DK Eyewitness Books - Viking

27

Spruce-wood stick

Twelve unfinished

iron ax heads Fur hat

Brooch to hold t he

cloak in place

Cross

Warm wool cloak

Thor’s hammer

Amber beads

used in jewelry

Knife in

leat her sheat h

IN THE BALANCE

Trader’s scales have

been found all over

the Viking world. This

handy set of folding

scales could be stored

in a small bronze case

when not in use. It was found on

the island of Gotland in Sweden.

Copper wire

Bronze bowls

GETTING THE AX
These unfinished ax heads on a spruce stick
were found on a Danish beach. They may
have been washed ashore from a wrecked
trading ship bringing cargo to
Denmark. Spruce trees did not grow
in Denmark, so they probably
came from Sweden or Norway,
where there was plenty of spruce
and iron. Perhaps craftsmen in
Denmark were going to
finish the axes.

Bronze case for

set of scales

WEIGHING SILVER

Before the Vikings

minted their own

coins, they bought

goods with hack

silver—chopped up

pieces of jewelry

and other people’s

coins. This trader is

weighing hack silver

on a set of scales.

VIKING TRADER

This trader is selling amber,

which is the fossilized resin

of trees. Amber was one of

Scandinavia’s biggest exports.

It was traded as beads or in its

natural state. Many traders

converted to Christianity to make

dealings with Christian countries

easier. But they often kept faith

with pagan gods as well, to make

extra sure of protection. This trader

wears both a Christian cross and a

hammer, the symbol of the god

Symbol showing weight Thor (pp. 7, 52–53).

Long wool tunic

wit h embroidered

borders

Pants of

woolen clot h

Leat her shoes, laced

Iron wit h brass coating up around t he ankle

TRADER’S WEIGHTS
These five weights from Hemlingby in Sweden seem to form a complete
set. Each one is stamped with a different number of tiny circles. These
probably represent their weight, from half an øre to 1, 3, 4, and 5 ørtogar.
Oneørtogar was equivalent to 3 øre, or around^1 Š 4 oz (8 g).