Nature in Viking-age York
What do we actually know about nature in Viking-age York? Do we know what animals and plants lived here over 1,000 years ago? And if we do, how do we know?
If archaeologists wanted to discover what Viking-age York looked like, they could look for swords, jewellery and buildings, but some of the most important clues are much, much smaller. Archaeologists have uncovered remarkable clues about the plants, animals and wildlife that once shared it with its people. Thanks to the Coppergate excavations in the 1970s and 1980s, we can build up a surprisingly detailed picture of the natural world of Jorvik. Let’s take a closer (and sometimes rather smelly) look at what we’ve discovered.
Plant Life
So what was growing in Viking-age gardens and hedgerows? Just like today, Viking-age York was full of blackberries, dewberries and even woodland strawberries. It doesn’t get much more like a British summer than that!
We also know that celery, coriander, lamb’s lettuce, wild radishes and parsnips were all growing in and around Jorvik. So it’s fair to say that even Vikings had to eat their greens!
How do we know? Partly from the rubbish pits uncovered during the Coppergate excavation, but also from preserved seeds, plant remains and even microscopic traces left behind in the soil. By analysing these samples, archaeologists can identify the plants that were growing in York more than 1,000 years ago.
Speaking of things archaeologists discover, let’s talk about Bogar…
We know that Bogar (the man on the toilet at the end of our ride) is one of many visitors’ favourite parts of JORVIK. As unpleasant as it sounds, moss was often used instead of toilet paper during the Viking Age. Archaeologists have found evidence that two different types grew around Coppergate: Neckera moss and tree fern. We’ve also found traces of Sphagnum moss, which could suggest that people were bringing other varieties into the city from further afield.
Fish
Since York sits at the meeting point of two rivers, it’s no surprise that fish played an important role in the Viking diet. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of shellfish including the shells of cockles, periwinkles, whelks, mussels and thousands of oysters. Oysters seem to be in a plentiful supply and would have made a quick and cheap snack for a Viking on the go!
The interesting thing is that many of these shellfish appear to have been brought to York from the Humber Estuary, near modern-day Hull. That’s a journey of more than 55 miles(with no refrigerators)! The fish bones also suggest that many catches were cleaned and prepared in York rather than where they were caught. It seems that trade was booming, with fish arriving in the city every day to be processed, sold and eaten.
Animals
As you travel through Jorvik on our ride, you’ll spot dogs, cats and even pigs wandering around the city. Every one of these animals is based on archaeological evidence, but they’re far from the only creatures that lived here.
One group of animals we know shared the city with its human inhabitants was rodents. Black rats, wood mice and house mice (two guesses where they each preferred to live) have all been identified from the Coppergate excavations. Archaeologists have even found evidence of red squirrels living around York at the time, although we don’t think they were living in people’s houses!
With so many rodents around, it’s no surprise that archaeologists also found evidence of polecats. These small predators, related to ferrets and weasels, are native to western Europe and may even have helped keep the rat population under control. Cats almost certainly played a similar role, and there’s good evidence that Viking sailors often carried them aboard their ships to protect food stores from unwanted furry passengers.
Living beside two rivers also meant Jorvik was home to plenty of amphibians. Archaeologists have discovered the bones of common frogs and evidence that water voles also lived in the city.
Birds
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the sounds of Viking-age York. The skies above Jorvik would have been just as busy as its streets. Archaeological evidence shows that the city was home to everything from domesticated birds to impressive birds of prey. From the evidence we’ve uncovered, we know that ducks, mallards and geese lived around Jorvik (perhaps the ancestors of the geese that still terrorise visitors to York today!). Archaeologists have also found evidence of mute swans and whooper swans.
Now look up. Into the trees and onto the rooftops, you might have spotted cranes, doves and wood pigeons. If you were especially lucky, you may even have seen red kites, buzzards, sparrowhawks, short-eared owls or ravens. Who knows, perhaps Odin’s famous ravens, Huginn and Muninn, paid the city a visit from time to time.
What Nature Can Tell Us About Viking-age York
It’s easy to think that the most exciting archaeological discoveries must be spectacular objects like swords, jewellery or hoards of silver coins. But some of the most fascinating discoveries are much smaller, and you might not even notice them at first. Tiny seeds, animal bones, pollen, insects and even preserved moss can reveal just as much about everyday life as a Viking sword ever could.
Together, these discoveries help us build a picture of Viking-age York as a bustling city filled with people, plants and animals living alongside one another. More than 1,000 years later, the evidence they left behind is still helping us uncover the story of Jorvik.