Jorvik

Jorvik is the Viking-era name for the city of York, located in present-day North Yorkshire, England. The name comes from Old Norse Jórvík, usually interpreted as “boar bay” or “bay of boars.” In the late 9th century Norse settlers established a significant town on the River Ouse, and York became the political and economic center of the Viking kingdom known as Jórvík within the Danelaw for several decades.

During this period, Jórvík grew as a major trading hub with craft production and extensive links across northern Europe. The settlement developed substantial urban infrastructure, including timber buildings, gates, and embankments, and it played a key role in the exchange of goods between the British Isles and continental Europe.

Archaeology and modern heritage are closely linked with Jorvik. The Coppergate dig of the late 1970s and early 1980s uncovered thousands of artifacts dating from the 9th to the 11th centuries, including the Coppergate Helmet. The discoveries provided the basis for the Jorvik Viking Centre, opened in 1984, which recreates Viking-age streets, shops, and life through life-sized figures and immersive displays.

The Norman Conquest in the late 11th century shifted political power away from the Viking-era kingdom, and the name Jórvík gradually faded as an official designation. In modern times, Jorvik endures as a cultural and tourism brand associated with York’s Viking heritage, most prominently represented by the Jorvik Viking Centre and related museums and exhibitions.