Birka

Birka {{Audio|Sv-Birka.ogg|listen}} , also Birca and Bierkø (today named Björkö, literally "Birch Island"), was an important trading center in the Baltic Sea region from the 8th century, which handled goods from Eastern Europe and the Orient, possibly as far as China, thus covering most of the Viking Age. Björkö is located in the Lake Mälaren, just west of Stockholm, in the municipality of Ekerö in Sweden. Birka and Hovgården is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.

Related Topics:
Baltic Sea - 8th century - Eastern Europe - China - Viking Age - Lake Mälaren - Stockholm - Ekerö - UNESCO - World Heritage Site - 1993

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ownership of Björkö, is today mainly in private hands, and used for farming. The settlement site, however is an archaeological site, and a museum has been built nearby for exhibition of finds, models and reconstructions. It is a popular site to visit during the summer times.

Related Topics:
Archaeological - Museum

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~