The Äskekärr ship, named after the place it was found, is Sweden's only and the Nordic region's best preserved Viking ship, and dates back to the 10th century.
Coins, gold and silver jewellery and other discoveries from the Viking Age are still found in the areas around the Göta River. The river is often mentioned in the Icelandic sagas as a transport route.
The Vikings were described by their contemporaries not only as violent warriors but also as vain men and writers of love poetry. Eastern sources describe the Vikings as "Allah's dirtiest creatures. They're like stray donkeys." English chronicles expressed concern about how these men made an impression on the women.In the 9th century Vikings became known as skilled seafarers and traders, and ruthless warriors.
During the Viking Age most people were farmers or slaves. They lived on small plots of land and were essentially self-sufficient.Old Norse mythology with the Æsir gods such as Odin and Thor and other gods like Frey or Freya contributed to the impression that the Viking chief had power over other races as well. The fact that the chief was the offspring of the gods was a fundamental element of the Viking society's social structure.
The Vikings' conquests made them both feared and envied both in Europe and further east.Being 'in Viking' meant that there were also enemies nearby. In the early 11th century many battles took place between the Viking kings along the Göta River.
During the Norse Middle Ages the Vikings' successes diminished, and many Nordic dwellers became Christians.Interest in the Viking Age has led to attempts to build replica ships to represent our heroic past. One such example is the Vidfamne which was launched in 1994.