On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 03:57:26 GMT, "Martin H. Eastburn"
wrote:

Doug Weller wrote:

snip

I am also trying to track the silver monted coconut-bowl which were among
the items Ivar Bardson delivered from Vinland as part of the tithes from
Vinland. It may take some time to put all the lines from Stavanger to Rome
together here. Seems as if it might have been sold in Flandern but I really
hope not. More as soon as I have followed that one up.


Coconut bowl? Where can we read about this?

Doug

The Vikings were well known to trade goods with the people of Turkey.
They came down the rivers in Russia.

Coconuts last a long time and likely were stores on long trips once traded for.

Yes, but I don't think they had coconut palms in the Middle East back
then. Just date palms.

Well a quick check reveals that they were available in Ceylon earlier
than that (introduced about 100 BC, according to
http://www.qub.ac.uk/bb/provan/pdf/2001c.pdf ) so the Arabs could have
brought some within the Viking range. They'd have been an expensive
curiousity more likely than an article of commerce, though. Carried.
overland, they don't last nearly as well as dates, raisins or rice,
all of which give better value for weight or volume.

Al Moore