"With Surtr's Dust": The Viking Discovery of Gunpowder (April Fools 2023)

A newly-discovered manuscript reveals that the Vikings discovered gunpowder and used it to make elementary small arms. See also the companion documentaries at ‪@ForgottenWeapons‬ and ‪@simonroper9218‬
Manuscript art by Erika Morton. Visit erikamorton.st... or e_morton_photo on IG.
Jackson Crawford, Ph.D.: Sharing real expertise in Norse language and myth with people hungry to learn, free of both ivory tower elitism and the agendas of self-appointed gurus. Visit jacksonwcrawfo... (includes bio and linked list of all videos).
Jackson Crawford’s Patreon page: / norsebysw
Visit Grimfrost at glnk.io/6q1z/j...
Latest FAQs: vimeo.com/3751... (updated Nov. 2019).
Jackson Crawford’s translation of Hávamál, with complete Old Norse text: www.hackettpub... or www.amazon.com...
Jackson Crawford’s translation of The Poetic Edda: www.hackettpub... or www.amazon.com...
Audiobook: www.audible.co...
Jackson Crawford’s translation of The Saga of the Volsungs: www.hackettpub... or www.amazon.com...
Audiobook: www.audible.co...
Music © I See Hawks in L.A., courtesy of the artist. Visit www.iseehawks.com/
Logos and channel artwork by Justin Baird. See more of his work at: justinbairddesign.com

[@JacksonCrawford]

Ian McCollum’s companion documentary on Forgotten Weapons: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3XGk5WwrZxsp5o Simon Roper with more details on the Old English evidence: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2OygolqgrSCeMk

[@leighdf]

@Jackson, this is epic. We know of trolls from the sagas, but they don't hold a candle to you and your distinguished co-conspirators.

[@rdbchase]

Scientists were not "viewed as magicians in the Middle Ages" -- scientists did not exist in the Middle Ages.

[@guillermotheivth4378]

Do we have any idea who the scribe is? I would love to see if a similar manuscript could be "procured" for my collection, plus when we later look back on this NorsePlay'd find there'll be more than one example to cite from this specific Harpasdag tradition.

[@ErikHolten]

@@guillermotheivth4378 Roper mentions her.

[@adammiller-mz4mx]

Almost sure if the vid title didn't show "April Fools" in recommendations, this vid would have triple views minimum, viking clickbait farms views.

[@robertsmith4681]

This, is the single most impressive gathering of actual world class subject matter experts I have ever seen for an April fool's joke, well done !

[@GeoffSayre]

When I got the KZbin notification, I was totally fooled. Really good prank

[@fjallaxd7355]

Yes, this is so funny actually.

[@christopherstein2024]

God damn. I knew something was off. But the serious presentation of stuff I had no clue about really overshadowed the ridiculous pieces in between for me.

[@jillscott4029]

Right up there with the BBC's infamous spaghetti trees!

[@Chiburi]

Oh, no…. 😳

[@cuffzter]

You can't just not appreciate the amount of tenured scholars that joined in on this joke.. err.. I mean fascinating discovery!😄

[@rgbgamingfridge]

no you mean distinguished professors

[@davidgrubbs6362]

This could run as-is on the History Channel any day of the year.

[@rattus7881]

It needs more aliens

[@alicelarsson165]

This also explains why Vikings are always depicted carrying such elaborate and decorated "Drinking-Horns" at the ready in their belts. These were ofc in actuallity Gunpowder-Horns! Museums need to closely re-examine these artifacts for gunpowder residues. The modern Scandinavian word for Gunpowder is also Krut/Krutt/Krudt, related with Old Norse's Krydd (Spice). Due to Gunpowders likeness to ground pulverized herbs. Possibly from from *Krūdan (“to press, push, crowd”), cognate with Ancient Greek βρῠ́ον (brúon, “tree-moss, etc.”), from βρύω (brúō, “to swell”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *Gʷéru (“skewer; spear”), so that part also connects with Geir (Spear) as in Atgeir.

[@TadeuszCantwell]

Wow so many distinguished professors telling us this information, it must all be true.

[@HoNewerth]

It never crossed my mind to check the date. This was so convincing to be honest....and then the comment section ruined the fantasy for me

[@TadeuszCantwell]

@@HoNewerth I came from Simon Ropers more subdued video, but I'd already fallen for a prank elsewhere so I got a feeling this was as well. So I enjoyed the History channel presentation style.

[@jubuttib]

And we didn't even need AI fakes! =)

[@Galdring]

I see what you did there. Let's show Fauci an Atgeirr.

[@davidmouritsen]

Wonderful! The best April Fool's video I've seen so far today! Thank you, Dr Crawford-and your accomplices-for the laughter.

