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Geschiedenis voor herbeginners - gesproken dagblad in virale tijden
We reizen de halve wereld rond, in het spoor van Noormannen en -vrouwen. We zijn getuige van plundertochten en vreemde rituelen, luisteren naar oude sagen en kronieken en vragen ons af of Vikingen wérkelijk de gehoornde terreur van de middeleeuwen waren. WIJ ZIJN: Jonas Goossenaerts (inhoud en vertelstem), Filip Vekemans (montage), Benjamin Goyvaerts (inhoud) en Laurent Poschet (inhoud). MET BIJDRAGEN VAN: Prof. Peter Petré (Engelse en algemene taalkunde, UAntwerpen - Anglo Saxon Chronicle), Niels Engelen (vertaling kronieken en getraumatiseerde monniken), Ward Bal (bijnamen en mythes), Greet Moonen (vikingreis), Leví Sigmarsson (Ijslandse tekst), prof. Brigitte Meijns (middeleeuwse geschiedenis, KULeuven - kritische lectuur tekst). WIL JE ONS EEN FOOI GEVEN? Fooienpod - Al schenkt u tien cent of tien euro, het duurt tien seconden met een handige QR-code. WIL JE ADVERTEREN IN DEZE PODCAST? Neem dan contact op met adverteren@dagennacht.nl MEER WETEN? Onze geraadpleegde en geciteerde bronnen: Barraclough, E. (2025). Verborgen levens: Wat de nieuwste vondsten ons vertellen over de Vikingtijd (C. van Paassen & W. van Paassen, vert.). Omniboek.Brink, Stefan, & Price, N. (Eds.). (2008). The Viking World. London, UK: Routledge.Byock, Jesse. (2001). Viking Age Iceland. London, UK: Penguin Books.Price, Neil. (2002/2019). The Viking Way: Magic and Mind in Late Iron Age Scandinavia. Oxford, UK: Oxbow Books.Price, Neil. (2020). Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings. New York, NY: Basic Books.Ibn Fadlan. (2012). Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness: Arab Travellers in the Far North. (P. Lunde & C. Stone, Trans.). London, UK: Penguin Classics. (Origineel werk ca. 10e eeuw)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this week's episode, Dan and Mags talk with Eleanor Barraclough to break down all the weird and wonderful things she's been involved with, from her latest book, to her work with the BBC, and her extensive studies of Viking Age history, Old Norse literature and mythology.------------------------------------------------Follow Eleanor on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/eleanorbarracloughFollow Margrethe on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/arkeomagsFollow the Podcast on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nordicmythologypodcastIf you like what we do, and would like to be in the audience for live streams of new episodes to ask questions, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NordicMythologypodcastCheck out Dan's company, Horns of Odin, and the wide range of handmade items inspired by Nordic Mythology and the Viking Age. Visit: https://www.hornsofodin.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 390 of the Football Fitness Federation Podcast is with Lecturer in Strength & Conditioning Sam Barraclough We discussed: ▫️EPPP Benchmark testing ▫️Lessons from 10 years of Academy support ▫️Higher Education ▫️Multidisciplinary Profiling & much more! You can connect with Sam on LinkedIn Keep up to date with the amazing work our sponsors are doing here: Good Prep - thegoodprep.com Discover the power of nutrition at WWW.THEGOODPREP.COM and use code FFF15 for 15% off your first order Hytro - hytro.com Maximise your athletic potential with Hytro BFR. Easier, safer and more practical BFR for squads to prepare for and recover from exercise than ever before. Click the link [[ bit.ly/3ILVsbU ]] Join our online community & get access to the very best Football Fitness content as well as the ability to connect with Sport Scientists and Strength & Conditioning coaches from around the world. To get FULL access to all of these & even more like this, sign up to a FREE month on our online community at the link below. www.footballfitfed.com/forum/index.a… Keep up to date with everything that is going on at Football Fitness Federation at the following links: X - @FootballFitFed Instagram - @FootballFitFed Website - www.footballfitfed.com
