The Bones of Birka: Unraveling the Mystery of a Female Viking Warrior

Surrisi (The Unofficial Lola Bay Fan Club) delivers an extensively researched work about the finding—and its scientific ramifications—of the 1,000-year-old Viking town of Birka. In 1878, while searching the island of Björkö, Sweden, for fossilized insects, entomologist Hjalmar Stolpe (1841–1905) instead uncovered the remains of Birka, considered “one of the most significant Viking finds in history.” Even more crucial, however, was the recovery of a nearly intact burial chamber containing the skeleton of a Viking warrior, whom Stolpe assumed was male. Chapters present informative details regarding Viking history as it stood before the discovery of Birka and the evolution of archaeology, providing context for Stolpe’s work and setting the scene for contemporary findings. In 2009, more than 140 years of examination later, osteology archeologist Anna Kjellstrom deduced that the recovered skeleton belonged to a female Viking, prompting intense debate within the archaeology community. Discussions regarding gender identity and how it might have been expressed in the Vikings’ past feature prominently throughout. Though Surrisi’s dense, institutional prose is occasionally inaccessible, riveting historical detail paired with commentary surrounding preconceived notions and their effect on analysis makes for a thought-provoking telling. A glossary, discussion questions, and extensive source notes conclude. Ages 12–up. (Apr.)