NOVA Online | The Vikings

Welcome to the companion Web site to "The Vikings," a two-hour NOVA program originally broadcast on May 9, 2000. The program examines a new, less barbarian image of the Norsemen based on recent archeological investigations. Here's what you'll find online:

Explore a Viking Village (Video)
In these film clips of a 1:30 scale model, "walk" down the main street and "boat" through the harbor of Birka, a medieval Viking village in Sweden.
Who Were the Vikings?
Dr. William Fitzhugh, curator of a new Viking exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution, expands on new theories about the Norsemen.
Secrets of Norse Ships
Find out what it was about the longships and other Viking vessels that helped their makers get around so successfully.
The Viking Diaspora
This clickable map illustrates the extraordinary breadth of the Norse diaspora.
Write Your Name in Runes
See your name spelled in runes, learn the meaning of each of the letters in the Viking alphabet, and delve into the hoary history of the Norse writing system.
Build a Tree-Ring Timeline (Hot Science)
Learn about the study of tree rings, which scientists have used to date the remains of Viking ships, and try your hand at creating your own tree-ring chronology.

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