Eleanor Barraclough explores the hidden histories of the Viking Age by focusing on the real lives of Norse individuals through everyday objects rather than modern myths. A primary example is a 1200 AD runic message discovered on a sliver of wood in Bergen, Norway, from a woman named Gytha who writes "Gytha says that you should go home" to her husband while he was drinking in a tavern. While Gytha's message is clear, her husband's attempt at a response on the other side is completely unintelligible, likely due to his inebriated state. These spiky runes were often carved into hard surfaces like wood, stone, or even bone to serve as private, personal communications. Barraclough, who has a background in Old Norse language and literature, derived the title of her book, "Embers of the Hands," from an Old Norse kenning for gold which she repurposed to symbolize precious human stories found in historical ephemera. The Viking Age itself is traditionally marked by the shocking 793 AD raid on the rich monastery at Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, which sent terror-filled shockwaves across Europe. This era is characterized by a vast diaspora reaching from Arctic Scandinavia to the North Atlantic and eastward down Eurasian waterways to the Islamic Caliphate. 1/81600 SCANDANAVIA
Viking raiders often targeted Christian monasteries for their beautifully decorated reliquaries, which were holy containers designed to house the remains of saints. While monks valued the sacred relics inside, the Norse raiders disregarded the contents, often shaking the relics out to claim the precious metal and jewels for themselves. These objects were frequently taken back to Norway and repurposed as jewelry or gifts for women, as evidenced by reliquary fragments found in female burial mounds. This pattern suggests that early raids were largely driven by young males seeking the wealth and status necessary to establish households and find wives back in Scandinavia. Barraclough also addresses the theory that female infanticide may have contributed to a gender imbalance, further fueling the need for men to go raiding. Beyond material wealth, the Norse worldview was deeply influenced by a belief in an unseen supernatural world that could impact human health and fate. An unusual artifact from Denmark, a human skull fragment carved with runes, served as a protective amulet against "dwarves" or other malevolent beings believed to cause sickness. In this context, supernatural entities like elves and dwarves occupied a similar space in the Norse mentality as modern concepts like germs or viruses. 4/81747 SCANDANAVIA
The conclusion of the Viking Age is often associated with the pivotal year 1066, marked by the death of Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Hardrada was a legendary King of Norway who had lived an extraordinary life, serving as an imperial bodyguard in the Byzantine capital of Constantinople where he was rewarded with gold or "embers of the hands." He sought to reclaim the English throne, which had previously been held by King Canute during the era of the North Sea Empire that united England, Denmark, and parts of Norway. While 1066 is a convenient historical bookmark, Barraclough argues it is an Anglo-centric view that ignores the persistence of Norse culture in other regions like Greenland or Russia. The era also featured figures like Harald Bluetooth, who famously claimed to have converted the Danes to Christianity and whose runic initials now serve as the symbol for modern Bluetooth technology. Another symbolic ending occurred much later in 1263 at the Battle of Largs, where King Haakonof Norway faced off against King Alexander III of Scotland. Although the battle was inconclusive, Haakon'ssubsequent death in Orkney led to the Western Isles being ceded to Scotland, marking the end of significant Norwegian political control in the region. 7/81630
Eleanor Barraclough explores how reliquaries — holy Christian containers — were stolen during raids and repurposed as jewelry for Norse women, suggesting early raids were driven by young men seeking wealth and status to establish households. Barraclough also addresses the theory of female infanticide as a potential driver for these male-dominated expeditions, alongside a human skull fragment carved with runes as a protective amulet against "dwarves," believed to cause sickness. (4)
Eleanor Barraclough offers a poignant look at the Norse settlement of Greenland, founded by Eric the Red in 985 AD. At the Herjolfsness graveyard, well-preserved organic material reveals the coarse, patched clothing of 15th-century inhabitants, indicating their isolation and decline. As the climate cooled, the Norse struggled while the Inuit thrived, with the final records including a witch burning in 1407 and a wedding in 1408 — the last known activities before the colony vanished. (8)1946 RUNE. SWEDEN.
