Archaeologists in Scotland discovered an 11th century Viking parliament underneath a parking lot in the town of Dingwall. It is a rare finding because most Viking assemblies took place in open-air fields so it is quite unusual to find a more permanent building that was used.
Map of Scotland, with Dingwall indicated. This is where the 11th century Viking parliament was discovered under a parking lot. (Shutterstock)
Viking gatherings carried out for legal disputes were known as ‘Things’ which came from the old Norse word ’ping‘ meaning assembly. ’Things’ were where political decisions were made, laws upheld and disputes settled. They acted as meeting places and were often the focus for trade and religious activity.
“It’s a fantastic find, really,” said Oliver J. T. O'Grady, the director of the site’s excavations and an archaeologist who runs an archaeological consulting firm called OJT Heritage. “No one’s had dating [information] from a Thing site in Scotland.”
