A recent study provides insights into the distinct experiences with violence in Viking Age societies in Norway and Denmark, highlighting the impact of social structures on these patterns.
It was previously assumed that violence levels in Viking Age Norway and Denmark were similar, but a research team led by David Jacobson, a sociologist at the University of South Florida, questions this belief.
The research indicates that interpersonal violence—defined as violence that is not sanctioned by authorities—was significantly more prevalent in Norway. This conclusion is supported by higher rates of trauma found in skeletal remains and a greater variety of weaponry discovered in Norway. The results, published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, highlight the differences in how Viking societies in Norway and Denmark experienced violence, emphasizing the role of social structures in shaping these experiences.
Jacobson is part of a multidisciplinary team that merged archaeology, sociology, and studies of skeletons and runestones—inscribed stones—to uncover key distinctions regarding violence, social hierarchies, and authority in these regions. Other researchers are from Norway and Germany.
“Our interdisciplinary approach reveals how social and political dynamics can be understood, even with limited written records,” Jacobson noted.
Norway: A More Violent Society?
Analysis of skeletal remains from Viking Age Norway and Denmark revealed that 33% of skeletons from Norway displayed healed injuries, indicating that violent encounters were not rare. In contrast, 37% of these skeletons showed lethal trauma, reflecting the common and often deadly use of weapons in Norway.
One distinctive feature in Norway was the frequent discovery of weapons, especially swords, buried with skeletons in graves. The study identified over 3,000 swords from the Late Iron Age and Viking periods in Norway, compared to only a handful in Denmark. These findings suggest that weapons played a crucial role in establishing Viking identity and social status in Norway, further reinforcing the culture’s association with violence.
Denmark: Steeper Social Hierarchies and Controlled Violence
In contrast, the study found that Danish society exhibited a different pattern. Denmark had a more centralized structure, characterized by clearer social hierarchies and stronger authority. Violence in Denmark was often organized and regulated, frequently connected to official executions rather than personal acts of violence.
For instance, analysis of skeletal remains in Denmark showed fewer weapon-related injuries but included evidence of formal executions, such as decapitations. The skeletal data indicates that about 6% of Viking Age Danes died violently, almost exclusively through executions.
Denmark’s more organized society had a lower percentage of graves containing weapons compared to Norway. Instead, political control maintained social order, reflected in impressive earthworks and fortifications. These monumental structures, particularly during King Harald Bluetooth’s reign in the 10th century, demonstrated Denmark’s capacity for coordinated labor and structured social hierarchies.
Why the Differences?
The research suggests that Denmark’s rigid social structure contributed to less frequent violence, while it was more systematically enforced through official means like executions. Conversely, Norway’s decentralized society experienced higher instances of peer-to-peer violence, as seen by the greater levels of trauma in skeletons.
The findings align with the broader theory that robust authority and steeper social hierarchies can lower overall violence levels by centralizing the control of force.
“These patterns indicate that Norway and Denmark had distinctly different societal structures,” Jacobson remarked. “This is quite remarkable, as it was previously thought that Viking Scandinavia formed a largely uniform culture.”
Broader Implications
This research adds to the increasing understanding of how social structures influenced violence in historical societies. Similar patterns have been noted in other regions around the world, such as the Andes in South America and areas in North America, where less centralized societies experienced heightened violence.
Jacobson expressed hope that this study “paves the way for a new explanatory model, particularly when historical records from the period are limited or absent.”
Note: Researchers from the University of Oslo, Deutscher Verband für Archäologie in Germany, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology were also involved in this research.