Eleanor Barraclough recounts archaeological discoveries in the Surtshellir lava cave in Iceland, revealing it as a site for ritual offerings to the fire giant Surtr. Deep inside, researchers found a stone boat outline containing jasper fire-starters and animal bones intended to placate volcanic forces. Remarkably, the final offering left after Christian conversion was a metal cross — a ritualized farewell to the old gods, as a saga poem uses volcanic imagery to represent the end of the pagan era. (6)
Eleanor Barraclough notes the Viking Age is often said to end in 1066 with the death of Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge — a legendary figure who served as an imperial bodyguard in Constantinople before returning to Norway to claim the English throne. Barraclough argues this date is Anglo-centric, noting Norse influence continued elsewhere, with another symbolic conclusion occurring in 1263 at the Battle of Largs, when Norway lost control of the Western Isles to the Scottish crown. (7)
Eleanor Barraclough discusses the Kievan Rus, where Norse leaders eventually assimilated into Slavic populations, changing names like Helga to Olga. A significant archaeological mystery is the Salme ships in Estonia, dated to 750 AD — decades before the Lindisfarne raid — containing high-status Swedes with gaming pieces, hunting dogs, and falcons, suggesting a failed diplomatic mission rather than a raid. The popular board game Hnefatafl is highlighted as a cultural staple played across all social classes. (3)
Eleanor Barraclough details the evolution of the Vikings from raiders to conquerors and settlers who established vast territories. Following a massive raid on Paris that yielded 7,000 pounds of gold, the "Great Heathen Army" invaded England in 865 AD, creating the Danelaw where Norse law and place names left a permanent linguistic imprint. Simultaneously, the "Rus" expanded eastward, navigating Eurasian rivers to settle Novgorod by 862 AD, demonstrating the dual-facing nature of the Norse diaspora. (2)
Eleanor Barraclough explores the real lives of the Norse people through everyday objects, focusing on private communication rather than myth. She highlights a 1200 AD runic message from a woman named Gytha ordering her husband home from a tavern. The book's title, Embers of the Hands, is a poetic kenning for gold representing precious, personal stories. The 793 AD Lindisfarne raid is identified as the traditional, shocking start of the Viking Age that sent waves of terror across Europe. (1)
In this episode, Keegan sits down with marathon runner and creator Jake Barraclough, who moved from the UK to Japan to immerse himself in one of the toughest distance-running cultures in the world. Training up to 280km per week, Jake shares how discipline, resilience, and relentless curiosity drive his pursuit of Olympic-level performance. From overcoming major health setbacks to documenting his journey for more than 120,000 YouTube subscribers, Jake reveals the mindset behind pushing human limits. This conversation dives into Japanese training culture, elite endurance, and why most people never discover how far they can truly go.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You can say, eat and do all the right things to become a healthier human being and can still get sick if you don't go deeper into your soul and truly live good health from the inside outward.In this week's tag-team conversation on Spirit Gym between Paul and Dr. Nick Dawe, Nathan Siles and Ryan Barraclough, you'll discover that some of the best things you can do to achieve greater health are completely free and why finding the middle path really matters.Check out Biotra: An Approach to Healthy Living in a Modern World, the book written by Nick, Ryan and Nathan, on Amazon, the Biotra website and Instagram.Find out more about Nathan at Biospectral Systems and Instagram. Learn more about Nick's approaches to healthier living on Substack. Check our Ryan's work at his website and the Embodied Man Institute.For Spirit Gym listeners: Save 15 percent on Biospectral Blue Light Blocking Glasses at Nathan's Biospectral Systems website by using the code SPIRITGYM when you checkout. Timestamps5:56 “You can be as healthy as you want, but if you hate yourself, you're [not healthy].”10:57 Natural intelligence versus artificial intelligence.22:20 Nick's passion — exploring and understanding the deepest codes of how human movement originates — mirrors what led Paul to the development of CHEK Totem Pole and his Primal Pattern™ movement system.34:23 Nathan's mission with Biotra: Illuminating the invisible and explaining to the modern world why chronic diseases and many athletic injuries are happening that surprise people.41:18 Why do healthy people become sick?53:32 Helping people find the middle path.1:05:31 The core principle of Biotra: The gentle weaving of biophysics, biomechanics and psycho-spirituality.1:11:37 Biophysics: How life moves energy and information.ResourcesNick's first Spirit Gym conversation with PaulNathan's Biophysical Foundations CourseFind more resources for this episode on our website.Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz), Composed, mixed, mastered and produced by Michael RB Schwartz of Brave Bear MusicThanks to our awesome sponsors:PaleovalleyBIOptimizers US and BIOptimizers UK PAUL15Organifi CHEK20Wild PasturesKorrect SPIRITGYMPique LifeCHEK Institute We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.
