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Orfanou said that by analyzing both tools and finished objects the team were able to better understand how metalwork processes developed in Ribe over time. The plethora of crucibles (clay cups) that were discovered stand testimony to the vast amount of metal that was smelted over fires at this settlement. The authors found that early Viking craftspeople in the 9th century adopted a different and “more heat-resistant clay for their crucibles, which would last longer,” according to the research paper.
Mapping Metals Across the Viking Age
A series of “rapid technological advances” were noted at the beginning of the Viking Age and the researchers wrote that this was because craftspeople were exposed to new skills. The findings published in