Contact between Europe and the Norse during the Viking Age was not solely the product of viking raiding activity. Large scale Norse military campaigns led to the establishment of Norse settlements in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. These Norse settlers not only established a physical Scandinavian presence, but a cultural one too.  This pendant was made in Scandinavia, but found in Little Snoring, Norfolk, England, dating to the 10th century. It was created from cast silver, with traces of niello and gold used to accentuate the engraving.¹  The pendant features a gripping beast at its center, a classic feature of the Borre style.
The significance of this object lies as equally in its location of discovery as its physical features. Little Snoring is located on the eastern coast of Britain, situated directly in what was the Danelaw. This land was ceded by King Alfred for Norse settlement to the vikings following the Battle of Eddington and Lord Guthrum’s defeat.²  The piece demonstrates a continued attachment to traditional Scandinavian dress for the Norse settlers in this region. The lack of native artistic influence on this pendant and its strictly Scandinavian style shows us that there existed a desire to maintain Scandinavian heritage. Norse presence and power in the area would have been great in order to maintain Scandinavian traditions and culture. This pendant could have been brought over by one of the Norse settlers coming to the region, or perhaps be a product of trade in between the old country and the new. For the Norse, these new settlements signified an expansion of the Scandinavian world into Europe. The Norse were savvy traders and benefited from these settlements as they could now operate trading centers safe within their controlled territory in these new lands and allow for the exchange of goods between the Norse homelands and Europe. The Danelaw represented a hold out of Scandinavian power in Britain for at least a few generations. This pendant provides evidence for Norse presence and influence in Britain during the Viking Age.

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