Vikingtidshistorie fortelles ofte ovenfra og ned, gjennom mektige skikkelser som høvdinger, hærførere og kongelige, der hærtokt, plyndring og krig utgjør kjernen i fortellingen. Men hva med alle andre? Hvordan var det egentlig å leve et vanlig liv som bonde, kjøpmann, kone eller barn?Dette spørsmålet står i sentrum i britiske Eleanor Barracloughs bok Historiens glør (til norsk ved Rune R. Moen). Her tar hun utgangspunkt i arkeologiske funn for å fortelle om vanlige folks liv under vikingtiden, og viser at det under overflaten finnes historier som er like dramatiske som i de store heltefortellingene.På scenen møter hun sin norske forfatter-kollega Tore Skeie. Med bøker som Jomfruen fra nord, Hvitekrist og den kommende Hardråde, skildrer Skeie en levende og brutal vikingtid full av utslagsgivende hendelser. Skeies metode er oftest å tilnærme seg historien gjennom overklassen, som Olav den hellige og adelsmannen Alv Erlingsson.Skeie og Barraclough skriver vikingtidshistorie fra hvert sitt perspektiv – nedenfra og opp og ovenfra og ned. Hva kan disse måtene å lese historien på lære av hverandre?Samtalen ble ledet av forfatter, kritiker og norrønfilolog Carline Tromp.Arrangementet fant sted på Norsk sakprosafestival 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The history of the Vikings is usually told from the top down, through powerful characters such as chiefs, commanders and royalty, with raids, looting and war at the centre of the narrative. But what about all the others? What was it like to live a normal life as farmer, a merchant, wife or child?This is the central question in a recent book by British Eleanor Barraclough, Embers of the Hands. Taking her starting point from archaeological finds in order to tell the story of ordinary people's lives in the Viking Age, she reveals how, beneath the surface, we find stories equally dramatic to the great heroic tales of those on the top.On stage, she will be joined by her Norwegian colleague Tore Skeie. With books such as his award winning The Wolf Age: The Vikings, the Anglo-Saxons, and the battle for the North Sea Empire, Skeie depicts a both vivid and brutal Viking Age rife with decisive events. Skeie's approach to history is mainly through the upper class, such as through Saint Olaf or the nobleman Alv Erlingsson.Skeie and Barraclough write the history of the Viking Age from two different perspectives; from the bottom up and from the top down. What can these two ways of reading history learn from each other?The conversation was moderated by Carline Tromp, writer, critic and old norse philologist.The event was part of the Festival of Non-Fiction 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
THE FIRE GIANT'S CAVE AND RITUAL OFFERINGS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The discussion descends into Surtshellir, a massive lava cave in Iceland associated with the fire giant Surt. Barraclough describes archaeological finds deep within the cave, including a stone wall and a boat-shaped structure filled with burnt offerings like bones and jasper. She posits these were sacrifices to appease a fire being following a volcanic eruption around 900 AD. The final offering, a Christian cross, suggests a closure to these rituals. Barraclough connects this to a saga poem where a giant predicts the end of the pagan world. NUMBER 6
RUNES, TAVERN MESSAGES, AND HIDDEN HISTORIES Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. John Batchelorinterviews Eleanor Barraclough about her book, Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age. They discuss a specific runic inscription from roughly 1200 AD found on a piece of wood in a tavern in Bergen, Norway. The message is from a woman named Gyda telling her husband to come home, to which he seemingly carved a nonsensical, drunken response. Barraclough explains her methodology of using such everyday objects—"embers of the hands"—to reveal the personal lives of individuals often lost in the grand scope of history. The segment also establishes the 793 AD raid on Lindisfarne as the traditional, shocking start of the Viking Age. NUMBER 1
CONQUEST, THE DANELAW, AND THE EASTERN RUS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The conversation shifts from raiding to conquest, detailing the arrival of the "Great Heathen Army" in England around 865. Barracloughexplains that this force was likely comprised of smaller mobile warbands that eventually reached a stalemate with King Alfred, leading to the creation of the Danelaw and lasting linguistic influences on English place names. The discussion then moves east to the "Rus" (rowers) who navigated the waterways of Eurasia. Led by figures like Rurik, these Scandinavians settled in Novgorod and later Kiev, establishing a political foundation in what is now Russia and Ukraine. NUMBER 2
