Archaeologists Find Traces Of Legendary Viking Centre

[Viggen]

Russian and German archaeologists believe they may have found traces of human settlement in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad that could lead to the legendary Viking trading centre of Wiskiauten. The find lies three kilometres south of the coastal resort of Selenogradsk in a field near the Curonian Spit, a narrow strip of sand dune off the coast...

 

full article at Rawstory

 

Interesting Detail;

The researchers struck luck almost immediately, finding a Byzantine coin at the first structures. This is evidence of long- distance trade conducted by the Balts.

[Gaius Octavius]

I wonder how one can determine that finding a foreign coin is an indication of direct trade with the original source of the coin and not the result of a raid or indirect trade or raid?

[Pertinax]

I wonder how one can determine that finding a foreign coin is an indication of direct trade with the original source of the coin and not the result of a raid or indirect trade or raid?

Or indeed if the coin is of sufficient precious/scarce metal as to be a tradeable item itself?

[WotWotius]

I wonder how one can determine that finding a foreign coin is an indication of direct trade with the original source of the coin and not the result of a raid or indirect trade or raid?

 

Yes, a coin depicting King Menander I of Bactria (155-130 BC) has been found near Portsmouth--it is thought to have been mislaid around 100 AD--but that does not necessarily mean the Indo-Greeks had trade links with Britain.