[MR] SMITHSONIAN: Oxford Viking Burial

[Marybeth Lavrakas]

Thank you for another useful post!  The article can also be read online, for free.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/A-Viking-Mystery.html

Kateryn Rous

--- On Tue, 10/5/10, Garth G. Groff <ggg9y at virginia.edu> wrote:

> From: Garth G. Groff <ggg9y at virginia.edu>
> Subject: [MR] SMITHSONIAN: Oxford Viking Burial
> To: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org, isenfir at virginia.edu
> Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 7:43 AM
>  Noble friends,
> 
> The October 2010 SMITHSONIAN features an article entitled
> "A Viking Mystery" by David Keys. The author discusses a
> mass grave of apparently slaughtered Vikings discovered at
> Oxford. Analysis of the bones shows that some of the men
> bore traces of burns, many had stab wounds to their torsos,
> some show huge skull wounds, and several were beheaded. This
> coincides with historical accounts of the Saxon King
> Aethelred's "ethnic cleansing" of Viking mercenaries on St.
> Brice's Day, November 13, 1002. Surviving texts say some
> Vikings at Oxford retreated to a church which the
> Anglo-Saxons then set on fire to drive them out, then killed
> the survivors. Grim stuff, but here's the physical evidence
> of what the ancient manuscript says.
> 
> This article is well worth reading, and includes three
> period color illustrations, seven modern illustrations and a
> map. If you don't subscribe to SMITHSONIAN, you can
> certainly find a copy in almost any public library.
> 
> Kind regards,
> 
> 
> Lord Mungo Napier, Shire of Isenfir's Unofficial Librarian
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