Cat Jarman, an accomplished archaeologist and historian, has dedicated much of her career to unraveling the fascinating journeys of the Vikings. Her research, particularly in the context of Viking exploration, focuses on the unexpected paths they took from Scandinavia to the distant reaches of the Silk Road. This journey, once thought to be solely the domain of later explorers and merchants, reveals a much deeper, interconnected world than the one typically depicted in Viking sagas.

Early Life and Career of Cat Jarman

Cat Jarman’s academic journey has been both unconventional and deeply insightful. She began her career in archaeology with a particular interest in bioarchaeology—focusing on human remains to understand past societies better. Her focus eventually turned to the Viking Age, which would become the cornerstone of her work. Jarman’s exploration of Viking history, however, diverged from typical research by emphasizing the global connections and trade routes of the Vikings, especially their less documented voyages to places like the Silk Road.

In her early work, Jarman made significant contributions to understanding Viking settlement in what is now known as the North Atlantic, including their settlements in Greenland and Iceland. However, her more recent focus has been on expanding our understanding of Viking movements, particularly in relation to their trading networks stretching far beyond Europe into Asia.

Vikings: Traders, Explorers, and Warriors

The Viking Age (circa 793–1066 AD) is often remembered for the violent raids on Europe. However, recent scholarship has shifted the narrative to emphasize the Vikings as skilled traders, explorers, and settlers. The popular image of the Viking as a raider and warrior is now being balanced by the discovery of Viking trade routes, which extended into the farthest reaches of Eurasia.

The Viking world was not confined to the north of Europe. Through their longships, the Vikings became skilled navigators, and their journeys took them from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, to the British Isles, and, as recent discoveries show, as far east as the steppe of Central Asia. This long-distance trading network eventually linked the Vikings to the famous Silk Road—a network of trade routes that connected China to the Mediterranean, facilitating the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas. shutdown123