The Chemical Fingerprint of Viking Artifacts

A new study examining the chemical make-up of iron artifacts from the Viking age aims to uncover new insights into where they came from that could reveal previously unknown information about historic events. Scientists from the University of Nottingham are leading the study, which will examine 90 iron Viking artifacts.

These Viking artifacts are weapons that were used in battles at Fulford in North Yorkshire and Bebington Heath on the Wirral. Some other material comes from the Viking camp at Torksey in Lincolnshire, and from the former Viking seaport of Meols. Fulford was the location for a battle in A.D. 1066 between Norse invaders and the Anglo-Saxons, immediately before the better-known battle of Stamford Bridge. The archaeological material consists of iron weapons found at a number of short-lived iron recycling sites that were abandoned by the Norse victors at Fulford when they were defeated at Stamford Bridge five days later.

The iron material from Bebington Heath was recovered from the possible location of the A.D. 937 battle of Brunanburh between Norse-Scottish and Anglo-Saxon armies. The material has been typologically assigned to the late Saxon/Viking period and shows parallels with the Viking artifacts from Fulford. Torksey, in the Lower Trent Valley, was the site of the winter encampment of the Viking Great Army in A.D. 872-873, and ironworking is documented at the site.

The researchers from Nottingham are working with the University of Toulouse (Dr. Jean Milot), the University of York (Professor Dawn Hadley and Professor Julian Richards), Fulford Battlefield Society (Chas Jones), and the Nottinghamshire-based British Geological Survey at Keyworth (Professor Jane Evans) to identify the chemical isotope signature of the iron using Lead, Strontium and Iron Isotope Analysis.

Lead isotope analysis and metal Viking artifacts

Lead isotope analysis has proved effective for provenancing ancient metal Viking artifacts of silver and copper and the team has already conducted a successful pilot study on a smaller sample of Viking artifacts that showed this combination of analyses is effective for provenancing iron Viking artifacts, even when the items are highly corroded. Professor Stephen Harding, an expert in the scientific study of Viking artifacts and the research lead, said:

Professor of Mediterranean Prehistory Mark Pearce adds,

Provided by University of Nottingham [Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.]

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