Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. David Nikel is a travel writer covering cruising and Scandinavia. The recent sensational discoveries of Viking ship graves in ...

In the first millennium CE, Vikings wore little replicas of Thor’s hammer Mjölnir, like this one discovered recently in Denmark. What’s incredible about this find are the runes on the hammer. Amulets ...

More than 1,000 years ago, carvers in what is now Denmark set their chisels to rock to etch runestones — monuments to Viking leaders naming their deeds and achievements. Two groups of runestones ...

Here are some more surprising facts about Viking runestones. 1. Viking runestones were meant to be seen. During the Viking Age (800-1050 CE), runestones were often painted and the carved lettering ...