10個關於維京人的有趣新發現(上)

Recent archaeological finds reveal that the Vikings were not only fierce, bloodthirsty warriors but also farmers, skilled craftsmen, impressive mariners, and expert traders as well. As more discoveries are made, our knowledge of the Vikings will widen even more—dispelling many myths surrounding this fascinating group of people.

最新考古發現表示，維京人不僅是兇暴嗜血的戰士，還種地、有成熟的手工藝和船隊，還精於貿易。隨着更多遺蹟被發現，我們對維京人的認識也將越來越深，籠罩這個有趣族羣的很多謎團也將揭開。

Of Viking Power Couple

10.貴族夫婦的墓

In 2012, engineers building a highway in Harup, Denmark, discovered a wooden building. Later on, the discovery was identified as a Viking tomb. Also known as dodehus or death house, the tomb contained the remains of a couple archaeologists believed held a high social status in Viking society.

2012年，在丹麥Harup村修路的工程師們發現了一間木屋，後來確認爲維京人的墓，人稱“死亡之屋”，內有一對夫婦的遺骸。考古學家認爲他們曾是維京社會的上流人物。

Experts discovered two interesting items buried alongside the couple: a large battle axe and two keys. The axe, which was found together with the man, was considered to be the "machine gun" of the Viking era. Europeans back then trembled at the sight of this battle axe. The keys, on the other hand, were "a symbol of (the woman's) power and status as a great lady."

專家們另外還發現了兩件有趣的東西：一把大戰斧和兩把鑰匙。斧子在男子身邊，應該是維京時代的“槍”，讓當時的歐洲人聞風喪膽。而鑰匙則象徵了夫人的權利和崇高社會地位。

The researchers also discovered a third body buried alongside the couple. They surmised that the man was added at a later date, and he might have been the couple's successor.

研究人員還發現了第三具遺骸，應該是後來葬在夫婦身邊的，可能是他們的繼承人。

ng Women Colonized New Lands Too

9.維京婦女也參與了殖民新大陸

A new study involving ancient Viking DNA suggested that Viking women played a significant role in the colonization of overseas lands. Experts arrived at this conclusion after discovering that the maternal DNA of the Vikings "closely matches that of modern-day people in the North Atlantic isles," especially that of Shetland and Orkney Islands in the United Kingdom.

一項有關維京人DNA的研究發現，維京婦女在海外殖民中扮演了重要角色，因爲維京人的母系DNA與現代北大西洋島民非常相近，尤其是英國的設得蘭羣島和奧克尼羣島。

This discovery also debunked the widely held assumption that the Vikings were merely pillagers and raiders. They were family-oriented people as well who "established settlements and grew crops" and even engaged in trade. In addition, this recent finding challenged a study published in 2001 that suggested that Viking men would travel alone and then bring local female captives when they colonized new territories.

這個發現也駁斥了廣爲流傳的“維京人只會掠奪”的偏見。他們其實也很重視家庭，“建立了定居點並種植莊稼”，甚至進行了貿易。此外，這項新發現還挑戰了2001年發表的一個研究，該研究認爲，維京男人會獨自航行，並帶回征服新殖民地時的女俘虜。

ng Fortress

8.維京堡壘

In 2014, a team of archaeologists discovered a Viking fortress in the Danish island of Zealand. They believed that the structure dated back to the 10th century. Before the discovery of this specific fortress, three others were unearthed in Denmark: Aggersborg, Trelleborg, and Fyrkat. These structures are collectively known as the "Trelleborg" fortresses.

2014年，一個考古小組在丹麥西蘭島發現了一個維京人的堡壘。他們相信，這個建築可以追溯到10世紀時。此前丹麥已有三處堡壘出土：Aggersborg, Trelleborg, 和Fyrkat，統稱特雷勒堡。

The newly discovered fortress, which is located south of Copenhagen, is quite huge, spanning 165 meters (476 ft) across.

新發現的堡壘在哥本哈根以南，它相當大，橫跨165米。

This discovery showed that the Vikings were not only a "fierce band of warriors with cool headgear" but were also decent architects, capable of building magnificent fortresses. In addition, this discovery gave archaeologists the opportunity to better understand Viking conflicts and wars.

這個發現證明了維京人不僅是“駕駛冷酷戰船的兇暴戰士”，還是優秀的建築師，能建造壯觀的城堡。另外，這個發現還讓考古學家有機會一窺維京人的衝突和戰爭。

h America's Second Viking Site

7.北美的第二個維京據點

Known for using satellite technology in her excavations, "space archaeologist" Sarah Parcak, together with her team, discovered a second possible Viking settlement in North America. They arrived at this conclusion after finding the remains of turf walls and an iron-working hearth in Point Rosee in Newfoundland, Canada.

“太空考古學家”莎拉·帕卡克善於藉助衛星科技，她的團隊發現了北美第二個可能的維京人定居點。他們在加拿大紐芬蘭的Rosee角發現了草皮牆和鐵爐臺的遺蹟。

The presence of an iron-working hearth at the site is a strong evidence of a Viking settlement since they used iron nails to build their ships. It also eliminated the possibility of the site belonging to Native Americans or Basque fisherman. In addition, after doing radiocarbon testing, Parcak and her team were able to date the site back to 800 and 1300 AD—the same time the Vikings were at their peak.

這個爐臺證明了這個定居點屬於維京人，因爲他們的船也用了鐵釘，而美洲土著和巴斯克漁民則沒有這種能力。通過放射性碳定年法，帕卡克團隊還確定了該定居點可以追溯到公元800-1300年，正是維京人的鼎盛時期。

This discovery is monumental since it can potentially dethrone Christopher Columbus as the discoverer of the New World.

這個發現有劃時代的意義，因爲它能顛覆哥倫布“新大陸發現者”的地位。

ng Treasure Trove

6.維京寶藏

In September 2014, metal-detecting enthusiast Derek McLennan discovered one of the biggest Viking treasure troves in Scotland. The trove, which consisted of more than 100 precious artifacts including solid gold jewelry, was unearthed on church land.

2014年9月，金屬探測器愛好者德里克·麥克倫南發現了蘇格蘭最大的維京寶藏之一。這個寶藏位於教堂之下，內有100多件珍貴文物，包括純金首飾。

Stuart Campbell of Scotland's treasure trove unit considered this discovery historically significant since it could potentially alter the way Scots view "their historic relationship with the Vikings." Contrary to popular belief, the Vikings didn't only carry out raids in Scotland. They also settled and traded in some parts of the country, including the area where the treasure trove was discovered.

蘇格蘭寶藏部門的斯圖爾特·坎貝爾認爲這個發現很有歷史價值，因爲它可能會改變蘇格蘭人對“他們和維京人的歷史關係”的看法。與大衆認識相反，維京人除了從蘇格蘭搶東西，還帶來了不少，並定居在一些地方，包括這個寶藏被發現地。