New findings indicate that the Vikings journeyed over 6,000 kilometers to the Arctic region in search of walrus. Genetic studies suggest that walrus ivory sourced from Greenland made its way to Europe and likely reached as far as the Middle East through extensive trading routes.
Recent research conducted by the University of Copenhagen reveals that Vikings traveled more than 6,000 kilometers to the Arctic in pursuit of walrus. DNA studies have shown that walrus ivory from Greenland was exported to Europe and may have extended as far as the Middle East through diverse trade networks.
During the Medieval era in Europe and the Middle East, traders from distant lands exchanged valuable and rare items. A sought-after commodity was ivory, sourced from places that might have seemed unimaginable.
As conflicts during the Crusades disrupted the supply of elephant ivory, walrus ivory gained popularity. Given that walruses inhabit cold, icy areas, this ivory had to be transported from such remote regions to European markets.
The University of Copenhagen’s latest research highlights that the Vikings were key players in a trade network that supplied walrus ivory not only to Europe and the Middle East, but quite possibly to East Asia as well.
“Our research reveals that the Vikings routinely navigated approximately 6,000 kilometers to Pikialasorsuaq in Northwest Greenland, a region known for its severe climate. They likely undertook these journeys not for adventure, but to acquire this valuable resource, which they traded in Northern Europe and elsewhere,” explains Associate Professor Morten Tange Olsen from the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen and one of the authors of the study.
The team utilized DNA analysis, uncovering that the Vikings traveled further than previously thought in their quest for walrus.
This study is a collaborative effort involving researchers from the University of Copenhagen, University of Lund in Sweden, and University of Groningen in the Netherlands, along with international collaborators from Greenland, Iceland, and Canada.
Trade and Exchange of Hunting Techniques
To validate the Vikings’ extensive travels, the researchers examined walrus skull fragments, primarily collected from excavations in Viking-era settlements in Europe, Greenland, and Canada.
“By analyzing the DNA sequences of these fragments, we constructed a genetic map indicating the origin of various Arctic walrus populations during the Viking era. This allowed us to pinpoint where in the Arctic these animals were hunted,” states Morten Tange Olsen.
The research also indicates that Vikings likely interacted more with indigenous Arctic cultures, such as the Thule and Dorset, than previously recognized.
“Our findings illustrate that the Vikings were extensively traveled and possessed a well-established trade network that spanned a greater area than previously understood and overlapped with early Greenlandic and Canadian cultures,” notes Morten Tange Olsen, who specializes in marine mammalogy and genetics. He attributes the study’s success to the interdisciplinary collaboration between archaeologists, biologists, and geneticists.
This study reaffirms the Vikings’ exceptional navigation skills and resilience in harsh climates, as well as their role in establishing a global trade network that extended beyond Europe.
“For the first time, we have a definitive genetic map of Arctic walrus populations that reveals where the Norse traveled to procure this valuable ivory,” he adds.
Olsen and his team aspire for this research to shed light on the intricate and widespread trade networks of the Vikings and their interactions with diverse cultures.