[@betafishjeremy7454]

I find it fun that I'm subbed to this channel and forgotten weapons so both of these videos are on my feed almost side by side

[@jesseholcombe3347]

I got this one and Simon Roper's.

[@faramund9865]

Same, and that somehow made it more credible to me rather than raising suspect lmao!

[@dafyddthomas6897]

Congratulations on gathering such a huge team. Surtr's dust and volcanic sulphur in Iceland were excellent touches But last year's discovery was better. Only 1/2 way through, when Jackson recited the text as Swedish chef did I realize the date. This year's TITLE was enough to know the date

[@fionaanderson5796]

Because of time differences, this is only 2 hours old but it's already the 2nd of April in Aus. Wasn't til I went to tell my bf about it, and typing "I'd think it was a hoax but for who's involved" that I caught on.

[@delanebredvik]

Brilliant. Being able to add the two extra German positions is a profound service to the scholarly community. Thank you for your service.

[@nilsniemeier5345]

That was the best part of the whole thing.

[@delanebredvik]

@@nilsniemeier5345 I had to watch it over and over again... Still laughing.

[@Max-jf5vu]

What a discovery! We were all fools to have overlooked this fascinating specimen. What an April to be alive in!

[@herimperialmajestyempressf82]

Man, that’s a well crafted reply! Amazing job! 😆

[@nickcarr5724]

The detective saying "I started this career path as a student of anthropology" is the funniest thing I've heard in a while.

[@thormusique]

OMG, that's hilarious!!! Viking with Guns - soon to be a major motion picture, no doubt. Starring Keanu Reeves as Jón Vík. Cheers!

[@arweninnj]

LOL! Good one

[@peterfireflylund]

Morgan Freeman as the king of Norway.

[@Mr.Patrick_Hung]

When I saw the title, I checked to see if the date was April first.

[@betafishjeremy7454]

But it's not a joke that's the fun thing

[@knutsylte3347]

so did I

[@inregionecaecorum]

It is even older than that, archaeologists in Coventry found a bronze Celtic version near the Lunt Roman fort in Baginton, along with a lead inscription in the ancient Brythonic tongue describing how they had used it against those villainous Romans who had never done anything for them.

[@judyshoaf448]

Oh, my. I spent all day Saturday being amazed at how beautifully clean and legible that manuscript leaf is.... I was trying to explain to a friend the relationship between hákarl and gunpowder when it dawned on me.

[@Ragnar0xx0rz]

Great to see so many superheroes from the Jackson Crawford Extended Multiverse all together in the same film.

[@noecarrier5035]

Dr Jackson Crawford sounds like a Indiana Jones type character who has raided at least one mysterious mesoamerican temple.

[@Paveway-chan]

Now I want a medieval fantasy novel about a Norseman who invents the first Icelandic firearm, and goes around "solving problems" using his "singing weapon".

[@peterfireflylund]

Perhaps accompanied by a foundling boy?

[@crisr.8280]

I am in awe at the intersect of very much connected fields of study/expertise yet not usually incorporated together in instruction. Love the collaboration and the new knowledge all of you have brought out from the murky past.

[@squidpope9344]

Dude it's an April Fools joke

[@bjarnitryggvason7866]

The battle sequences in Njal's Saga finally make sense. What a sensational discovery!

[@johnschuler4816]

I forgot what day it was and this totally had me going! Well done. :)

[@tdmddo]

When professionals do professional jokes together, that's another level

[@redwinger4281]

I'm glad everyone had fun making this. Jackson you are a class act

[@MaxKaladin]

Wow! Well done! You had me going at the start but then something seemed really fantastical and I remembered the date. Looks like a lot of effort went in to this.

[@Henrique-wy6cv]

I will tell ya something .... after finding out that the Vikings fought the Dinosaurs, nothing about them surprise me anymore

[@BobbyN-P]

this video made me smile, thanks for the dose of wholesome fun. Only problem now is that I want a viking blunderbuss 🙇😆

[@DevsQuillsandCartoons]

This is one of the most elaborate April Fools Jokes I have ever seen 😂 And, with so many people involved. From others’ comments, I’m guessing you do this every year. Can’t wait to see next year’s ‘Discovery’ 😉

[@ThePykeSpy]

I knew it, crafty Colorado Man strikes again!

[@faramund9865]

This is put together so well. The names for black powder and gun were incredibly convincing! Also because I know black powder was used in Europe in the the late medieval period. And the manuscript looked really good! (A bit too good) I'm a little embarrassed you had me for a good 4 minutes.

[@rjbisbee8567]

Without a doubt the best April Fools Day video you’ve made to date Dr. J

[@petesheppard1709]

Even knowing the gag and the easter eggs, there's still a strong urge to _believe_ !

[@Getpojke]

Poisson d'avril 🐟 Very well done, one of the most believable ones I've seen. Thank you.

