Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Viking Thing Sites of Northern Europe

 Gulatinget Millenium Site Norway. Photo Lynda Mallett

This blog links to in-depth information about Viking Thing sites and their history. Thing sites are the assembly sites spread across North West Europe as a result of the Viking diaspora and Norse settlements. Viking-age things were public assemblies of the free men and functioned as both parliaments and courts. Viking society was self-regulated. Law and order was based upon the Thing system, which had already been established via common-meetings dating to least 600 AD. The Thing had legislative and judiciary powers. Every free man had a duty to meet at the Thing’s common-meetings. These common-meetings might last several days, therefore the Thing was also an occasion for a large marketplace and festival. 

Where you can visit Viking Sites:

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