Events!
NEW!
Now available: a new book detailing Hurstwic's research on Viking combat. Men of Terror, A Comprehensive Analysis of Viking Combat (Westholme 2021) is a richly illustrated interdisciplinary study of the heart of Viking society: weapons and combat and is based on more than two decades of research at Hurstwic. The book takes its title from a runestone raised 1000 years ago in Denmark in memory of a man named Fraði, who is called the "first among Vikings" and a "terror of men." The authors present a holistic picture of Fraði's society from what has previously been only disparate and intriguing parts. Order it now from your favorite book seller.Viking-age History, Culture, and Society
Learn more about Viking-age topics using
on-line articles and other documents created by Hurstwic. Whether
you are a scholar, a student, or just have a casual curiosity about
Vikings, we think you'll find something of interest here.
The Saga of Hurstwic
Read our story about Hurstwic came to be: the Saga of Hurstwic.
Hurstwic Research
Hurstwic has developed a unique, science-based approach to researching Viking-related topics, which will be the subject of a future web article and is outlined in a lecture now on-line that we gave at the National Museum of Iceland. In our research, we have encountered many traps and pitfalls in the field of Viking research.
Hurstwic Training
Although our formal training program
is on hiatus, Hurstwic continues to research and practice
the fighting moves of the Vikings.
Learn more about our past work and future plans.
All Things Viking
Hurstwic's interests include all things Vikings, and we offer other
opportunities to learn and to grow, including the
Hurstwic Heathen Study Group, and the
Hurstwic Old Norse Language Boot Camp,
and other formal and informal group learning experiences from time to time.
Training Materials
More than ten years ago, Hurstwic created a series of training videos available both on DVD and on-line. Our research has continued in the subsequent years, so sadly, those training materials are now dated. Regardless, we continue to make them available to interested students of Viking combat. One thing that never goes out of date is our official Hurstwic t-shirt.
Viking-Age Iron Smelting
Hurstwic conducted research in Viking-age iron production, which resulted in an iron-making festival held at Eiríksstaðir in Iceland in 2019. We unlocked the secrets of how iron was made in Viking-age Iceland and made bloomery iron in Iceland for the first time in 700 years, using all Icelandic materials in Icelandic-style furnaces based on recent archaeological discoveries.