The Estonian Viking? An evaluation of the archaeological data

Abstract

There is an ongoing discussion in recent times within Baltic archaeology whether part of the ancient population of Estonia could be understood as Vikings. This thesis examines if archaeological and historical data could support the existence of local Viking activity in ancient Estonia. By reviewing indicators of mobility, warfare, and long-distance travel of 15 chosen harbour sites in Estonia; this thesis seeks to find traces of Viking activity. It contains discussions of how such interpretations could be made and what they could mean for the insight of past power relations and interaction-patterns around the Baltic Sea. The methods used combine archaeological material, landscape analysis, literary sources, and bioarchaeology. The theory frame consists of: Constructionism, Hermeneutics, and practice-based approaches to identity. The author suggests a three-level model to understand historical identities in order to detect practice-based identities, without relying mainly on ethnicity. The levels of identity are numbered from individual background (1), direct social role (2) and the performative role which emerges when a group partakes in Viking activity (3). Social Network Analysis is used as the main method to detect patterns of local Viking activity across Estonia through the 15 harbour sites. The results suggest that Iron Age Estonia had Vikings. Through Social Network Analysis, the selected harbours show signs of being interconnected, as well as taking part in Viking activity. This thesis therefore proposes that the term Viking should be understood as a practice-based identity and which was context dependent rather than being a fixed ethnic category. It serves as a counterbalance within the broader discussion of what a ‘real’ Viking should be, and the importance of how archaeology should not stay stagnant in conventional patterns of evaluating the northern European Iron Age.