[@DrLeroy76]

You've outdone yourself. Looking forward to next year's edition

[@amandachapman4708]

All those Distinguished Professors! I must congratulate especially Simon Roper on his meteoric rise through the academic ranks 😂

[@Harrow_the_Ninth]

I've seen some excellent efforts today, but this one takes the cake.

[@faramund9865]

Oh no, I fell for it! That goes to show how much I respect your insights! Damn it...

[@Iwoodlikethat]

This is so well done!

[@Aswaguespack]

Thank you Dr Crawford for a true delight on this most Special of All Days. This has to be the most elaborate April 1st Story ever conceived and published. You da Man Dr. Crawford 😂

[@barrittjm]

Excellent, so much detail. Brilliantly done sir.

[@michaelpytel3280]

Thanks to all the Distinguished Professors for being so Distinguished.

[@Neptune0404]

This is so exiting! I love discoveries like this that shed light on old mysteries, and makes us rethink old ideas. Exited to see where this discovery leads!

[@YolayOle]

Bravo, Dr. Crawford! This might be the best one so far. Did I just see a Space Mutiny reference?

[@haroldlittell689]

Ian and co cracks the code! Now I know what this "pipe on a poll" that has come down from my great, great great, (X 20) Grandfather weapon is and he was known as "Thorgrim Fire-Breather"!!! Thanks Guys!

[@onenof10]

Interesting. Every lost manuscript I've managed to find has also been 8.5" x 11". There's probably a grad paper or two on the survivability of the format.

[@donjones4719]

Your comment is totally implausible. Everyone knows European manuscripts are on A4 sized paper.

[@onenof10]

@@donjones4719 This is true but only of manuscripts dated from the early proto-metric era onward. Pre-Stora Enso manuscripts were less refined, as shown by frequent scaling irregularities common of the era.

[@Rolf-farmedfacts-supervisor]

Norway here, this was a good one! How do you guys keep a straight face?

[@greyareaRK1]

This recasts the epic struggle between Aeylmer Fudd and Daffi Duk.

[@Othurin]

Been reading Njal's saga recently so it's a great timing to learn more about what exactly was meant by "Gunnar Hamundsson's atgeir was home" when he pierces an intruder with it! Although my truly misinformed Swedish translation rendered atgeir as spjutyxa or spearaxe

[@peterfireflylund]

Thank you for including Lorenz Frølich! :)

[@glarson8370]

These are getting better each year 👍🏻

[@henrya3530]

Congratulations on a splendid piece of research. I would like to offer the following quote from the Saga of Ólafur heimskingi "Þetta er mesta drasl sem ég hef heyrt í langan tíma. Eru þetta brandarakarlar í alvöru?" Gunnar Hlíðarendi famously responded to this challenge with "Haltu í bjórinn minn." Old Norse is such a poetic language.

[@dust001]

I've always thought Canadians were the ones who discovered firearms! Amazing stuff!

[@GoldenArbiter01]

Lmao what?? Please, I need the source of this

[@7piecebucket]

Vinland.

[@Dave_Sisson]

Nonsense, ask any redneck and they will tell you that 'Muricans invented everything!

[@Kevc0re_]

Wow. This is so well done, if you didn’t know this was on April Fool’s Day and you didn’t know anything about this, you would think it was real.

[@Son-of-Tyr]

Just bought Poetic Edda and Saga of the Volsungs by Jackson Crawford from Grimfrost. Very excited to read them. Keep it up, Jackson. You're a true drengr.

[@scottmarsh2991]

Fascinating! But can already imagine how Hollywood blow this discovery out of proportion. I’m counting the days before I see a Viking movie that will feature a whole line of gunners pop up from behind a shield wall.

[@scottmarsh2991]

Okay, I fell for the joke-but my original comment still stands!

[@thogameskanaal]

This changed the way I look at EVERYTHING! Oh, and it cured my cancer. I'm forever in your debt, Mr Crawford.

[@barbarapiercy4312]

First, I’m a amateur magician and I’m the wife of a professional magician. I am the one that keeps him good. So when I say “ that was a brilliant job of palming!!!!” You’ll know that it really means something. The way you kept everyone’s attention on the weapon so they wouldn’t notice you putting the rock in your back pocket, was an impressive performance!! I don’t blame you! That thing is dangerous enough without adding more pressure AND a projectile. As a person of Royal Norse descent, I really enjoy your deep dives into our history. Keep up the good work!!!

[@celtzen]

I really need to remember to check the dates - at least it only took me three minutes and a glass of wine.... Nicely done Doc.

[@JenniferinIllinois]

Well played everybody. So many distinguished professors, like Buff Hardback, University of California, Hill Valley. OMG I'm dying!!!!!

[@meteordmsyu6298]

Thank you for spreading this to the public. When I told my professor that there's no way a weakling like Svipdag could've made it through his story without a gun he cut me from the class.

