'The back of her head had been removed by a single blow from a sharp blade': Archaeological clues are revealing the horrific lives and deaths of the people enslaved by Vikings

In the book The Sea-King and the Sorceress: Life and Death in the Viking Age, archaeologist Neil Price delves into the grim realities of the enslaved people, known as thralls, during the Viking Age. These individuals were caught during raids and traded like cattle, often subjected to inhumane treatment. One such tragic case involves a woman who appears to have been killed as a tribute to a high-status man.

The term "thrall" is a mild translation for the unfree people of Norse society, a system that permeated ancient and modern societies worldwide. Archaeological findings are shedding light on the horrific lives and deaths of these people, restoring some measure of individual dignity. Slavery was an integral part of the Viking-Age Norse society, with thralls ranking in a hierarchical system, often forced to perform all tasks on the farm and household.

The majority of thralls endured lives of drudgery, with even their names reflecting their low status. The grimmest aspect of their existence is the sexual exploitation, particularly of women, who were targeted during Viking attacks. Some of these raids were directed against high-profile targets for ransom, while many were for sex trafficking, particularly to the Arab world.

Despite the lack of specific diagnostic items in graves, thralls' existence is slowly being acknowledged due to archaeological recognition.