a senseless jumble of letters “The meaning of research is to open questions,” Larsson added Perhaps unusually for questions in medieval archeology these questions feed directly into a contemporary heated political debate The answers and debunkings of those answers are sure to be used as fodder by the left and the right alike Ancient burial clothes thought to have been woven with typical Viking patterns have revealed a surprise: geometric Kufic script spelling out the words "Ali" and "Allah," woven in silver thread onto silk It's the first time historic artefacts mentioning "Ali" have been found in Scandinavia marking this as an important archaeological discovery While at first glance this appears to be a surprising find The script was found on at least 10 silk clothing items out of 100 from 9th and 10th century boat graves around Gamla, Uppsala, as well as chamber graves in Viking Era sites such as Birka in Swedish Mälardalen The discovery was made when a team of researchers was trying to recreate the patterns on burial garments in storage for the then upcoming Viking Couture exhibit at Enköping Museum in Sweden "This is a very important discovery because it tells us we can't view this historical period as 'typically Nordic'," Annika Larsson, a textile archaeologist at Uppsala University, told The Local "It shows us that the Vikings were in close contact with other cultures Evidence for a connection between the Vikings and the Muslim world has been mounting for years now In 2009, researchers found that Viking Ara swords used Arab metalsmithing techniques, probably transferred via the Volga trade route In 2008, a hoard of Viking Age Arab coins was uncovered in Sweden, and just two years ago, a ring found in a 9th century woman's grave in Birka was revealed to have "To Allah" inscribed in Arabic Persian silk has also been found in a Viking longboat burial in Norway but then she remembered where she had seen something similar: on Moorish textiles from Spain weaving techniques and designs suggest Central Asian and Persian origin The word "Ali" was relatively easy to decipher but Allah was a little more tricky - because it had been mirrored The reason for this is unknown, but the most likely explanation is that the pattern had simply been copied incorrectly, as Amir De Martino of the Islamic College in London told the BBC Larsson believes that the presence of the names on the garments indicate that the Vikings didn't just trade goods with the Muslim world "Presumably, Viking Age burial customs were influenced by Islam and the idea of an eternal life in Paradise after death," she said in a statement hardly reflect the deceased's everyday life just as little as the formal attire of our era reflects our own daily lives The rich material of grave goods should rather be seen as tangible expressions of underlying values." It's not uncommon for graves to include objects and clothing as opulent and rich as the family could afford Further analysis will be required to learn more and this is being carried out on the people who were buried with the garments to determine whether they was people from Persia or - much more likely - Vikings wearing Islamic textiles "The quality of Islamic silk textiles was such that they were highly coveted and used in Christian churches across Europe, and for vestments," dress and textile historian Hilary Davidson of the University of Sydney who is researching transmisson of Islamic and Byzantine textiles in medieval Christian clothing "They were valued for their quality and beauty which in any case became divorced through trading patterns These silks were traded across Europe for centuries and it is possible that the Norse Kufic patterns are imitating the pattern of Islamic textiles without knowing what the meaning is "They might be trade goods applied to Viking clothing as examples of high status Now that the presence of the patterns is known it may be easier in the future to identify it in other textiles Larsson's finding are currently on display as part of the Viking Couture exhibition at Enköping Museum University researchers’ ‘staggering’ claim appears to contradict theories that Islamic objects in Viking graves are result of plunder A Swedish university has claimed to discover Arabic characters for “Allah” and “Ali” woven into Viking burial clothes. Researchers at Uppsala University describe the finding of the geometric Kufic characters in silver on woven bands of silk as “staggering”. Read moreThe researchers at Uppsala, Sweden’s oldest university, were re-examining clothes that had been in storage for some time. They had originally been found at Viking burial sites in Birka and Gamla Uppsala in Sweden. Textile archaeology researcher Annika Larsson told the BBC that at first she could not make sense of the symbols “I remembered where I had seen similar designs: in Spain #Viking Age script deciphered – mentions ‘Allah’ and ‘Ali’ https://t.co/zdkDy0BeRL pic.twitter.com/7wpUoWstR7 This led to the identification of the name “Ali” in the text and Read moreLarsson said the choice of burial clothes reflected the fineries of Viking life rather than the day-to-day reality in much the same way that in the modern era people are buried in formal clothes Viking age burial customs were influenced by Islam and the idea of an eternal life in paradise after death.” However the finding has been disputed. In a blog post from analysis of the weaving technique in the clothes that the recognition of the Kufic inscriptions is “predicated on unfounded extensions of pattern In addition, Stephennie Mulder, Associate Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin, has suggested that the Viking burial finds pre-date the development of the Islamic artistic style Larsson claims to have identified There have been finds of more than 100,000 Islamic silver coins known as dirhams in Viking-age Scandinavia DNA analysis of Viking graves has also shown that some of them contain people who originated in Persia The Vale of York hoard contained objects relating to three belief systems – Islam Christianity and the worship of Thor – and at least seven different languages And in March 2015 a Viking woman’s glass ring was discovered bearing the inscription “for Allah” or “to Allah” The Local Europe ABVästmannagatan 43113 25 StockholmSweden are lit in public parks across the country People gather to listen to speeches and songs welcoming a brighter future pandemic restrictions have meant smaller celebrations and limited public gatherings for these annual festivities festivities will take place with their full force across the country Some of the biggest (and most drunken) celebrations take part in the student cities of Lund and Uppsala In Lund, there's a big celebration of some 30,000 people in the main city park This is known as spontanfesten or 'the spontaneous party' since there are no official organisers The picnics last until 3pm when things get set up for the official celebrations In Uppsala the real action happens in the student "nations" the student fraternities/housing associations which are not open to the general public But expect the parks to be full of drunken students from breakfast onwards A highlight is the traditional raft race down the Fyris river running through the city for which students design their own inventive vessels in front of the University Library you can watch (or take part in) the Donning of the Caps The Vice Chancellor waves her own white cap as a signal of spring to the students gathered in the square who in turn wave their own and then put them on This is followed by a performance from a male voice choir on the library steps. Later in the evening, there are two large bonfires: one at the Royal Mounds in Gamla Uppsala There is another bonfire by the castle in the city centre In Stockholm, head to the Skansen park where there will be a big bonfire lit at 9pm near the Solliden stage as you can make a day of it by visiting the zoo and the open-air museum of historic buildings from across Sweden although anyone with a valid student ID can get free admission Most of Stockholm's big fires are south of Södermalm, with a family-friendly option at Enskedefältet, and others in Bandängen For those wanting to celebrate in the archipelago, Grinda near Växholm has one of the biggest events In Sweden's second city, one of the best known traditions is Chalmerscortégen (The Chalmers Cortège) a carnival parade run by the Chalmers University of Technology with around 50 floats representing a satirical take on major events that have taken place over the past year thousands gather to watch the parade make its way through the city streets There's a spring concert at Nackrosdammen, a lily pond near the city centre.  And in the evening, the biggest fire will be in Slottsskogen and plenty of activities are on offer for families and people of all ages The celebrations start from 4pm with the fire lit at 8.30pm In Malmö, the municipality is not arranging a Valborg celebration this year. But the Social Democrats are arranging events around the city, in conjunction with ABF, the party-affiliated education organisation Please log in here to leave a comment The requested content cannot be loaded.Please try again later 20 gravplatser på Uppsala Gamla kyrkogård drabbades av vandalisering natten till tisdagen Gravplatser utsattes för skadegörelse och kyrkan har polisanmält händelserna När vaktmästare kom till Uppsala Gamla kyrkogård på tisdagsförmiddagen upptäckte de något uppseendeväckande krossade gravlyktor och förstörda blomsterarrangemang Detta skriver Svenska Kyrkan på sin hemsida Uppsala Gamla kyrkogård tillhör Uppsala domkyrkoförsamling och sattes i bruk i slutet av 1700-talet Något liknande har inte drabbat kyrkogården på cirka tio år – Det är mycket ovanligt att något sådant här sker På frågan om