A University of Aberdeen historian is currently undertaking a Scandinavian journey with nine history students to discover more about the Vikings in Denmark.
Dr Frederik Pedersen, Lecturer in History, is spending this week in the Danish capital of Copenhagen, on a trip that has been organised to give students a wider perspective on the lives of the Viking people.
Dr Pedersen and his class of fourth-year undergraduate History Honours students arrived in Copenhagen on Monday, and are currently taking part in a week of activities and excursions that will bring their academic topics to life in a physical sense.
The excursions planned included a visit to the Danish National Archives, where one of the archivists arranged a small exhibition of some original documents from the Danish middle ages. The class will also be visiting the National Museum, where they will be able to view at first-hand some of the coin finds from the Viking era.
Also on the agenda is a chance to see the remains of the 7th century Royal Hall in Leire; Trelleborg - a royal fortification from around 980, and St Benedict's Cathedral in Ringsted, where the final settlement of the Danish Civil wars of 1137 - 1157 took place.
The Denmark trip is the first of its kind for the University of Aberdeen and Dr Pedersen said it would prove itself to be an invaluable experience for his students: "By organising this trip, I wanted the students to see for themselves the physical evidence of Vikings rather than the written evidence that students are often restricted to.
"The whole trip is planned to give a good impression of Viking culture and society in Denmark, from the 6th century, right through to 1170."
The highlight of the week will undoubtedly be a visit to Roskilde on Saturday, (October 9), where the students will have the chance to see at first-hand a large warship, which was the first replica of an 11th century warship found near Skuldelev in Denmark. The ship was launched in September, and will make its maiden voyage under full sail and rigging this Saturday. It has a crew of more than 70 and the students will be trailing the warship on a smaller replica Viking vessel, called the Kraka Fyr.
Dr Pedersen and his students return to Aberdeen on Sunday (October 10).