[@limitlessnwst]

LMAO Forgotten Weapons even did a video on it, this is the best ever

[@TheBaron75]

So many Distinguished Professors!

[@flightlesschicken7769]

Yeah, but they are not real, lol

[@TheBaron75]

🙄

[@flightlesschicken7769]

It’s hard to tell sarcasm over the internet, haha

[@Deckzwabber]

This is a higher quality production than most of what I've seen on the history channel. And the story is more true.

[@TheAntiburglar]

I was legitimately so interested in what Surtr's Dust could be......right up until I remembered what day it is XD

[@tristenweber-nd1sv]

Surtr's dust is the coolest term for gunpowder.

[@AngelaRichter65]

Magnificent! Well done, sir. Well done.

[@cptmc]

I'll add Surtr's Dust to my list of macguffins like the Parker Square.

[@simonbannow3905]

Hope CNN covers the story, this discovery needs to be known at every airport ✈ across the globe🌍. Great work Mr. Crawford! 💥

[@asorlokirunarsson9864]

I spit out my coffee when I heard about this

[@the_malefactor]

Not being a scholar of Scandinavian languages and not having been in the academy for a long time, I can sense the joke just out of my grasp in those two German department positions, but I delight in it nonetheless.

[@tsamoka6496]

I don't care if this is a joke or not, I love this! Thanks to everyone involved for putting in the time and effort to make this. You all are awesome! =^x^=

[@moinasandon5812]

Brilliant! I love the effort put in, thank you! This made my day XD

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Vikings and gunpowder!! Crawford, Son of Jack! Surtr's Dust!

[@markwaldron8954]

This is the most elaborate April Fool's joke ever. The only real giveaway is the hyperbole some of the researchers indulge in, such as Simon Roper, and the lady who says we have to throw out the Prose Edda. If not for those few over-the-top statements this would actually be believable.

[@ServantOfOdin]

Wow, that's one of the most distinguished news you can possibly find..... :D Love it, you once more outdone yourself.

[@terryroots5023]

I was initially sceptical, but was convinced by the philiololological analysis

[@havareriksen1004]

Awesome joke. But I guess many people won't catch the Surtr reference. Surtr is a fire giant in norse mythology, and he wields a sword of fire which will cause a world consuming fire at Ragnarokk. So Surtr's dust would be fire dust.

[@HistoricWrath]

The hilarious part is the least plausible sounding part of the whole video is the single university offering two tenure track positions in a single field 😂😂😂

[@kidddogbites]

What would be funny is if this was an april fools joke within an april fools joke, by posting a totally legitimate discovery on april fools day.

[@AgeCobra]

Way ti go Jackson on April fools.

[@book3100]

I'm only a casual watcher here, but the thumbnail looks a bit like "take that mother heifer and shoot him in the face" I know most of you won't see that, but if you don't look closely and don't know anything about the old languages, it gives me that impression. Anyhow, it made made cry laughing. This is a really cool channel btw.

[@gyorkshire257]

I was buying this for about 7 minutes! Well done.

[@tf5]

certified bruh moment

[@jamesfaulkner9968]

This is outstandingly done, bravo

[@MartinAhlman]

You, and your collaborators, made my day a much happier one! Btw, it's all tru, but you shouldn't be telling anyone! Sweden loves you!

[@deadcaliph6414]

This is a pretty cool alternate history plotline.

[@sanjivjhangiani3243]

Actually, the earliest firearms were only used three centuries after the time referred to (1030 AD), so it's not that implausible. (Yes, I know it's a joke.)

[@YouTubeIsRunByMarxists]

HAHA. You guys so funny. Nerdy and funny. Love it.

[@daminblack8873]

This is awesome. Great discovery!

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

Greatest collab in KZbin history.

[@VinlandAlchemist]

PFPFTHTHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!! AWESOME PRANK, DOC!! BRILLIANT!! 🤣

[@51WCDodge]

Daft thing is, there is the lurking grain of possibility. Early Norse script has been found in Constaniople, Norseman were mercenary gaurds. Constantinople was a nexsus on the Silk Road, from China. So , there is the possibility that a Norseman could have learnt the formula for black powder.

[@Lucius1958]

Almost taken in earlier; but the 'manuscript page' should have been a dead giveaway. Well done! ;-)

[@ObservantPiratePlus]

Well-played, good sir.

[@georgepeters9381]

Outstanding!

[@MBkufel]

A professor from Hill Valley, California? What could they possibly know about going back in time?

[@Aeslyth]

Amazing as always every year.

[@RolftheRed]

Best collaboration ever!

[@Jason-fm4my]

This is brilliant.

[@RealShamanX]

This is really exciting!

[@henriklekbergosterman2807]

Best April fools around. They always crack me up