Viking Age Toy Is Unearthed, But Experts Can’t Tell What It’s Supposed To Be
Image via Antikva / NIKU (Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research)
Archaeologists have uncovered a small yet significant treasure at the windswept Fjordur farm site in Seydisfjordur, Iceland—a Viking-era toy believed to have belonged to a child.
This tiny stone figurine, thought to date back to between 940 and 1,000 CE, offers a rarely-seen glimpse into the lives of Viking children. Carved from volcanic rock—yellow-brown palagonite tuff, in particular—the plaything measures just five centimeters (two inches) long and 2.7 centimeters (one inch) tall.
Experts, however, are having a cow over which animal this character represents. Some think the toy may depict a pig, wild boar, or bear, while others lean toward the idea that it could represent the early form of the Icelandic sheepdog. The Vikings brought the Scandinavian spitz to Iceland in the 8th century, and this dog is widely considered the forerunner of the modern Icelandic breed.
Stórmerkilegur gripur- leikfang fannst í skálanum, útskorið dýr úr gjóskubergi. Við höllumst að því að þetta sé björn...
Posted by Fjörður - Seyðisfjörður fornleifar on Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Despite a small chip on one of the figurine’s ears, it remains in surprisingly good condition, standing upright on all fours as if frozen in play.
The discovery is particularly exciting because toys from the Viking Age are rare. Ragnheiour Traustadottir, the excavation manager, noted that it offers a valuable window into the lives of Norse children, who are not often visible in archaeological records.
“We can imagine that the figure has been a highly treasured toy, which was perhaps also deeply missed by its owner,” shares the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) in a statement. The institute has created a 3D model of the artifact so admirers can take a closer look at it without causing damage.
Finding this toy at a Viking longhouse site gives us a clearer picture of childhood in Viking society—reminding us that while these children lived in a rugged, harsh environment, they too found time to play.
[via Smithsonian Magazine, Artnet News, Archaeology Mag, Live Science, images via various sources]
