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Rare Figurine Illuminates Viking Hairstyles
Archaeology Magazine ^ | September 4, 2025 | editors / unattributed

Posted on 09/10/2025 7:31:42 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

According to a statement released by The National Museum of Denmark, a small figurine long-hidden in its collections has recently been rediscovered and is providing new information about Viking Age fashions. The exquisitely carved, one-inch-tall object was whittled out of expensive walrus ivory and likely served as a gaming piece for a Viking Age game resembling chess. It was first discovered in a burial in Viken in 1797 and has been in the National Museum's storerooms for more than 200 years. However, it recently caught the attention of curator Peter Pentz, who was struck by the figurine's realistic features. Although Viking art is known for its animal motifs, humans are hardly ever represented. "This is a miniature bust and as close as we will ever get to a portrait of a Viking," said Pentz. The researcher was particularly intrigued by the character's hairstyle, which is parted in the middle and cropped in the back, with a side curl that leaves one ear exposed. The man also sports a mustache, sideburns, and a long, braided goatee. The artifact dates to the tenth century, the age of the first king of Denmark, Harald Bluetooth. Scholars believe that the statuette represents what fashionable Viking elites and warriors would have looked like at that time. For more on Viking fashion, go to "Vikings in Furs."

(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs; hair; hairstyles; haraldbluetooth; lewischessman; lewischessmen; middleages; theviking; thevikings
Front view of ivory gaming piece carved with a man's face
Roberto Fortuna, The National Museum of Denmark
Roberto Fortuna, The National Museum of Denmark

1 posted on 09/10/2025 7:31:42 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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The rest of the Lewis Chessman/men keywords, sorted:

2 posted on 09/10/2025 7:36:31 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

3 posted on 09/10/2025 7:37:10 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Looks like Burl Ives.

๐ŸŽถSilver and gold, silver and goldโ€ฆ๐ŸŽถ


4 posted on 09/10/2025 7:38:45 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: SunkenCiv
[For more on Viking fashion, go to "Vikings in Furs."]

"Very nice..."

5 posted on 09/10/2025 7:43:34 PM PDT by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too. ๐Ÿ˜ " - Robert Conquest )
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To: PLMerite

The story surrounding that ad campaign is legendary. It became an international incident.


6 posted on 09/10/2025 7:46:40 PM PDT by Windcatcher
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To: SunkenCiv

7 posted on 09/10/2025 7:47:20 PM PDT by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
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To: SunkenCiv

8 posted on 09/10/2025 8:11:52 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. โ€” Psalm 106)
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To: PLMerite

๐Ÿ˜†

That was a great commercial!


9 posted on 09/10/2025 8:11:54 PM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: BradyLS

If he can make his belly jingle, it’s Burl Ives.

Wow, that one’s so old, I’m going to have to look it up myself...


10 posted on 09/10/2025 8:26:04 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: BradyLS
It does indeed look like Burl Ives!

11 posted on 09/10/2025 8:26:48 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. โ€” Psalm 106)
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To: BradyLS

Yes, it does look like Burl Ives.


12 posted on 09/10/2025 8:37:27 PM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: BradyLS

You’re right it does.


13 posted on 09/11/2025 5:16:14 AM PDT by dljordan (The Rewards of Tolerance are Treachery and Betrayal)
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To: SunkenCiv

I was waiting for a picture of Greta.

EC


14 posted on 09/11/2025 8:15:43 AM PDT by Ex-Con777 (Leftists quote the Constitution like an atheist quotes the Bible)
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To: Ex-Con777

Eww. ๐Ÿ˜‰


15 posted on 09/11/2025 8:17:50 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: SunkenCiv

So, ‘FADES” were popular a thousand years ago?

All styles will come back in sooner or later................


16 posted on 09/12/2025 5:40:57 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: SunkenCiv

17 posted on 09/12/2025 5:43:29 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

Doesn’t look like the viking had a twat knot.


18 posted on 09/12/2025 5:46:27 AM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.โ€)
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To: Sirius Lee

Of course knot.

It would have been a ‘handle’ in a fight................


19 posted on 09/12/2025 5:51:41 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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