Wallasey-born Professor Steve Harding, a biochemist who also happens to be an expert on Wirral's Viking heritage, is leading a team of fellow scientists and archaeologists from Nottingham, Toulouse and York in examining ancient iron objects in new ways.

These include artefacts found in Bebington, fragments of weapons and adornments which could demonstrate that their location was the scene of a major battle which had a profound effect on England's history.

The new study is examining the chemical make-up of these iron objects, and aims to uncover new insights into where they came from. This relies on something called isotope analysis, which can help identify the origins of iron objects, even when they are old and corroded.

"We will be testing our hypothesis that it is possible to to pinpoint more specifically than ever before where an artefact originates from. If successful it could lead to this method being used with many more old artefacts, which will help us learn more about historic events and people."

Steve adds: "There are objects which may well solve the mystery of the Battle of Brunanburh. It's long been known that this great battle was fought in 937 when Aethelstan, the leader of an Anglo-Saxon alliance supported by Viking mercenaries from Iceland, engaged a Northern Alliance of forces commanded by the Viking King of Dublin, Olaf Guthfrithson, and Constantine II, King of Scotland, along with fighters from Cumbria.

"However, its location has been the subject of conjecture for centuries. Various theories then began to identify a site near Bromborough, based largely around the fact that Brunanburh was its former name - until the 18th century - and then, in 2004, I suggested that the mystery name 'Dingesmere' in the old poem describing the battle comes from 'Things-mere', referring to wetland or marshland overlooked or controlled by the old Viking Assembly or 'Thing' at Thingwall.

"This made a Wirral location even more likely. The objects subsequently unearthed by the painstaking efforts of Wirral Archaeology over the last few years are lending more and more support to the idea that Wirral was the scene of one of the most important but bloody encounters in British history.

"Although Aethelstan ended up victorious, the resistance of the Northern Alliance proved decisive in what was to follow, with Britain continuing to remain as separate discrete entities rather than one imperial power.

"What researchers will be looking for are chemical markers which can identify artefacts coming from Scotland, and these will be able to resolve the battle from other conflicts based on what we know about the disputes at the time between the Vikings and the English."

The study, funded by the National Environment Research Council, will look at a total of 90 objects – besides Bebington, this will include iron objects from York (around what is believed to be the site of the Battle of Fulford), Lincolnshire (the Viking camp of Torksey) and, closer to home, at Meols (the old Viking seaport).

If you want to read more about our Viking past, click or tap here for our feature about the Viking Walks of Summer last year.