89 NRK1

Good evening. Today, for all those gathered in front of the TV sets, we have an interview with Professor Larsen, from the department of archeology at the University of Oslo, which was my and your guest a few weeks ago. Today we will try to find out and discover more secrets of Ulf Erikson's tomb.

- Welcome Professor Larsen, I am pleased to have you again in my program. (Guy from TV)

- Welcome. (Larsen)

- Professor, are we sure that this is Ulf Erikson's tomb? (Guy from TV)

- There are many indications, although more research is needed, and the funds for it are not always available. The dating of objects and bones shows that most of them come from the period of the 9th century, and there are also some older objects from the second half of the 8th century. (Larsen)

- Professor, what has been found in the tomb so far? (Guy from TV)

- Swords, spears, armor, all ornate. A large amount of gold and silver coins with the image of a wolf head were also found. As we know from historical sources, these were the first coins of the Kingdom of Norway. (Larsen)

- Coins from this period have been found in many places around the world, but can you, Professor, solve the mystery of the meaning of the inscriptions on the coins? (Guy from TV)

- ᚴᚨᛏᛏᛖᚷᚨᛏ means Kattegat, and ᚹᛟᛚᚡᛖᛋ ᚹᛁᛚᛚ ᛏᛖᚨᚱ ᚹᚺᛟᛖᚡᛖᚱ ᛒᛖᚲᛟᛗᛖᛋ ᚨ ᛋᚺᛖᛖᛈ means "Wolves will tear whoever becomes a sheep." Although the meaning of the sentence is obvious at first sight ... If you are as meek as a sheep, you will be eaten by your enemies. The second, less obvious meaning, could refer to the conversion to Christian faith. In Christianity, the Priest is often called the shepherd who guides the sheep / people towards the Divine Light ... So the sentence could be a warning. If you become a Christian / sheep you will be torn apart by Norsmen / Wolves. Of course, this is just a guess, we are not 100% sure. (Larsen)

- Thank you professor, what else is hidden in Ulf Erikson's tomb? (Guy from TV)

- The puzzle for us remains a few "urns" for the ashes of the dead. This is something not found in Viking burials, but more common among Slavic peoples. As we know, apart from slaves from the East, there were also trade exchanges and maybe some aspects of culture intertwined with each other... They have inscriptions, but they have not yet been read. (Larsen)

- Thank you, Professor, we will return to the conversation after the commercial break. (Guy from TV)