Week off = Viking Research

I finished for annual leave on the 14th and am not back in work until the 26th. 

I’ve so far poured tons of time and effort into Viking research, polishing off Season 3 of The Last Kingdom, which sees Saxon / Dane Hybrid Uhtred cursed by a seer and reluctantly teaming up with – and eventually facing off against—the weaselly Prince Aethelwold. As British Viking history was largely recorded by the British kings’ scribes and other church historians, the Danes’ history of Britain went largely unrecorded, so the production writers are free to paint, within reason, what ever history they like. But a lot of the characters – both British and Danish - are historical, so who knows how much of this is accurate and how much is fiction. 

Fun, but I find it very complicated. Thanks, Wikipedia, for the synopses! 

I contacted a list of museums that may have some Viking knowledge, in an attempt to find this historical spoon, a personal family heirloom of sorts relating to my Viking ancestry. 

Some museums couldn’t help, but the Dock Museum in South Cumbria explained they did have a few Viking artefacts. I managed to speak to Alex Whitlock, Finds Liaison Officer, who was at the time working with an archaeologist at The Dock visiting to identify objects. Neither specialised in the Viking Era, and Mr Whitlock explained that I’d be better speaking to a Norse specialist, probably found in York or the North East. 

An email from Emily North from the Yorkshire Museums Trust proved fruitful. They had nothing in their collection with Toki inscribed, however Emily provided me with a horde – not of preserved artefacts - but of PDF documents relating to the Viking era and its etymology, how certain names and words have prevailed. I still need to sit and read through them all, but from a quick glance they look fascinating. 

I also spoke to English Heritage, who directed me to Historic England. I’m awaiting their reply. 

I have a lot more time available now to power through the research, but now that my main enquiries have been made, a lot of this will be watching Viking shows on Netflix. 

I also made a grotesque but nutritious vegetable stew, and scranned this folowed by a bought-in apple pie and yoghurt, and a cheese and ham toastie, all of which Vikings would have been perfectly capable of making, according to my research. 

Away from the Viking theme, this week saw 2 entertainment icons pass away. Cormac McCarthy, author of No Country for Old Men and The Road, died aged 89. The Purlitzer winning novelist was easily one of the best writers to live in the 21st century so far. His western epic Blood Meridian – bloodily violent but an astonishingly unique western tale - is in preproduction at the moment. Outer Dark is also a terrifying, twisty short novel but incredibly tense. 

Actor Treat Williams also passed away this week in a road accident. Famous for the movie Hair – think Grease in a barbershop (I’d presume, I’ve not seen it) Williams has appeared in a ton of great movies, including – if you ask me – the greatest ever made: Once Upon a Time in America.

He also gave a great turn as lunatic Critical Bill in 90s gangster flick / Tarantino nod Things to do in Denver when You’re Dead.

 

So, that’s one from my celebrity wish list that I’ll have to rule out.