Abstract
The Scandinavian activity in Russia during the Viking Age has left traces in both the archaeological and the written material. In the 13th century Russian annals, "The Primary Chronicle", a story is told ofhow "Varangians from beyond the sea" founded the first Russian realm. The Varangians have been interpreted as Scandinavians, and the archaeological material has been connected with this story. This has resulted in a scientific debate, which in many cases has been steered by nationalistic feelings and political aims.
Highlights
The Scandinavian activity in Russia during the Viking Age has left traces in both the archaeological and the written material
Archaeological and written sources show that contacts between Scandinavia and Russia were extensive during the Viking Age
In the Russian Primary Chronicle, written in the early 12'" century, we learn that the different Slavonic and Finnish tribes living in what is Russia could not unite, and at the end of the ninth century they turned to the Varangians beyond the sea for help
Summary
The Scandinavian activity in Russia during the Viking Age has left traces in both the archaeological and the written material. The Varangians have been interpreted as Scandinavians, and the archaeological material has been connected with this story This has resulted in a scientific debate, which in many cases has been steered by nationalistic feelings and political aims. Varangians have been understood as Scandinavians, more precisely Swedes This understanding has been questioned and debated, with arguments collected from both written and archaeological material, and it has come to be known as the "Varangian problem". My aim is to throw some light upon the connection between the historical and archaeological interpretations and the prevailing political climate. This leads to a discussion about the use of ethnicity in archaeology, in the context of the Vikings in Russia
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