One of Europe’s best preserved Viking settlements has been discovered in County Louth, Ireland. Archaeologists believe the settlement dates back to 841, the same year that Dublin was founded.
"Attempts to identify this site date back over 200 years and the significance of it is immense. It will be up there with all the major Viking sites in Europe," according to Eamonn Kelly, the keeper of antiquities with the National Museum who has taken a personal interest in the search.
Locals in Louth were aware of the localities links to the Viking era but had no idea just how strong those connections were.
Excavations on the site began earlier this month and have so far uncovered a human skull, rivets used to build and repair ships, silver used for weighting and exchanging, a spindle whorl for spinning thread and a brooch pin.
The director of the excavations, Dr. Mark Clinton told the Irish Independent, "In 841 the Vikings over-wintered for the first time instead of raiding and leaving. The annals said they over-wintered here and in Dublin and this location was elusive. Until now."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.bunkerhill | Jun 28, 2011, 02:38 PM EDT
Vikings! Mighty conquerors! All subject to royals related to all the other royals in Europe. Of course these royals want their subjects to be viewed as mighty and superior. At least as long as they are content to pay the taxes that keep the royals in place. What about the viking boad reproduction that sunk on demonstration in Dublin Harbor? The "Vikings" didn't found cities. They had no land so they lived in groups. There is something terribly wrong with the Irish psyche. Granted their DNA shows they are the most diverse group in Western Europe, and all intermingled, (even most Scots from the North) but no one group was better than another.
zagloba | Sep 23, 2010, 05:05 PM EDT
Very interesting, as it is part of the transition from raiders to invaders, to oversimplfy. Indeed, to agree with nosoup, "Where in Louth?" Also, I hate to be picky, but vikings did not use winged or horned helmets. Your illustration looks like an ad for a Wagner opera!
ballyhip | Sep 21, 2010, 11:04 AM EDT
Right on longfella! Maybe they can make it uglier and more out of place than Wood Quay municipal building.
edmundburke | Sep 20, 2010, 07:50 PM EDT
Its at Annagassan (compliments of Google News)
Ms.Gail | Sep 20, 2010, 10:12 AM EDT
I really like these stories of ancient finds and look forward to more details.
longfella | Sep 19, 2010, 05:16 PM EDT
It will be important for the government to move fast to build an office block on it as they did with the last "best preserved viking settlement ever found" at Wood Quay in Dublin.
nosoupforU | Sep 19, 2010, 02:40 PM EDT
Where in the hell do you people get your reporters? Where in Louth????????????
kell7757 | Sep 19, 2010, 02:27 PM EDT
Where have you been hiding? Everyone knows viking blood is part of Ireland.
Barbaracvm | Sep 19, 2010, 10:05 AM EDT
Ah yes the pure blood Irish? !