Ep 5. Viking Warrior Queen

The season 18, episode 5 of Secrets of the Dead is named Viking Warrior Queen. In this episode, the viewers are taken on an intriguing journey to investigate a remarkable archaeological discovery that has surprised and delighted scholars and history buffs alike. The episode is set against the backdrop of the icy Nordic seas in the 10th century, a time of great upheaval and conflict.

The show centers around the discovery of an elaborately buried Viking warrior. This burial grave has been a hotbed of controversy among archaeologists for several years. Researchers have long believed that Viking warriors were exclusively male, but this discovery has thrown that notion into disarray. From the amount of detail in the burial and the positioning of the skeleton, the researchers are convinced that the warrior buried at this site was a woman.

The segment takes us through the tough, icy terrain of Norway, where archaeologists have excavated a Viking burial site. The site is striking because of the grandeur of the burial and its apparent key occupant. Contrary to previous theories, the show explores the possibility that this Viking warrior was actually a Viking Warrior Queen.

Vikings have long been associated with the image of brute force and warriors who believed that death in battle would lead to an honorable afterlife. However, the show presents another side of Viking culture. The Vikings were a progressive civilization, and women held respected positions in their society. They were not just homemakers, but many played key roles in aspects of their community. This is supported by archaeological evidence which suggests that women worked as farmers and traders during that time.

The episode deep dives into the world of Viking women and the history that many do not know about. Experts on the show discuss how women played a vital role in Viking age society, and that their contribution to Viking culture was underplayed or in some cases undocumented.

This theory of the Viking warrior queen is not just a fanciful idea. The show presents convincing evidence to support this theory. The burial site holds the buried remains of a woman who was dressed in very elaborate armor and weapons, usually associated with male Vikings. The Viking queen is referred to in legends and stories of that era, supporting the theory that Viking women also took on the role of warriors.

The documentary doesn't just present anecdotes of women in Viking society but delves into the restrictions placed on them. Women had no formal representation in the Viking parliaments and were not considered as equals in the eyes of the law. For Vikings, the primary function of women was to bear children, and not much else.

The show gives viewers an understanding of how society was structured in the Viking age, its strengths, and its weaknesses. Apart from presenting the theoretical idea of a Viking queen, the documentary also tries to re-create how the Viking queen lived and the different aspects of Viking culture that she may have embraced.

In conclusion, the episode, Viking Warrior Queen, is a highly informative and visually-stunning piece of work that takes viewers to the heart of Viking culture. It provides insight into the beliefs, traditions, and everyday life of the Vikings in a way that is refreshing and enlightening. The episode untangles preconceived southern European myths about the Viking culture, challenging long-held assumptions about Viking society that will forever alter our understanding of one of the most fascinating and enigmatic civilizations in history.