James Graham-Campbell, et al., editors, Cultural Atlas of the Viking World.
Andromeda Oxford, 1994. ISBN 0-8160-3004-9.

The Cultural Atlas of the Viking World (CAVW) is a lavishly illustrated, oversize volume that invites comparison with the best of the "coffee table" books on the medieval North. This work offers a remarkable scope and depth of coverage--much more than you might expect from a mere 223 pages of text. The product of an international collaboration of highly regarded professionals (Colleen E. Batey, Helen Clarke, R. I. Page, and Neil S. Price) drawing on late 20th-century research in archaeology, philology, anthropology, and related disciplines, CAVW conveys a comprehensive picture of the Viking world through the eyes of modern scientists and academics.

In the first of its three main sections, "The Origins of the Vikings," CAVW reviews the geography and culture of pre-Viking Scandinavia from the last Ice Age to the Vendel period (7th-8th centuries C.E.). Intensive sidebars cover topics of special interest such as the bog sacrifices and the population centers at Eketorp and Helgö. This coverage segues neatly into the book's second section, "Viking Age Scandinavia." The material here is subdivided into chapters on Society, Kingship and Warfare; Daily Life; Towns, Trade and Crafts, and Learning and Religion. The text breaks little new ground but updates previously available fare, sometimes in subtle but important ways. For example, re-enactment costumers will immediately notice that the notorious "Viking apron" has quietly been relegated to the rag bag of history. This ugly, demeaning, and counter-gravitational getup first appeared in Bertil Olinn's 1960 book, "The Viking," and has been thoughtlessly reprinted by a generation of editors. In its place, CAVW offers illustrations of attractive and functional womens' garb consistent with both contemporary artistic renderings and archaeological textile finds. Sidebars go into the latest interpretations of the Oseberg tapestry, Gotland picture stones, Danish ring fortresses, and many other special topics. Introductory passages on the runes, skaldic poetry, and heathen beliefs present the material accurately and objectively, with appropriate illustrations.

True to its title, CAVW devotes an extensive (62-page) section to "The Vikings Overseas," including detailed coverage of the Norse presence in the North Atlantic, the Celtic lands, western Europe, and Russia. The collapse of the Soviet Union released a wealth of new material on ancient Novgorod, Kiev, and the Rús, as well as the merchant center at Staraya Ladoga. (Right up to the 1990s the Soviets officially denied the important role of the Vikings in founding modern Russia, and suppressed a great deal of evidence which has now been made available to international scholars.) This section also includes an excellent sidebar on navigation which demonstrates the Vikings' use of advanced solar navigational techniques, possibly influenced by Arab seafarers.

CAVW concludes with a short chapter on the decline of the Viking world, including sidebars on the the late-period settlements at Sigtuna, Birsay, and Orphir, as well as the obligatory photos of stave churches. The book comes complete with an index, bibliography, glossary and gazetteer, as well as a two-page chronological table. The only shortcoming I noticed was the poor quality of some of the photographic plates. Murky reproduction has rendered some of the photos almost incomprehensible--although the majority are crisp and bright. Overall, CAVW is a valuable resource for those seeking a general overview of the Viking world.

Reviewed by R. S. Radford
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