In 793 AD, the holy island of Lindisfarne was subject to one of the most infamous Viking raids on Britain. ‘Heathen' men plundered the sacred monastery in an event that shook Christian Europe.
Dan Snow travels across the tidal causeway to Lindisfarne to discover the rich culture of this holy place before the Vikings raided - a beautiful site of pilgrimage and artistry. He also goes to Jarrow to discover more about the powerful Anglo Saxon kingdom of Northumbria and its great religious and historical writers such as Bede.
And History Hit is on site at the Lindisfarne excavations of DigVentures: working with Durham University they have uncovered remarkable rune-inscribed namestones and a charming glass gaming piece that reveals the vibrant culture of the North Sea world in the early medieval period. Most intriguing of all is a complicated multiple burial that Dan witnesses being meticulously excavated.
We also examine how the Lindisfarne attack of 793 fits with the wider story of Viking raiding and settlement. Dr Jane Kershaw of Oxford University puts it into context, from earlier forays further south to the economic factors that could have driven the Vikings seaborne adventures - raids that changed the kingdom of Northumbria, and far beyond, forever…
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It was fascinating making this film and working with some very interesting organisations in the process:
DigVentures is a civic participation archaeology platform doing crowdfunded and crowdsourced work across Britain and beyond. To find out more, look at reports covering their Linsfarne excavations and get involved yourself, visit: https://digventures.com/
English Heritage look after beautiful Lindisfarne Priory and have an interesting museum on site. To find out more visit: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/lindisfarne-priory/
Jarrow Hall has a great exhibition and replica Anglo Saxon farm and village - take a look at https://jarrowhall.com/
And next to Jarrow Hall is the beautiful St Paul’s Monastery (English Heritage) and parish church, home to the Venerable Bede.
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