New research challenges long-held assumptions about miniature Viking-Age figurines, revealing they were dynamic participants in Norse society rather than mere symbolic amulets. A groundbreaking study published in the journal Antiquity examines ten bronze and silver figurines from Sweden's collections, uncovering evidence of complex production methods, intentional modifications, and varied ritual uses that transform our understanding of these enigmatic objects.
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Manufacturing Secrets Written in Metal
Researchers employed cutting-edge techniques including microwear analysis and Reflective Transformation Imaging to examine figurines housed at the Swedish History Museum, reports Archaeology Magazine. The collection includes so-called "valkyrie" figures, a seated phallic form, a rare pregnant figurine, and the separately cast Aska head. These analytical methods revealed surface smoothing, scratches, fractures, and polishing patterns that allowed researchers to reconstruct the objects' biographies from creation to deposition.
The findings demonstrate that many figurines underwent multistage production rather than single casting events. Craftspeople would cast the metal body, then refine, decorate, or rework specific features. This suggests that certain elements—such as garments or weapons—held greater significance for their intended function than facial realism. Some details received meticulous attention while others remained roughly finished, indicating deliberate choices about what mattered most to Viking users.
Map showing the geographical distribution of the studied artifacts across Sweden. (M. H. Eriksen et al., Antiquity Publications Ltd).
Active Lives of Miniature Bodies
Nine figurines featured suspension loops or perforations, confirming they were designed for attachment to clothing, cords, or other objects. However, wear patterns varied dramatically. Some pieces exhibited heavy rounding consistent with long-term handling or fabric wrapping, while others retained sharp definition, suggesting minimal use before burial. This variation indicates not all figurines circulated in daily life—some may have been created specifically for burial or offering contexts.
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Evidence of intentional modification proved particularly revealing. The well-known Rällinge figure suffered a broken arm, but the fractured area was subsequently smoothed, demonstrating that the object was reshaped after damage rather than discarded. The cast head from Aska appears to have been deliberately separated from a larger figurine, as percussion marks suggest intentional removal rather than accidental breakage. Such alterations reflect ongoing engagement with these miniature bodies rather than passive ownership.
Microwear traces on the Aska head: A–B) percussive marks at the base of the head; C) smooth finishing on the interior ridge of the chin (figure by C. Tsoraki; Aska photograph by O. Myrin, Swedish Historical Museums, CC BY 4.0). M. H. Eriksen et al., Antiquity (2025).
From Grave Goods to Ritual Participants
Six of the ten figurines were recovered from graves, where they accompanied human remains. Others came from hoards or were found as isolated discoveries. These deposition contexts demonstrate that figurines were not simply decorative items but participated in ritual, identity expression, memory, and mortuary practice. The study's emphasis on traces of use rather than symbolic interpretation challenges established typologies that classified such objects mainly as amulets, ornaments, or mythological representations.
The results indicate these figurines were active participants in the social and ritual life of the Vikings. They were crafted, worn or carried, sometimes broken or reconfigured, and finally placed in meaningful contexts. By understanding such objects through their material histories rather than through assumptions based on texts or iconography, researchers gain a more grounded view of how people in the Viking world interacted with the things they created. This approach reveals that Norse mythology and daily practice intertwined in complex ways that transcended simple symbolic representation.
he study's authors maintain that by prioritizing physical evidence over iconographic assumptions, archaeologists can reconstruct more accurate pictures of Viking Age material culture. Rather than viewing these figurines as static representations of Thor, Freyr, or other deities, this research demonstrates they were dynamic objects with their own biographies, transformed through use, modification, and ritual action across generations of Norse society.
Top image: The Aska head (left) and the Rällinge figurine (right), two of the ten Viking-Age figurines analyzed in the study. Source: Photograph by O. Myrin, Swedish Historical Museums, CC BY 4.0/Antiquity Publications Ltd.
By Gary Manners
References
Eriksen, M.H., Marshall, B., Aslesen, E., & Tsoraki, C. 2025. Viking body-making: new evidence for intra-action with iconic Viking anthropomorphic 'art'. Antiquity. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2025.10230
Radley, D., 2025. Viking figurines were more than amulets: new analysis reveals their real roles. Archaeology Magazine. Available at: https://archaeologymag.com/2025/11/viking-figurines-were-more-than-amulets/