ASSIMILATION AND THE SALME SHIP MYSTERY Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. Barraclough highlights how the Norse assimilated into Eastern cultures, adopting Slavic names and gods within generations. The focus then turns to a major mystery: the Salme ship burials in Estonia, discovered in 2013. These burials, dated to around 750 AD, predate the Lindisfarne raid and contain warriors buried with high honors, including gaming pieces and falcons, despite having died violently. Barraclough suggests this might have been a diplomatic mission gone wrong. A key artifact mentioned is a King piece from the board game hnefatafl found in a leader's mouth, adding to the mystery of who buried them. NUMBER 3
ELIQUARIES, MARRIAGE, AND AMULETS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. Barraclough explains how religious reliquaries looted from monasteries were often repurposed as jewelry for women in Norway. She discusses the theory that female infanticide may have caused a shortage of women, motivating young men to raid for wealth to secure marriage. The conversation then examines a human skull fragment from Ribe, Denmark, carved with runes. Barraclough interprets this object as a protective amulet against dwarves or elves, which the Norse believed caused sickness, illustrating their concept of an unseen world influencing physical reality. NUMBER 4
MYTHOLOGY AND THE MURDER OF SNORRI Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. Barraclough discusses the difficulty of accessing Norse beliefs, as most sources, like Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, were written post-conversion. She outlines dramatic myths, including the creation of the world from the giant Ymir and its destruction at Ragnarok, featuring a ship made from the fingernails of the dead. The segment covers Snorri's life as a politician in 13th-century Iceland during a bloody civil war. Barraclough recounts his assassination in his own basement on the orders of the Norwegian king, noting his final words were "don't strike." NUMBER 5
THE FIRE GIANT'S CAVE AND RITUAL OFFERINGS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The discussion descends into Surtshellir, a massive lava cave in Iceland associated with the fire giant Surt. Barraclough describes archaeological finds deep within the cave, including a stone wall and a boat-shaped structure filled with burnt offerings like bones and jasper. She posits these were sacrifices to appease a fire being following a volcanic eruption around 900 AD. The final offering, a Christian cross, suggests a closure to these rituals. Barraclough connects this to a saga poem where a giant predicts the end of the pagan world. NUMBER 6
THE LONELY END OF NORSE GREENLAND Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The final segment explores the disappearance of the Norse settlement in Greenland, focusing on the Herjolfsnes graveyard. Preserved clothing from the 15th century reveals garments that were patched repeatedly, symbolizing the colony's isolation and poverty. Barracloughdescribes a poignant detail: a woman's dress that ripped as she was buried, marking the end of the settlement. Factors discussed include a cooling climate and interactions with the Inuit, evidenced by carved wooden figures. The history closes with a report of a witch burning in 1407, near the colony's end. NUMBER 8
Autonomy may scale in agriculture long before it does in defense or UAM, and today's guest makes a compelling case why. We speak with Edward Barraclough, founder and CEO of Drone-Hand, about applying autonomous drones and on-device AI to the realities of livestock operations across Australia, New Zealand, North America, and beyond.Edward explains why ranching is the perfect proving ground for autonomy: massive land areas, urgent labor shortages, permissive operating environments, and ROI that's measured in days - not years. We explore how drones are already replacing helicopters on million-acre cattle stations, why biological data creates one of the deepest moats in autonomy, the role of trust and repeatability for producers, and how CASA's regulatory evolution compares to FAA and EASA. It's a rare look at autonomy where economics, biology, and geography collide.
