Researchers retrieve authentic Viking DNA from 1,000-year-old skeletons

www.physorg.com ^ | 05/28/2008 | Staff

[Ramius]

Lately I’ve been studying Viking weaponry and you’re quite right about the horned helmet bidness. Never happened. Likely it was a later costume designer for a Wagner opera that did that, and it stuck.

I’m interested in the actual fighting techniques that they might have used for sword & shield, axes and pole arms. Unfortunately not much in the way of documentation has survived, so it is difficult to say with any precision. Hank Reinhart has done a great deal of research on the topic and has some practical and sensible ideas of how it was done, but much of it is based by necessity on later medieval works, on the assumption that techniques with similar weapons later in time would likely have been similar to the earlier techniques on which they were based.

Anyway... it’s an interesting topic. I think it’s fair to say that Western Martial Arts as a discipline was every bit as practiced with deadly elegance as the better-known and documented Asian varieties.

[Ramius]

While the Vikings were of course involved in raids and all sorts of violence, especially around the British isles and north and western Europe, they were also widely prolific ~traders~ all OVER the place. They pretty routinely traded all around the mediterranean at all points of the compass.

[Red Badger]

They pretty routinely traded all around the mediterranean at all points of the compass.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080408-viking-hoard.html

[JewishRighter]

DNA samples viewed under a microscope:

[Red Badger]

Viking DNA..............

[Ramius]

Cool. They really loved that Damascus steel, too.

[Bringbackthedraft]

The Great Ice Ship, a BS Saga of how the Vikings arrived on this planet from outer space. Probably a Hollywood Myth like the horned helmets. Then again, if people hear about it often enough they may start to believe it. I like the idea, it sort of puts a 3 party into the Darwinism vs divine creation debate. I'm sure any argument defending it will be lost.

[JewishRighter]

My viking DNA is a lot friendlier than your viking DNA.

Your Vikes are Yikes!

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Viking DNA retrieved. None too soon!
I’d hit it.

[Chances Are]

Man, them’s was the good ol’ days!!!!!

CA....

[AndyJackson]

Until the SGS Alt Inflation calcs are made public, the plot is forever going to be laughed at.

The USG inflation calculations are already laughed at.

[wildbill]

Hey, here’s a great idea. Let’s clone some Viking berserkers from the DNA for use in our military.

[Red Badger]

I'm ALL for it!.................