Rates of violence in Viking Age Norway and Denmark were long believed to be comparable until a recent study challenged this assumption. The research, led by University of South Florida sociologist David Jacobson, revealed that interpersonal violence was much more common in Norway compared to Denmark. Analysis of skeletal remains and runestones indicated a higher prevalence of trauma and weaponry in Norway, shedding new light on the differences in violence experiences and social structures between the two regions.
The interdisciplinary approach taken by the researchers, which combined archaeology, sociology, and the study of skeletons and runestones, highlighted key distinctions in how violence, social hierarchies, and authority shaped Viking Age societies in Norway and Denmark. The study showed that while violence in Norway was characterized by frequent and often fatal encounters with weapons, Denmark had a more centralized society with clearer social hierarchies and controlled violence. Differences in the prevalence of healed injuries and lethal trauma on skeletons reflected these contrasting patterns of violence between the two regions.
In Norway, the presence of weapons, particularly swords, in graves underscored their significance in Viking identity and social status. The study identified thousands of swords from the Late Iron Age and Viking periods in Norway, in contrast to only a few dozen found in Denmark. This emphasis on weapons further highlighted the culture’s close association with violence. In contrast, Denmark’s structured society maintained social order through political control, as evidenced by the smaller percentage of graves containing weapons and the prevalence of executions rather than personal violence.
The study suggested that Denmark’s rigid social structure led to less frequent but more systematically enforced violence through official channels, such as executions. On the other hand, Norway’s decentralized society experienced higher levels of peer-to-peer violence, resulting in more trauma on skeletons. These findings supported the broader theory that stronger authority and steeper social hierarchies could reduce overall levels of violence by centralizing the use of force under official control. This research emphasized that Norway and Denmark were distinct societies with varied approaches to violence and social organization.
The implications of this study extended beyond Viking Age Scandinavia to contribute to a growing body of research on how social structures influenced violence in historical societies. Similar patterns have been observed in other regions of the world, highlighting the impact of social hierarchies on levels of violence. Jacobson emphasized the importance of this study in developing new explanatory models, especially in situations where written sources are limited or nonexistent. The collaboration between scholars from the University of Oslo, Deutscher Verband für Archäologie in Germany, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology underscored the significance of interdisciplinary research in uncovering new insights into the complexities of historical societies.