In the south of England road builders dig foundations for a new highway. Cutting through the chalk, the excavator makes a shocking discovery. In a shallow grave is a tangled mass of headless skeletons, and to one side, a pile of severed skulls. Viking Apocalypse pieces together the events that led up to this massacre, revealing secrets of the Scandinavian warriors who once brought terror to Britain. Cutting-edge forensics together with ancient texts and heroic sagas tell a story of greed, betrayal and retribution, bringing the Vikings back from the dead.

Scandinavia's bitter climate means its new arrivals must grow up fast. Summer's rich seasons are short. If this year's young don't make the most of them, the long and brutal winter will claim the unprepared.

In the deadly frozen landscape of Scandinavia, a stunning cast of animals including bears, wolves and muskox clash in a life-and-death battle against the elements — and against each other — in the endless fight for survival.