![]() It is stated that these Rus’ trading posts, essentially inhabited by Northmen, shared a common cultural expression that was maintained throughout a vast area by exceptionally close contacts. The results show close contacts with the eastern trading posts located on the rivers Volga and Dnjepr in Ancient Russia. In defining the Birka warrior’s particular stylistic expression, a tool is created and used in the search for contacts and affiliations reflected through the distribution patterns. Questions are raised concerning the value and function of symbols in a martial context where material culture reflects rank, status and office. Based on the case studies of six papers, the synthesis deals with questions of the work and world view of the warriors, as too their relation to their contemporary counterparts in eastern and western Europe. A starting hypothesis is that an analysis of material culture constitutes a way of mapping social structures and that style and iconography reflect cultural groups, contacts and loyalties. The study is based on the excavations of the fortified structures, particularly the Garrison, at the trading post of Birka as well as the extensive remains of material culture deriving from these investigations. The aim is to establish the role, function and affiliation of the Birka warrior and thereby place Birka on the power-political map of the 10th century. This is a study of martial material culture in the context of the Viking Age warrior of Birka, Sweden. The combination of the available archaeological evidence with historical sources allows a vibrant picture of society to emerge and it shows that town defence has an impact on a set of very disparate elements. By perusing an interdisciplinary approach many of the wider socio-economic elements of town defence can be discovered and this serves only to broaden our knowledge of Hiberno-Norse society as a whole. It has also broadened the horizon of study to illustrate that there is more to town defences than their mere fabric. This piece has sought redress the balance by gathering the available material in one place for future reference and study. Part of their growth was due to the fact that they were fortified centres and developed several stages of town fortification through their lifetimes. These settlements grew from humble beginnings to become the economic and urban centres of this island. Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford are towns that were products of the Viking Age in Ireland.
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