Engraved ring suggests contact between Vikings and Islamic civilisation

9 years ago | Posted in: Culture/Art | 1818 Views

An engraved ring has suggested evidence of close contact between Viking Age Scandinavians and the Islamic world, more than a century after it was discovered.

The excavation site at a Viking trading centre in Sweden called Birka recovered the silver ring in the late 1800s.

The ring is adorned with a violet-coloured piece of glass that was, until recently, presumed to be an amethyst.

An inscription on the glass has now been found to read either “for Allah” or “to Allah” in an ancient Arabic script.

Published in scientific journal Scanning, researchers from Stockholm University wrote: “The ring may… constitute material evidence for direct interactions between Viking Age Scandinavia and the Islamic world.

“Being the only ring with an Arabic inscription found at a Scandinavian archaeological site, it is a unique object among Swedish Viking Age material.”.. see more

source: Independent UK

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