Experiments in Viking Navigation Viking Sun Stone

The Pathfinder School,Bush Craft ,Survival skills, Historical Lore, Primitive Skills, Archery, Hunting, Trapping, Fishing, Navigation, Knives, Axes, Fire, Water, Shelter, Search and Rescue

[vikingshaman]

I'm a Viking-reenactor from Norway, and what Dave says is actually consistant with what I've learned from local historians and fellow reenactors. So if anyone has any toubt that this method of navigation works, I've been on a replica vikingship where we tried using a sun stone and it actually worked.

[robertbrunston]

I could see the two dots and one disappear when your in line with the sun as you said! Thank you Dave.

[jonathanday]

It will also show the sun when it is just over the horizon, since you can see the UV light that is refracted. This means that it could be used at dusk/dawn when neither sun nor stars are directly visible, and at any time of day in the arctic circle, as the sun is never far below the horizon even at night in midwinter. To what extent it was used that way is unclear.

[Zolwena]

Wow! This is interesting! Thanks not only for explaining, but finding a way to do a demo that we could see what you are talking about

[csh]

A few years ago on the TV show "Vikings", the leader, Ragnar Lothbruk used a Sun Stone to find the sun on cloudy days. This allowed the Vikings to travel West where they found rich old England. I think it was in the 8th century A.D. They looted and pillaged churches and villages, and some stayed to farm. That little rock changed human history in a big way. The show was as realistic as the information the producers had to go by. Pretty neat that you made this video. Thanks Dave.

[vanessacaldwell]

Rose, my 8 year old, is reading a chapter book Imagination Station where the main characters go back in time and they have to get a Viking So thanks for the great vid Really interesting

[stephenhedman]

You look like a Viking, but you teach like a scholar. I've always been interested in devices of navigation.When I was a child, I was lost in the mountains. It was the compass training from my father that got me home. Very interesting. Thank you for this.
Respectfully from Stephen Hedman. Vancouver Island B.C Canada.

[toneyjohnson]

Can't wait to look into this further. Thanks Dave

[johnNJ]

This is the easiest method that I've seen demonstrated so far using Iceland spar. Great video!

[jocke]

This is real cool. No sun stone is still not found from viking age. But mentioned in sagas. But the sun stone e was not a revolution thing that make the viking age possible. There was not cloud all-time.

One of the most important navigation gear was birds.

About the sun stone. If you draw a cross on a paper. And put the stone over it. One line will sharp and the other is blurred and have two lines. If you turn it or change angle of light the blurred line will get sharp and the sharp one split upp in to lines.

That is why you se to dots.

[manysigns]

Really neat presentation ! Interesting and useful regardless of what the Vikings were doing respectively . I'd imagine some scholars would appreciate your work . I like it quite a lot as I've always wondered what may have been going on with that aspect of their navigation . Really cool ! Also the "dots" showed up very well !

[traprmike]

I just looked on the popular auction site and there are several dealers selling these.  less than 20 bux. might give me something to do this winter on those hazy days.  Thanks DC.

[FixedByDoccom]

ive been doing this for about 3yrs now. there is a mathematical equation that tells you the exact bearing you are looking at and other info. you need to know the date of the day you are on and the dates of the solstice (summer & winter) and know your latitude also know where the sun is. the crystal allows you to find the sun on cloudy days. it really is not hard once you learn it and it is within 1* accurate unlike compasses which tend to be 2* accurate and affected by surrounding materials. the original crystal they used would have a line etched on the long side. this line would appear to be doubled until inline with the sun which then would appear single.

[neckredgringo]

I've never heard or seen anything about that. New thing learned for the day, thanks Dave that was cool

[TheNockingPoint]

Dave, did you pull out that shirt just for this video? Nice touch!

[Favulous]

is that similar to how a camera gets lens flair with the sun and it's diagonal when facing away from the sun but vertical when facing towards the sun or how all the dots line up when towards the sun?

[pauls]

Thanks Dave! I’ve been trying to find a video of someone showing what the navigation would look like. Came out great on video.

[Tk.utelab]

Good work my friend. As a Land survivor that’s fascinating.

[jesusonmypizza]

This was very informative and interesting. Thank you for this!

[ShooterB]

The Vikings were the greatest explorers the world has ever known.