förebyggande åtgärder för att detta inte ska ske igen svarar Peter Berglund med tveksamhet – Kameraövervakning kan vi inte ha då kyrkogården är en skyddad plats Det går inte att göra mer än att se till att gravstenar står stadigt och att uppmana besökare att vara uppmärksamma på personer med avvikande beteenden Ännu vet man inte om det rör sig om en eller flera gärningsmän och varför det kan ha skett har Peter Berglund svårt att svara på – Det är svårt att spekulera kring vad man kan ha haft för motiv men det känns ju i sådana fall som ett internt och själsligt motiv Alla drabbade gravplatser fotodokumenterades och händelsen har polisanmälts – Är man som gravrättsinnehavare orolig för att ha drabbats kan man ringa kyrkogårdsexpeditionen SVT:s nyheter ska stå för saklighet och opartiskhet. Det vi publicerar ska vara sant och relevant. Vid akuta nyhetslägen kan det vara svårt att få alla fakta bekräftade, då ska vi berätta vad vi vet – och inte vet. Läs mer om hur vi arbetar. is a treasure trove of historic landmarks and fascinating tales that stretch from before the Viking Age to the modern day Here are seven fun history facts about our Swedish friends in Uppsala living in Norway provides relatively easy opportunities to visit the other Scandinavian countries for a weekend break I recently took a trip to Stockholm, Sweden's capital city I took a short train trip north to spend some time in Uppsala discovering a city full of historic interest The city not only hosts Scandinavia's oldest university but also stands as a symbol of Sweden's intriguing past Uppsala's history blends scholarly intellect and ancient traditions making it a good choice for those interested in exploring Scandinavian history My verdict? It's a fantastic choice for a day trip from Stockholm read on for seven interesting facts about the history of Uppsala Initially speculated to be either natural formations or the resting places of gods or legendary kings their true nature was revealed through excavations in the 19th century The first dig in 1830 uncovered a burial site while a later excavation revealed more significant findings including warrior equipment and a man adorned in golden threads are a prominent symbol of Sweden's ancient history Gamla Uppsala Museum tells the story of the burial mounds and the history of the time but there's plenty of information given on info boards dotted around the site The recent discovery of Viking ship graves in Norway has spotlighted the Viking Age's rich history. However, Sweden offers an accessible glimpse into Norse history with the world's largest collection of Viking rune stones Many of them are in rural locations across Sweden Uppsala hosts a rare collection still standing in a modern urban area so it's the best place to see rune stones in place if you rely on public transport these rune stones are prominently displayed notably around the cathedral and neighbouring park They provide insights into the transition from Norse mythology to Christianity with many stones featuring Christian crosses yet also referencing Norse gods reflecting the era's religious transformation Before the spread of Christianity, Uppsala was a pivotal religious centre for Norse beliefs Local Swedes revered it as a site of worship believing they descended from the god Freyr An 11th-century German church historian claimed that people gathered at a temple in Gamla Uppsala every nine years to make sacrifices which claimed it to be the most important Pagan temple in the region inspired the sacrificial temple depicted in the popular TV series preserving this site's religious significance the tallest church building in the Nordic region it's well-known for its striking architecture but also holds significance as the national shrine of the Church of Sweden Designed in French Gothic style by architects including Étienne de Bonneuil the cross-shaped church was mainly built between 1272 and 1420 with the western end and twin towers added in the 15th century Carl Hårleman and later Helgo Zetterwall redesigned its spires Constructed primarily of brick with Gotland limestone details its vaults and medieval frescoes were completed and restored over centuries complementing its historical furnishings housed in the Treasury Museum The long opening hours and free entry also make the religious building unusually accessible to tourists Note that entry to the Treasury Museum does require a small fee Uppsala University is the oldest in Scandinavia It has been a centre of education and research for centuries contributing significantly to the intellectual and cultural development of Sweden and beyond yet the historic buildings contrast with the youthful vibe given to the city by its yearly intake of students the anatomical theatre played host to some gruesome proceedings over the years the theatre is now part of the Gustavianum Museum is home to a remarkable collection of historical