Berig

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The red area is the extent of the Wielbark Culture in the first half of the 3rd century. The dark pink area is Gotland and the green area is the traditional extent of Götaland
The red area is the extent of the Wielbark Culture in the first half of the 3rd century. The dark pink area is Gotland and the green area is the traditional extent of Götaland

Berig (from Baírika "bear-like"[1]) (1st century?) was according to Jordanes, the king who led the Goths from Scandza (Scandinavia) to Gothiscandza (the Vistula Basin). They settled and then attacked the Rugians who lived on the shore and drove them away from their homes. Then they won a battle against the Vandals.

Archaeologists identify the settlement of Gothiscandza with the Wielbark culture in modern Poland, where it replaced the local Oksywie culture.

Archaeological research of last decades shows that the transition of Oksywie culture into Wielbark culture was peaceful. Its timing coincides with the appearance of new population of Scandinavian origins in previously uninhabited area ("no man's land") between the Oksywie and Przeworsk culture areas (Kokowski 1999). It is highly probable that the new population which appeared on southern coast of the Baltic in early first century AD catalyzing the transformation of Oksywie culture into Wielbark culture (the historical Goths) can be identified with the Berig party described by Jordanes. The area where they settled suggests that Berig could be invited to defend the tribes known as Okywie culture against their southern (probably Vandal) neighbors.

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