Monday, December 8, 2014

OSLO, NORWAY—Analysis of mitochondrial DNA obtained from 80 Viking skeletons in Norway suggests that Norse women participated in the colonization of the Scottish mainland, Shetland, Orkney, and Iceland 1,000 years ago. Mitochondrial DNA is only inherited through the female line. “It seems to support the view that a significant number of women were involved in the settlement of the smaller isles, which overrules the idea that it just involved raping and pillaging by males going out on a rampage,” Erika Hagelberg of the University of Oslo told The Independent. Her team compared the ancient Viking DNA to samples of people living in Norway, Britain, Iceland, and other parts of Western Europe today. “This somewhat contradicts one of the views about Viking raids, namely that they were driven by a shortage of women at home,” she added. To read about a notorious massacre committed against Vikings in England, see "Vengance on the Vikings."