manuscripts and texts This includes the 6th-century Silver Bible—a UNESCO-listed item of historical importance—and original works by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus making it a cornerstone of historical and academic importance in Sweden Uppsala has played a key role in Sweden's history over the years Uppsala has been the ecclesiastical centre of Sweden being the seat of the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden the city's cathedral was usually the site of the coronation of Sweden's monarch served as one of the royal residences of the Swedish monarchs Today it plays host to an art museum and visitors can take an adrenaline-pumping walk on the rooftop for a spectacular view The impressive landmark was expanded several times throughout its history which helped make Uppsala the secondary capital of Sweden during the height of the Swedish Empire it's very straightforward to visit from Stockholm The city is just a 40-minute ride from the capital Buses in the city are run by UL, which has good English language information on its website Download the UL app in advance if you're planning on using the bus There are several good standard hotels in the city but you may prefer to stay in Stockholm if you're only visiting for a short time Originally from the UK, David now lives in Trondheim and was the original founder of Life in Norway back in 2011. He now works as a professional writer on all things Scandinavia Life in Norway is published by Words of Norway AS Home / Europe / Sweden / 15 Best Things to do in Uppsala (Sweden) Here’s a list of the 15 best things to do in Uppsala (Sweden) Uppsala is one of the largest cities in Sweden with a total population of 166 698 people in its urban area.  The Uppsala Cathedral dates back to the 13th century and is one of the most dominant buildings of the city Not only does it dominate Uppsala’s skyline but it is also the tallest church in all of Scandinavia rising to 118m Its significance is more than just religious as it is also the burial place of King Eric IX who is considered the patron saint of the country The architecture of the church is characterized by the French Gothic style and reminds of the churches found in central and southern Europe.    Gustavianum is the oldest building of the local university and dates to the 17th century Today it is mainly known for its great museum the museum itself was inaugurated as late as 1997 but has since then become one of the most important cultural centers in Sweden There are five permanent exhibitions found here including an anatomical theater a cabinet of curiosities and a section on the history of the university Often considered the highlight of the Gustavianum is the Valsgärde, which is dedicated to the Viking Age as well as the exhibition on the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Nile which consists of many antique artifacts excavated by the archaeologists of the Uppsala University Linnaeus Garden dates to the 17th century and is considered the oldest of its kind in all of Sweden It belongs to the Uppsala University and is very maintained offering residents and visitors an oasis of greenery right in the heart of Uppsala The gardens are held in a typical 18th-century style and feel almost like a museum The buildings here are dedicated to Carl Linnaeus who is one of the most important botanists of the country.   Found on the grounds of the botanical gardens is the interesting Linnaeus Museum It showcases the history of Carl Linnaeus who studied at the Uppsala University in the 18th century and has gone on to become one of the most important botanists in all of Sweden The museum is dedicated to both the personal as well as the professional life of this great man and tells the story of his many accomplishments Many of the original household items and furniture pieces are restored and add a very authentic atmosphere to this museum Together with the Linnaeus Garden a must-visit when coming to Uppsala The Uppsala Castle is one of the city’s most remarkable buildings and is characterized by its bold design and monumental size Not only did it serve as a royal residence but it was also a major part of the political history of Sweden as it served as a representative Renaissance palace for Eric XIV Today the castle serves as the administrative center of Uppland but is also open to the general public three interesting museums that are great for learning more about the history and culture of this region.   Upplandsmuseet is dedicated to the cultural history and archaeology of the country and offers a permanent exhibition that covers many aspects of the life of its residents There is a section on the general history of the area as well as the Uppsala Cathedral and the local university The museum is housed in a very elegant building situated right on the river Fyris which has been used as a water mill before being turned into a museum in 1959 One of the best things about the Uppland County Museum is that it’s very family-friendly and much more interesting for kids than you would expect.      