The Vikings Uncovered

One fact emerged, that Eric The Red ( a very naughty boy) was exiled from Norway and settled in Iceland with his followers, but before that made a visit to Britain for what turned out to be more than supplies.....when a DNA test was made recently in Iceland, three quarters of the males had Norweigan ancestry, and something like two thirds of the females had British ancestry.

Yes it was really fascinating.

Now can anyone help me here. I remember visiting a small Church in North Northants where there was an 11C wall painting depicting Emmanuel (??) being pierced with arrows- and the 'attachers' were depicted as American Indians, wearing short skirst and mocassins and head-dress. It seems to be proof of the voyage to Newfoundland centuries before- but with the stories and descriptions carried on by the oral tradition over time- and represented in the wall painting.
Mesmerising- but I can't for the life of me remember the name of the village or Church. I hope it is featured later in the series.

Thought I would bump this back up, as somebody may know the church Granjura is talking about.

King Edmund was killed (in 869) by being tied to a tree and shot with lots of arrows so maybe the painting in the church was him. I would have liked to see the Vikings programme. I hope it is repeated.

Was it St. Sebastian by any chance, usually depicted full of arrows?

Of course Grumpa- oooops. The small Church is either in SE Leics or North Northants- I googled it and of course got the wrong Saint!!! So no wonder. Will try again. I remember it was also famous for being the place, in a small loft above the Church- where the Gunpowder plot was hatched.

FOUND IT AT LAST!

It was the martyr of St Edmund- in the lovely Church of Stoke Dry, in Rutland (which was previously part of Leicestershire... hence...). For those who want to Google it.

A link:

www.paintedchurch.org/stokeded.htm

rubysong
The Vikings Uncovered is still available on BBC iPlayer for the next twelve days.

Thank you Aurelia I will watch it tonight (when DH goes 'down the pub').