According to a new study reported by Live Science, archaeologists examining a Viking Age hoard discovered in Denmark found something surprising: the silver used in early Viking coins came from melted-down Islamic coins. The discovery reveals the Vikings' reach extended far beyond their Norse territories—they were actively acquiring currency from the distant Islamic world and repurposing it for their own use. It's a tangible reminder that international trade and cultural exchange were far more developed in the Viking Age than popular imagination suggests.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton