Die Schatzinsel der Wikinger

In 1983 the world’s greatest Viking treasure ever found was discovered in the eastern region of the island of Gotland. 55 kilograms of silver were found on farmland. Many findings made on Gotland can be traced back to the vast Russian plains – leading archaeologists and the “Schliemann’s Heirs” team to direct their quest towards the east.

The legendary route the Varangians took to Greece leads from the Baltic Sea via Russia’s rivers to rich and golden Byzantium. Along the banks of the Volchov, the Dnieper and the Volga, archaeologists found runes on swords and drinking horns – clear traces of Odin and Thor.

The “Schliemann’s Heirs” team follows the route of the Varangians via Novgorod and Chernigov to the formerly glittering city of Kiev. Varangian relicts can also be found here. The clever merchants and brave warriors even conquered the treacherous rapids of the Dnieper. They returned home laden with silver. But some of them stayed – as co-founders of a new empire.

Concept Gisela Graichen Written by Gisela Graichen Written and directed by Peter Prestel Director of photography Steffen Böttrich, Maximilian Schecker, Resa Asarschahab Edited by Susanne Strobel Research Jean-Christoph Caron Location Manager Sven Heiligenstein Associate Producer Eva-Maria Imlau Production manager Jörg Kunkel Editorial department Dr. Gudrun Ziegler, ZDF Head of production Ulrich Lenze, Cinecentrum Air date ZDF, January 18, 2004 » back