Archaeologists believe they have found the site of a key Viking
fortress on the eastern coast of Ireland. The fortress,
identified in the Irish Annals as “Linn Duchaill” was founded by
the Vikings the same year as Dublin, the capital. RTÉ says three
test trenches at the small town of Annagassan in County Louth,
north of Dublin, show remains of so-called “hack” silver, used
as ship’s ballast, nails for ship-building, some human remains
and items from everyday life. The archaeologists are sure the
site is that of Linn Duchaill, founded by the Vikings in 841.
The dig has revealed signs of a major defensive wall, built to
defend the settlement on one side. The other sides were
protected by the River Glyde and the Irish Sea. The Ulster
Annals record Linn Duchaill as a Viking base used to raid inland
up to what is today Northern Ireland. History records a pitched
battle in 851 AD, between “dark haired” and “fair haired”
Vikings. Vikings from both Norway and Denmark raided Ireland
throughout the Viking Era. It is th