Vikings were the original HIPSTERS! Norse invaders spent time perfecting their facial hair when they weren't pillaging, ancient figurine reveals

To us, modern-day hipsters may represent the peak of personal grooming.

But it appears the Vikings – the seafaring people originally from Scandinavia – really put today's fashion-conscious types to shame.

Researchers at the National Museum of Denmark have uncovered an ancient Viking figurine from the 10th-century with an immaculate hairstyle.

The 'very well-groomed' figure, just 1.2 inches (3cm) tall, has a middle parting, fancy imperial moustache and a long braided goat beard.

Peter Pentz, curator at the National Museum of Denmark, described the figure as 'the first thing that comes close to a portrait from the Viking period'.

And it suggests the Norse invaders spent time perfecting their hair when they weren't raiding, colonizing and pillaging large areas of Europe.

'If you think of Vikings as savage or wild, this figure is proving the opposite, actually,' Mr Pentz told AFP.

'He has a centre parting up to the top of his head, and then in the neck his hair is cut,' Pentz said.

The historic artefact was originally carved out of ivory walrus tusk, one of the most precious materials of the Viking Age, in the 10th century.

It was originally found in a grave by the Oslo fjord in Norway in 1796, where it may have been buried along with its owner.

It has been tucked away and forgotten in the archives of Denmark's National Museum ever since.

It represents the king piece from the board game Hnefatafl – the Scandinavian precursor to chess – which the Vikings exported across Europe, including Britain.

But it may have been modelled after an actual person, probably a man of status and power, or even a real king.

According to Mr Pentz, the most surprising thing about the figurine is its expression, which is unusually detailed for Viking art representing humans.

Most Viking renderings of human figures are quite simple and not very human-like, but this one has been made with great attention to detail.

And its huge eyes and greatly furrowed brow even give it a slightly creepy, demonic air.

Pentz added: 'He looks devilish, some people say. But I think he looks more like he's just been telling a joke or something like that. He's smiling.'

In a statement, National Museum of Denmark said it may depict Viking king Harald Bluetooth, who ruled Denmark from about 958-986 and introduced Christianity to the country.

Officially titled King Harald I, he supposedly gained the nickname 'Blåtand' or 'Bluetooth' due to his singular dead tooth, which had turned grey.

Harald Bluetooth united the disparate Danish tribes into a single kingdom, which was why the wireless technology standard was named after him.

Experts say the piece dates to the second half of the 10th century – precisely the period when Harald Bluetooth ruled.

The piece is extra-special because Viking Age art rarely portrays humans, instead being known for dragons, animals and patterns.

'Hitherto, we haven't had any detailed knowledge about Viking hairstyles, but here, we get all the details,' added Mr Pentz. 'This is the first time we see a figure of a male Viking with his hair visible from all angles. It's unique.'

Although the figure is more than 1,000 years old, it is one of the first objects registered at the National Museum of Denmark, which was founded in the early 19th century.

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It got number 589 in the collection, which today counts about two million objects – from stone age axes and gold horns to pill and mouth pads.

This is one of the most 'remarkable' because it is not simply an anonymous, symbolic depiction, but one that shows human character and expression.

'It's exceptional that we have such a vivid depiction of a Viking, even a three-dimensional one,' added Mr Pentz.

'This is a miniature bust and as close as we will ever get to a portrait of Viking.'

Vikings, also called Norseman or Northman, were Scandinavian seafaring warriors who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the 9th to the 11th century.

These raiders, pirates, traders, explorers, and colonizers often traveled by sea from Scandinavia and invaded Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Britain and more.

Lindisfarne, located off the northeast coast of England, was the location of the first major Viking raid in Britain.