Birka, also known as Sweden's first town, a Viking society that was built during the 700's and then was inhabited for about 200 years. Birka on the island Björkö in Mälaren served as an important trade center in the kingdom of the Swedes in the Viking Age. Today Birka busy on. UNISCOS World Heritage List. They know even nothing about the king who allowed the construction of Birka. On the neighboring island Adelse is today the remains of a royal estate, from where the King of customers övbervaka Birka and its trading. Probable Some Birka somewhere between 700- 1000 inhabitants, during the city's heyday. The city traded with precious goods, both from Europe and Arab countries. It was mainly about byteskandel where Birka residents swapped goods such as iron, fur, horns toward silver and silk, coins are then melted down and made into jewelry.
It has been over 3000 graves on Björkö. The various finds from excavations at Birka testifies to a society with a strong hierarchy and great class and gender differences.
In 829 the monk Ansgar was sent to Birka, as a Christian missionary requested by the Swedish king Björn. Ansgar founded a Christian congregation at Birka.
Birka the Viking Town is a museum in Stockholm, which is well worth a visit. Birka can be reached best by boat from the dock at City hall.
I have found two stone items, with rune and images. They are carved into and painted on the stone. The images are faded but can still be viewed. One is also a detailed map of the Iberian Peninsula.
ReplyDeleteThey date from the Iberian invasion, year 970. One image is of Gudrod, decapitated by a Muslim. The Muslim is holding a sword and the head of Gudrod high. I have six different images of Gudrod and a detailed scene of Valhalla.
Notify me if you request photos. I have several of the stones. Some include Aurochs and Iberian Ibex, which are extinct. There are several Viking religion images, including Yggdrasil, Fenrir in chains, Ymir, two spirit ships(one in present and one in afterlife.
Contact me for photos.
Thank you,
James R Heath
1.608.334.7546
Barneveld, Wisconsin