The Great Viking Survey
Groundbreaking global survey to uncover public perceptions of viking warriors
The University of Oslo has initiated the Great Viking Survey, a large-scale survey designed to explore how people worldwide engage with Vikings as history and heritage. The survey aims to determine how contemporary media, academia, and the heritage sector shape these perceptions. The study invites everyone aged 18 and over to share their thoughts on the iconic Viking warrior, as well as the enduring legacy and memory of the Vikings in the modern world. By doing so, researchers hope to shed unprecedented light on how ideas and images of Vikings circulate and persist in public discourse.
The survey is part of the Making a Warrior-project, an international research network focused on the concept of “warriorship” in the Viking world and its representations in both past and present contexts. By mapping how these ideas and images are formed and shared across different communities and populations, the project aims to support future public engagement and cultural heritage initiatives that resonate with these themes. Furthermore, the study contributes to a nuanced and informed appreciation of the Viking Age itself.
The Great Viking Survey is available at vikingsurvey.org until mid-May 2025.
See the press release from the University of Oslo here.