News in Brief Archaeology

Ring brings ancient Viking, Islamic civilizations closer together

Inscription, style and lack of wear point to rare archaeological evidence of contact

Ring

DISTANT BLING  A new study suggests that a ninth century ring from a Viking site in Sweden came directly from the Islamic civilization. The ring includes an inset of colored glass engraved with ancient Arabic script.

Christer Åhlin/The Swedish History Museum

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

More than a century after its discovery in a ninth century woman’s grave, an engraved ring has revealed evidence of close contacts between Viking Age Scandinavians and the Islamic world.