Viking life, living history, experimental archeology, reenactment, history, craft.
I often get asked if I can explain how I make my historical garments. I don't mind answering that at all - in fact, I really appreciate the acknowledgement and the trust. To make it easier for you and for myself, I am going to make some posts about how to make different historical garments …
Continue reading How to make a Viking Age apron dress or Smokkr
The last time we visited Uppåkra arkeologiska center just outside Lund in Sweden, we got the possibility to participate in a movie recording for the museum. It's not the first time we were participating in some sort of movie, but it was definitely the first time filming in 3D for a movie meant to be …
The Skei burial field is located at the farm Skei, in Sparbu in Trøndelag. Skei is the largest prehistoric burial field in the Northern parts of Trøndelag with around 120 visible graves of different shapes and sizes. Most of the mounds are either round or elongated mounds. The elongated mounds seems to most often be …
Probably as long as we humans has worn clothes, brooches of various kinds have excised. First they were probably made of bones and other natural materials, and later they were made of different metals. The word 'brooch' is a common archaeological term for artfully designed needles that were meant to hold textile (as in garments) …
I know I've been writing about beads many times before, but beads really do something to me, especially historical beads. They are so beautiful, so well-made and so unique.Did you know that the first objects made from glass were in fact beads? It is a bit unclear exactly when the art of glass making was …
It has been some days now since Anna pissihose the 9th of December, and the day people would normally start brewing their jól ale back in the days. Today, the 21nd of December, is called Tomasmesse, 'Tomas brewer' or 'Tomas full barrel'. The jól ale should be done and put on barrels by today, because …
Continue reading December 21st – Tomasmesse and the jól celebration
As I've been saying before, throughout human history, we have enjoyed dressing up and wearing beautiful things. Such items were not necessarily just beautiful to look at, they also said something about the status and rank of the person wearing them. Fine objects could also be used for trading, and to make powerful alliances.During the …
Soapstone is a very interesting material. It is a stone, but it is so soft, you could make a mark in the stone with your finger nail and therefore easy to process. The soapstone is also refractory and has had significant use as a building block, for fireplaces and household utensils. Many old church buildings …
The joy of having and wearing beautiful and shining objects seems to have been with us humans throughout the ages. I personally am very fond of amber. Every time I travel, I go to local markets or thrift shops to see if I can find some nice amber items. I am in fact so fond …
Are you ready for some more runic inscriptions? As I have already mentioned, we have a ton of runic inscriptions form Trondheim, Bergen, Oslo and Tønsberg. The runic inscriptions found in the ground of these cities, are mostly from the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries, and they are referred to as 'the city runes'. Most …
Continue reading December 15th – Fuþork inscriptions from Trondheim
Lighting a candle or making a fire in the fireplace is something we do a lot these days. It is cold, it is dark (at least here in the north) and we need light and warmth. Also, today we see candlelight, a burning flame or a light fireplace as something very cozy and atmospheric. Throughout …
Jewelry has been around for a long time, and finger rings is something that we all have a relation to. Some love to wear them, others hate them. Although some wear rings just as ornaments, to dress up or to feel nice, others might wear them to show status or wealth. Rings also have symbolic …
September 4, 1950 was not going to be a normal day at work for those who at that time were digging the ground at Dronningens gate 10 in Trondheim. The reason for the digging was that they were going to expand the buildings of the Hovedpostkontoret (the main post office) in Trondheim. During the dig, …
Continue reading December 12th – The silver treasure from Trondheim
Yesterday I wrote a long post about my mother's uncle, Olaf A. Digre. If you want to read it, you can find the post here. Among other things, he worked as a priest, archaeologist, safety inspector and he was in charge of all historical coins at the museum in Trondheim. He also did a lot …
Continue reading December 11th – Archaeological finds handed in by Olaf A. Digre
Today my calendar will be a bit different and perhaps a bit longer than usual. I will be writing about my mother's uncle, Olaf Andreas Digre. He is probably the main reason why I am so interested in history, archaeology and cultural heritage. As I grew up, I would always hear stories about this man …
Continue reading December 10th – My great uncle, Olaf Andreas Digre
Today is December 9th and, according to the primstav, today is Anna matris Mariae, or Anna 'pissihose', as it was called in the vernacular.A primstav is an old type of calendar used in Norway and Denmark during the Medieval period and until the 19th century. These calendars were usually made of wood and had a …
Continue reading December 9th – Anna pissihose and brewing jól ale
Christmas is getting closer by the minute it feels like, and it is time to tidy, clean, change the bed linens, polish silver and brass and iron all the table cloths. I remember when I was a child, my mother would hurry around, making everything perfect for Christmas. As she would iron the table cloths …
Continue reading December 8th – Seam smoothers and linen smoothers
Sometimes we find objects which are beautiful, but we just don't know what they were used for. Gullgubber is something that has been making the experts scratch their heads in wonder for years. What is the meaning behind these small, flat pieces of gold? Why were they put in the grown? Were they put there …
Earlier, when I heard the word 'metal detector' in connection with historical finds, I always got a chill down my back. Why? Well, I don't really know, but maybe because of all the plundering of graves that has been going on in general. Grave looting and grave robbing has been a huge problem and it …
Continue reading December 5th – The metal detector and the gold ring from Rimol
Today is 4th of December and according to the Norwegian primstav that means Barbromesse. A primstav is an old type of calendar used in Norway and Denmark during the Medieval period and until the 19th century. These calendars were usually made of wood and had a flat, rectangular shape – like a plank or a …
Continue reading December 4th – Barbromesse and spinning yarn before Christmas
Tonje Rogersdatter - My historical life 