New research has revealed the horrors of the Viking age, as the study of skulls showed evidence of devastating disease and infections.
Scientists from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden used modern X-ray techniques, including CT scans, to examine Viking-age teeth and skulls.
The remains were recovered from Varnhem, in Sweden, which played home to an early Christian community in the Viking era, around the 10th to 12th centuries.
Odontologists—those who study the structure and diseases of teeth—found that, of the 15 remains examined under CT scan, every single one suffered from a broad range of diseases, with some even showing pathological bone growths.
Multiple remains showed signs of sinus and ear infections, while a bone disease known as osteoarthritis as well as various dental diseases were also noted.
These conditions, the team noted, did not necessarily come from old age, as the skulls were from individuals who had died between the ages of 20 and 60.
In a statement, study lead Carolina Bertilsson, a dentist and assistant researcher at the University of Gothenburg, said they found "many signs of disease in these individuals," but "exactly why, we don't know."
"While we can't study the damage in the soft tissue because it's no longer there, we can see the traces left in the skeletal structures."
The study has provided a "greater understanding of these people's health and well-being," Bertilsson said, pointing out that "back then, they didn't have the medical and dental care we do, or the kind of pain relief—and antibiotics—we now have.
"If you developed an infection, it could stick around for a long time."
Viking history dates back to around 700AD, beginning in Scandinavia—Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Viking warriors famously staked claims in multiple countries, from Britain and Spain to Ukraine and Russia, according to Visit Sweden.
Their influence can still be seen in the modern day, as any surname ending in 'son' can be traced to the Vikings, who brought in the name structure of "son of".
The study, published in the journal BDJ Open, helped test CT as a method for future examinations, Betilsson explained.
"Very many of today's archaeological methods are invasive, with the need to remove bone or other tissue for analysis.
"This way, we can keep the remains completely intact yet still extract a great deal of information."
The pilot study was undertaken by two specialists in oral and maxillofacial radiology, and one general dentist, who examined the images together.
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Reference
Bertilsson, C., Borg, E., Vretemark, M., & Lund, H. (2025). Findings from computed tomography examinations of Viking age skulls. BDJ Open, 11(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-025-00309-9
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