Gamla Uppsala Church is located in the northern outskirts of the city and shouldn’t be missed when coming to the city as it is surrounded by very interesting historic sites The village in which the church is located was one of the most important cities in Sweden during the Middle Ages It served as a cultural and economic hub and this great legacy can still be felt in Gamla today Even though many people come here for the archeological area the Gamla Uppsala Church is a lovely old church and shouldn’t be missed as it is full of rustic charm.  Fyrishov is one of the biggest multi-purpose arenas in all of Sweden and is home to a great water park that is a very attractive spot for families and children and everyone who wants to escape the often cold Swedish climate and relax in pleasantly warm water The water park offers everything you would expect a large swimming pool suitable for long-distance swimming as well as relaxation areas Fyrishov also features large indoor-sport halls and serves as a concert venue The impressive University Hall can be found just a few meters west of Uppsala’s impressive cathedral and is very easy to reach on foot After its construction in the late 19th century the splendid building served as the home of all the faculties of the local university and is still in use today for lectures and university ceremonies There are also concerts held here as the building features an impressive auditorium with seating for around 1,800 people One of the most impressive features of the University Hall is its large entrance hall so don’t miss visiting the insides of this grand structure.   Bror Hjort is a popular Swedish artist who is known for his traditional crafts The atelier and museum that is accessible by the public today served as the artist’s home during many years of his lifetime (1894 – 1968) What makes his house so attractive today is how cozy and small it is Coming here feels very intimate and there is also a small cafe next door that is very recommendable Bror Hjort’s house is not a must-visit when coming to Uppsala but it is definitely very much worth it for anyone with an interest in art as the works presented here are very diverse and engaging Skokloster Castle is a very elegant structure that is characterized by its four guard towers and its white facades It was built in the 17th century in a beautiful Baroque style and has recently been turned into a museum exhibiting art The castle is remarkably well-maintained and especially the interior with its rich decorations is stunning making the Skolkloster a real must-visit when coming to Uppsala Another great thing about the castle is its scenic location amidst stunning nature on a peninsula south of Uppsala. It has also been named one of the most beautiful castles in Sweden.  Fjällnora Friluftsomrade is a recreational park located at the lovely Lake Trehörningen Despite the chilly water temperatures the park offers a popular public bathing area and adjacent picnic and BBQ areas hiking and cycling paths as well as a camping ground Pedal boats can be rented here and are a great way to get on the water and see the beautiful lush forests of the area from a new perspective In winter the Fjällnora Friluftsomrade offers great cross-country skiing trails as well as ice-skating making the park a great all-year destination.  The “Thing of all Swedes” Mound used to serve as a meeting point for the government of ancient Sweden so-called law speakers would come here to solve problems brought to them by the ordinary people of the area The mount is located in the archeological area of Gamla Uppsala and is a great place to learn about the traditions of the ancient Vikings.   Biotopia is a fantastic nature museum that is ideally suited for all visitors with an interest in nature The displays found here allow seeing and hearing the wildlife of Uppland as if you were deep in the wilderness and there are also displays of extinct animals found here There is also a so-called Biolab which allows hands-on experiments.  Uppsala University manages a number of botanical gardens all over the city Some of them are well-known such as the Linnean Garden with its great museum while others are less frequented but beautiful nonetheless The Botanical Garden west of the Uppsala Castle offers a Tropical Greenhouse and an orangery named after the great botanist It is a very beautiful neoclassical building from 1787 and shouldn’t be missed The orangery houses the garden’s tropical plants and cacti and is open to the public.    Want more recommendations on things to do in Uppsala and I’m a Professional Travel Blogger and Photographer from Sweden I'm currently on a mission to show you the amazing places and diversity that our planet has to offer Read more about me