CEO of Youth Off The Streets joins joins John to discuss the work done by the organisation. Listen to John Stanley live on air from 8pm Monday to Thursday and from 7pm on Friday on 2GB/4BC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
OUT NOW - A very special episode!! Host Pamela Cook sits down with authors Alli Sinclair and Michelle Barraclough for a lively chat about what writers can learn from Taylor Swift — from the art of emotional honesty and lyrical precision to the genius of bridges, Easter eggs, and reinvention. They dive into Taylor’s storytelling craft, her bold business choices, and how her evolution as an artist mirrors the creative journey of writers everywhere. Expect fangirling, craft talk, and plenty of inspiration for finding your own rhythm in writing and life. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction & Acknowledgement of Country[03:00] Podcast updates, Substack perks, and upcoming guests[07:00] Meet the guests: Alli Sinclair & Michelle Barraclough[09:00] Taylor Swift’s storytelling genius[14:00] What makes us Swifties — music, emotion & connection[18:00] Emotional honesty in writing[22:00] Conciseness and the art of lyricism[26:00] Storytelling lessons from Folklore and Evermore[31:00] The bridge as a turning point — parallels in fiction[38:00] Literary and pop-culture references in songwriting[43:00] The art of light and shade in storytelling[46:00] Easter eggs, foreshadowing, and narrative payoff[54:00] Owning your creative rights — lessons from “Taylor’s Version”[59:00] Branding, authenticity, and community-building[1:04:00] Evolution, work ethic, and writing inspiration[1:07:00] Wrap-up and bonus chat preview SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Substack: https://writes4women.substack.com/ Alli Sinclair Website : click here Facebook: click here Instagram: click here Michelle Barraclough Fresh Web Design: click here Michelle Barraclough: Click here Writers' Book Club Podcast: click here Facebook: click here Instagram: click here Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here Instagram: click here This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal Country. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=trueSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
8. Greenland's Final Days: The Mystery of Herjolfsnes and the Fifteenth-Century End Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The final chapter focuses on the end of Norse settlement in Greenland, begun by Eric the Red around 985 AD. Herjolfsnes, one of the last settlements, preserved the clothes and bodies of the final generations in its graveyard, dating into the early fifteenth century. The garments were patched, coarse woolen pieces reflecting the declining status and isolation caused partly by climate change. One woman's dress tore when she was buried—a poignant detail. The Norse interacted with the Inuit, who may have carved figures depicting Norse dress. The final reports include a man burned for seducing a married woman through witchcraft in 1407 and a wedding in 1408. The ultimate fate of the last few inhabitants remains an unsolved mystery. 1949
1. Everyday Objects and the Shocking Start of the Viking Age Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The book uses everyday objects to explore the real lives of the people known as Vikings. For example, a runic message carved on wood from Norway around 1200 AD shows a woman named Gia telling her inebriated husband, who is in a tavern, to come home. Runes were spiky letters often carved into hard surfaces like wood or bone, possibly originating during the Roman Empire. The book's title is a kenning, an Old Norse poetic device in which "Embers of the Hands" originally meant gold but here refers to precious, personal objects. The Viking Age is generally dated from 750 to 1100 AD, with a defining start marked by the shocking raid on the wealthy monastery at Lindisfarne in 793 AD.
2. From Raiders to Rulers: The Danelaw and the Eastern Expansion of the Norse Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The discussion highlights the transformation of Vikings from raiders—who famously plundered Paris for 7,000 pounds of gold—to military conquerors. The Great Heathen Army arrived in England around 865, conquering East Anglia, Northumbria, and Mercia. The subsequent stalemate led to an agreement between King Alfred and the Norse leader Guthrum toward the end of the ninth century. This accord established the Danelaw, granting the Norse political and legal control over vast swathes of England, evidenced today by Old Norse influences in place names. The Norse cultural sphere was enormous, characterized by a diaspora that spread east and west. People from what is now Sweden moved down Eurasian waterways, becoming known as the Varangians, or Russ (rowers), and settled Novgorod in 862.
