Proto-Vikings: The Nordic Bronze Age

The Ancients

History Hit

History

4.7 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

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Summary

Who were the Vikings' ancient ancestors? In this episode Tristan Hughes explores the fascinating maritime culture, sophisticated trade networks and social hierarchies of the Nordic Bronze Age c. 1800–700 BC.

Joined by Professor Johan Ling, they shed light on how proto-Viking societies of ancient Scandinavia imported essential metals, crafted stunning rock art using bronze tools and operated complex trade routes extending to Britain, Iberia and beyond. Enigmatic religious practices and the pivotal role played by elite kinship networks are brought to life through remarkable archaeological finds such as horned helmets and a golden sun chariot to reveal the remarkable complex societies that preceded the Viking Age.

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Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey guys, I hope you're doing well. Now, I've come to terms with the fact that we can't cover
0:05.9	the story of the Vikings on the ancients because, let's face it, they're not ancient, they're
0:10.3	medieval. What we can do, however, is cover the story of their Scandinavian ancestors. And that's
0:16.3	what we're doing today. We're going back some 3,000 years to explore the amazing story of the Nordic Bronze Age,
0:23.5	these proto-vikings who loved their seafaring and their raiding, amazing rock art, gold
0:29.8	artefacts and so much more. We're covering all of that today. Now, our guest today is Johann Ling.
0:36.5	Johann, he is a professor of archaeology at the University of Gothenburg.
0:40.9	He dowed in from Sweden for this chat, really grateful for his time, and I really do hope you enjoy.
0:46.3	Let's go.
1:05.0	Music Three thousand years ago, long before the Vikings, wooden boats sailed from Scandinavia to Britain.
1:12.7	These Bronze Age vessels were filled with men, alongside Amber for trading and weapons for raiding.
1:19.6	They belonged to a culture where sea voyages were famous and central to life, but also one in constant need of metals imported from overseas. A culture of rulers, raiders and rock art, of sun chariots, horned helmets and so much more.
1:33.2	This is the story of the Nordic Bronze Age, with our guest, Professor Johann Ling.
1:41.1	Johann, it is a pleasure to have you on the podcast today.
1:44.2	Thank you. Thank you very much indeed.
1:46.2	Now, I'm very excited for this topic because the Nordic Bronze Age, I mean, it feels lesser known in the UK and the US than it should.
1:53.9	And yet, this extraordinary culture, it's central to the story of Europe's wider Bronze Age.
1:59.5	It is. And it becomes more central recently
2:03.5	with the all-new evidence that has come to the fore, so to speak.
2:08.1	Just a fascinating phase in European prehistory.
2:12.8	And set the scene for us, first of all, Johan.
2:14.7	When are we talking with the Nordic Bronze Age?
	...

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