The Ostrogoths
The Ostrogoths are one of two major groups which made up the Goths. The word literally means “the eastern Goths”. It is assumed that classical writers divided the Goths into east and west as a reference to where they lived, and not as tribal identity or origin story.
Archaeologically, there are plenty of similarities between the Ostrogoths and the Visigoths. For example the so-called eagle brooches (image above) are very similar. However the Ostrogoths were more generous in grave goods than their western “cousins”, with most finds being exceptionally decorated.
The earliest cultural expansion of the Goths was located in modern Ukraine. Hunnic expansion forced the goths further south to southwest into Rome. The Ostrogoths were caught between the Huns and the Romans and often switched sides. After the Hunnic empire fell, the road to Rome was open.
Theodorik entered modern day Italy with his troupes and made Ravenna the capital of his empire (instead of the city of Rome). The Western Roman empire had “fallen”, a Germanic king ruled Italia and the mythology of Theodorik was born.
Grave goods found in Cesena, Italia. 5th century.
Museum numbers: FG 1068, FG 1069, FG 1240, FG 461, FG 1610, FG 1611 & FG 1612
Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürenberg - Germany
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I’m kind of thinking about making a third tumblr account dedicated to Germanic and Viking archaeology. Viking stuff is often romanticized, Frankish stuff gets all the attention while Merovingian stuff is hugely under appreciated. And if you look for anything Anglo-Saxon, you only get to see Sutton Hoo results.
Would anyone be interested in that?
Edit: I MADE ONE! @merovingian-marvels
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Jellinge style brooch, historic museum, Oslo, Norway. Photo by mararie.
Learn more / Daha fazlası
https://www.archaeologs.com/w/jellinge-style/
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The ruins of Lindisfarne
Source: Entwistle, D. (2017, April 24). Lindisfarne. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6547/lindisfarne/
The Viking Gjermundbu helmet
Source: Vitenskapsmuseet, N. (2018, May 31). Viking Age Helmet. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8848/viking-age-helmet/
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Viking Age
-- lasted from 793 to 1066 CE
-- starts with the raid on Lindisfarne
-- ends with the Norman invasion of England
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Patreon
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Reunion
In 2021, researchers discovered that an 11th century skeleton uncovered from a grave in Otterup, Denmark in 2005 was related to a skeleton found in a mass grave in Oxford, England in 2008. DNA analysis showed them to be half-brothers, uncle and nephew or grandfather and grandson.
The man found in Oxford died young and it's speculated that he died during the St Brice's Day massacre, an attack on all Danes in England ordered by King Æthelred the Unready after an increase in Danish raids on England. The man found in Denmark died around the age of 50, having lived a farmer's life, but not one without combat.
After a century separated by the North Sea, the two relatives were reunited for an exhibition at The National Museum of Denmark.
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The Wijnaldum brooch
ig: @woedans / @museumperspective
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Humans have modified their bodies in various ways throughout history, tattooing, piercing, scarring, implanting, or even deforming parts of their anatomy. In spite of its ubiquity, it's not always clear why. Cultural traditions are a strong factor, as are beauty standards, which vary across time and place.
A new analysis of remains of individuals who lived in Viking Age Gotland around a thousand years ago suggests that their own body modifications reinforced social identities.
Continue Reading.
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King’s Field Pendant
This magnificent pendant is the ultimate proof that the “Dark Ages” is an academic concept. Rather than Europe plummeting into darkness because of the “fall” of the Western Roman Empire, it’s more the lack of academic interest in the Early Middle Ages.
This Anglo-Saxon pendant was found on King’s Field (Kent) and is made of gold and garnet, but decorated extremely intricately with gabuchon, filigree and granulation. The garnet was used to form a triskele with round centre and ending in bird heads. At just 3,5 cm across, this was made by a master craftsman with materials from all over the known world.
The pendant might have been worn on a bit of string or rope, or it may have been worn as part of a glass beaded necklace. The pendant likely belonged to a woman.
The British museum, England
Museum nr. .1145.’70
Found in King’s Field - Kent, England
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So someone just asked me how my PhD plans are going and im more and more starting to realize that no one is interested in Germanic archaeology. Unless it's pure vikings in Scandinavia itself or you manage to get into those elite (expensive) English universities to study Anglo Saxon archaeology.
now what...?
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The Lewis Chess Pieces
Artifacts crafted from whale teeth and walrus ivory with origin in Scandinavia, potentially tracing back to Trondheim in Norway.
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/05/these-are-some-of-the-worlds-most-spectacular-viking-artefacts
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The Seeress of Fyrkat
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Patreon
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