3. Kievan Rus Assimilation and the Unsolved Mystery of the Salme Ships Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age In the east, Rurik and his company founded what became Kievan Rus, shifting their power base south from Novgorod (862) to Kiev. Although people of Norse heritage controlled the area initially, they were a minority who mastered cultural assimilation with Slavic groups. Norse names like Ingvar and Helga became Slavicized as Igor and Olga, demonstrating extensive cultural mixing. The text also covers the mystery of the Salme ships in Estonia, recently discovered. These two ship burials, dated around 750 AD and predating Lindisfarne, contained the remains of dozens of high-status individuals from Sweden who died violently, likely on a diplomatic mission. One leader was buried with the king piece of the popular board game Hnefatafl placed in his mouth—an intentional act of storytelling.
. Reliquaries, Status Seeking, and Rune Amulets Against Dwarves Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The discussion moves to reliquaries, originally used in a Christian context, such as at Lindisfarne, to house saints' relics. Norse raiders prized the metal and decoration, discarded the relics, and brought them back to Norway, often gifting them to women. These items were passed down through female generations or repurposed as brooches, suggesting that early raids were often masculine activities focused on acquiring wealth and status necessary for young men to secure a wife and establish a home. Pre-Christian belief systems involved protective runes and amulets against malevolence caused by supernatural beings such as elves or dwarves. A human skull fragment from Geber, Denmark, dating to the early eighth century, was carved with runes, possibly intended to guard against sickness caused by dwarves. 1919
5. Creation, Ragnarok, and the Cautionary Tale of Post-Conversion Norse Mythology Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age Accessing Norse belief systems requires caution because the main textual sources, such as the Prose and Poetic Eddas, were written in the thirteenth century in Iceland, after the conversion to Christianity. Snorri Sturluson, a poet and politician murdered in thirteenth-century Iceland, composed the Prose Edda as a handbook to preserve the myths. Norse creation mythology describes life beginning in Ginungagap, the eternal void where the fire world (Muspel) met the ice world (Niflheim), forming the primordial ice giant Ymir. The mythological destruction, Ragnarok (the doom of the gods), involves the fire giant Surtr and Loki arriving on Naglfar, a ship terrifyingly constructed from the fingernails of dead people. 1920
6. Kerið Cave: Offerings to the Fire Giant in Iceland's Liminal Space Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age A recent discovery in Iceland is Kerið cave, a lava tube associated with the fire giant Surtr, formed by a volcanic eruption around 900 AD. Deep inside, archaeologists found a massive built wall, unburned animal bones, and stones arranged in the outline of a boat. Within the boat, offerings related to fire—ornaments, jasper, and burned bones—were left, likely intended to placate the fire being dwelling further within, possibly responsible for the volcanic activity. This site represents a liminal space, a meeting point between the physical world and the mythological worlds of fire and ice. After Iceland's official Christian conversion around 1000 AD, a metal cross was left as the final offering, seemingly closing off the pagan practice
7. Defining the End: 1066, Harold Hardrada, and the Battle of Largs Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The ending of the Viking Age is explored through political shifts. The year 1066 AD is conventionally used as the endpoint, marking the death of Harold Hardrada, King of Norway, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Hardrada, a larger-than-life figure who had served the Byzantine emperor, based his English claim on Cnut's North Sea Empire. William of Normandy, who triumphed shortly thereafter, was of culturally assimilated Norse descent—Norman means Northmen. However, 1066 is Anglocentric. A later marker is the 1263 Battle of Largs, where conflict between King Hákon of Norway and King Alexander III of Scotland over the Western Isles ended with Hákon's death. This effectively ended Norway's political control in the region, although Norse culture persisted. 1920 John Carter on Mars
Barraclough interprets objects like reliquaries, initially used in Christian contexts to house relics. Norse raiders took these back to Norway, valuing the metal and jewels while often discarding the relics inside. These reliquaries were given as presents to women and passed down female generations, suggesting early raids were motivated by young men seeking wealth and status to attract wives and set up farmsteads. The conversation also covers pre-Christian belief systems, specifically a piece of human skull found in Denmark (Ribe, early 8th century) with runes carved on it. This object may have been an amulet intended to protect against malevolent supernatural beings like dwarves or elves, which were believed to cause sickness. 1904 VIKING AGE
Barraclough describes the lava cave Surtshellir in Iceland, named after the fire giant Surtr, where new archaeological evidence has been found. Deep within the cave, a man-made wall and a stone outline shaped like a boat were discovered. Inside the boat, offerings associated with fire and burning (ornaments, jasper, burnt bones) were left, suggesting efforts to placate the fire being dwelling further inside the lava field, possibly after the major volcanic eruption around 900 AD. After Iceland officially converted to Christianity around 1000 AD, a final offering—a metal cross—was left in the cave, marking the transition away from this pagan ritual.
CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor AUTHOR NAME: Eleanor Barraclough BOOK TITLE: Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age GUEST NAME: Eleanor Barraclough 100 WORD SUMMARY: The segment introduces Eleanor Barraclough'Es book, Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age, which draws history from everyday objects. The title's source, "embers of the hands," is an Old Norse kenning for gold, repurposed here to refer to precious, personal artifacts. Barraclough shares a favorite piece of evidence: a runic message from Gyða telling her inebriated husband in a Bergen tavern around 1200 AD to "go home." The discussion then addresses the traditional starting point of the Viking Age, 750 to 1100 AD. The symbolic start is the shocking 793 AD raid on Lindisfarne (Holy Island), a very rich monastery in northeast England, which generated fear across Europe.
This segment focuses on Vikings as conquerors, noting successful raids like the one on Paris, which yielded 7,000 pounds of gold. Around 865 AD, the Great Heathen Army arrived in England, conquering East Anglia, Northumbria, and Mercia. The resulting stalemate with King Alfred led to the establishment of the Danelaw around 878–880 AD, giving Norse people political and legal control over a vast area of England. Norse settlement is evidenced by Old Norse influences in place names within the Danelaw. Barraclough also discusses the eastern expansion of the Vikings—the Rus (rowers), originating from modern Sweden, who moved down the Volga and Dnieper rivers, establishing settlements like Novgorod in 862 AD.
Preview: Historian Eleanor Barraclough discusses a story preserved in a later saga (13th/14th century) about two men sheltering in an Icelandic cave after conversion. They encounter a mountain giant whose two glowing eyes resemble full moons. The giant recites a poem of 12 verses containing volcanic imagery ("dark flames drive the spit," "roaring of the spark storm"), describing the driving underground of the giants ("clay folk") as their world ends.
PREVIEW: "EMBERS OF THE HANDS: HIDDEN HISTORIES OF THE VIKING AGE" BY ELEANOR BARRACLOUGH answers the question, why did the Norsemen go "viking"? More to come. 1790 GREENLAND
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PREVIEW: ENGLAND: Author Eleanor Barraclough, "Embers of the Hands," finds the end of the Viking Age symbolized in an unmended garment on a female corpse. More later tonight.. 2011 Bayeux Tapestry
PREVIEW: ENGLAND: Author Eleanor Barraclough, "Ember of the Hands," presents the infamous Norse conquest of Britain by the Great Heathen Army as much more helter-skelter than traditionally depicted. More later. 1850
PREVIEW: ICELAND: Author Eleanor Barraclough, "Ember of the Hands," tells the saga story of the sad creature of the underworld recognizing his time has ended as the Norse convert to Christianity. More later tonight. 1904
Preview: Author Eleanor Barraclough, "Embers of the Hands," describes the adventures and ambitions of the King of Norway, Harald Hardrada, who fell in the battle for England. More later in the week. 1899
PREVIEW: VIKING AGE: Why did the Norse risk raiding? Eleanor Barraclough, author "Embers of the Hands," explains the motives. More in the new week. 1850
Preview: Alfred the Great: Historian Eleanor Barraclough, Author, "Embers of the Hands," explains how the Great Heathen Army of the Norse took hold of England. More in the new week. 1904
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