Read each passage carefully. Why did the historical account of the Viking change?
In 1889, researchers discovered a person who was buried in Birka, Sweden. Birka is one of Sweden’s greatest Viking sites. It was an important Viking trading center. Birka had over 3,000 graves. This grave contained a single human, two horses, and weapons. Researchers wrote that the Viking was a wealthy male warrior because he had so many possessions.Researchers in Sweden decided to conduct testing on an individual buried in a famous Viking grave. The grave is known as Bj 581. This grave contains a single human, two horses, and weapons. Scientists reexamined the body in 1970. They studied the shape of the hips. The shape seemed to be female. This claim stirred up a controversy. Could Viking warriors be women? In 2017, scientist Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson analyzed ancient DNA from Bj 581. The results were conclusive. The Viking in the grave was female.
Researchers discovered that Viking graves contained objects that were important to the person.
Researchers determined that Birka was an important Viking trading center.
Researchers analyzed evidence to discover that a Viking buried with weapons was female.
Researchers in Sweden discovered a burial site with a human, horses, and weapons.