on the point of historical figures of their time, and dawkins referencing believers in odin and suchlike. somehow I doubt if such devotees of ancient gods were evolutionists, but probably instinctively knew there was a creator[s], though not knowing of the biblical God. so what exactly was dawkins point?

Quite so, pete. I don't think Dawkin's really has a point when he says that. Its sole purpose as far as I can see is to confuse the opponent about how to respond. Dawkins is capable of a very high standard of reasoned argument, so when he plays verbal games like that I shake my head with disappointment.

But as a brief aside, I wouldn't assume the Vikings and co were not 'evolutionists'. Certainly they were not Darwinists - how could they be? - but the idea of evolution is much much older than Darwin, you know. "All" Darwin did was describe a mechanism whereby the already-belived-in evolution could work and lead to speciation. My memory of the Eddas needs refreshing but I don't recall the creation stories they contain saying anything at all about how the various different animals were created. Man, yes; animal, no.