Bronze Age Vikings in Ancient Scandinavian Rock Art

Prehistoric Scandinavian rock art displays scenes of warriors and long, narrow boats. Are these figures showing some kind of Bronze Age Vikings?

The world famous ancient petroglyphs in Sweden, dating to the Nordic Bronze Age, portray a world of sword-wielding warriors and their ships. But these figures - holding aloft axes and spears and shields - are usually said to be carrying out rituals, not warfare.

Is that true? Are there any scenes of violence here amongst the thousands of weapon-bearers?

If this is about ritual then what were the rituals for?

And what can all this tell us about the lives of these seaborne Nordic warriors who lived 3500 years ago?

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--- Video Sources ---

Warfare in Bronze Age Society - Christian Horn & Kristian Kristiansen ​➜ https://amzn.to/3z6ZtBN
Warriors and Weapons in Bronze Age Europe - Anthony Harding ➜ https://amzn.to/383sToE
Elevated Rock Art: Towards a maritime understanding of Bronze Age rock art in northern Bohuslän, Sweden - Johan Ling ➜ https://amzn.to/2WAffqd
Rock Art and Seascapes in Uppland Johan Ling ➜ https://amzn.to/3mFB4jd

Researchers papers by Andreas Toreld ➜ https://independent.academia.edu/AndreasToreld

The rock art even in this one region is so complex it defies a single explanation. The truth is there is a huge amount going on, there are so many interpretations that I didn't have time to touch on.

For one thing there is the obvious tumescence of many of the warriors. This is partly what leads researchers to conclude these are fertility rites and shows these figures are not engaging in combat - unless we are to believe they did so in a state of undress and arousal. Which is possible of course. However, this could also be interpreted as a sign of masculinity. These are not boys or old geezers but men in the prime of their virility. It is a sign of their strength and power.

There are thousands upon thousands of images of animals and people up to all kinds of things.

If you're interested in this subject there is a lot you can read about it in books and open access academic papers and so I suggest you do so. Because it is really fascinating.

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People of the Bronze Age ➜ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUyGT3KDxwC8u4jG_tOjN-8-bsHxucUxn
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--- Chapters ---

00:00 Prehistoric Rock Art
03:10 Depictions of Warfare
05:30 The Nordic Bronze Age
06:18 Real Life Violence
07:58 Bronze Age War Canoes
09:45 Rituals for Maritime Warriors
12:00 Were they like Vikings?
15:37 Chiefs and Kings

Видео Bronze Age Vikings in Ancient Scandinavian Rock Art канала Dan Davis History