Tracking your inner Norse...
Vikings originated in what is now Denmark, k Sweden and Norway, and operated from the 7th to 11th centuries, invading and settling via boats as far afield as North America in the west and Central Asia in the east.
The term Viking meant “pirate raid” in the Old Norse language spoken in Scandinavia at the time. But they were not all raiders – many travelled to trade or farm peacefully.
They didn’t wear horned helmets. While it’s a firm fixture on every fancy- dress costume, depictions from the age don’t show them and the only authentic helmet ever discovered doesn’t feature horns. The idea seems to have been made up by 19th- Century painters. The men were relatively well- groomed. Excavations of sites have found tweezers, razors, combs and ear cleaners made from animal bones and antlers. They bathed at least once a week – far more frequently than other people of the time.
Vikings also had a novel way of lighting a fire. They would collect a fungus called touchwood from tree bark and boil it for several days in their urine, before hammering it into a felt- like material. Chemicals found in urine allowed it to smoulder rather than burn, so it could be taken on their voyages.
They were active slavers. While pillaging their way across the world, they would capture women and young men then sell these “thralls” in giant slave markets across Europe and the Middle East.
Vikings also l skied, seeing it as an efficient way to get around. They developed simple skis at least 6,000 years ago and even worshipped a god of skiing called Ullr.
The first Viking raid on British shores took place in the year 787. As pagans, they realised that they could target wealthy and unprotected religious sites then make off with gold, jewels, clothing and cattle.
By 865 they were settling in the north and east of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, even founding Dublin. That’s why just like Jeff, up to 6% of Brits might have Viking DNA.
A six- year scientific study recently revealed that the Vikings were not all tall, blond Norsemen. Examinations of remains from Greenland and across the European continent found genes from southern Europe and Asia.
But the Viking ideal of beauty was blond, so dark- haired fellas used a strong soap made with a mixture of ashes and water to bleach their hair and beards. It also had the added bonus of killing head lice. Scottish former footballer Ally Mccoist also recently revealed he too is descended from Vikings, saying: “My sister traced our heritage back a few years ago and I’m very proud to say I’ve got Viking in me.”