Unbounded: The multiplicity of bodies and beings in Viking worlds

<p dir="ltr">The Vikings have been characterised as one of the most stereotyped past cultures. This article<br>challenges static representations of Viking bodies by exploring their diverse and referential<br>body-worlds. We propose a more dynamic view where Viking bodies could be fluid, unbounded,<br>and entangled with human and non-human entities. Using a more-than-representational approach<br>and concepts of body-worlding, we move beyond conventional categorisations and dichotomies<br>to reveal the complex network of bodies and beings populating this period. Through three case<br>studies – body modification, portrayals of differently-abled bodies, and multitemporal burial<br>practices – we argue that Viking bodies encompassed unique ontologies that differ profoundly<br>from modern perspectives, and invite readers to rethink the Viking past on terms closer to its<br>own.</p>