DrakarNot only am I interested in the future, but the past has my warm interest as well.

Especially European cultures, like THE VIKINGS and THE CELTS.

THE VIKINGS

VIKINGS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB

VIKINGS IN MUSEUMS

    A very good way to learn about viking heritage is visiting museums. The first museum I visited is
    • "Vikingskiphuset" in Oslo, Norway.
      This museum has 3 authentic remains of viking ships on display: The Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune of the period 800-900 AD, as well as viking artifacts.
      I did not find information of this interesting museum on the internet, but perhaps it is available now or soon (pointers are welcome on this subject).

    Later I visited

    • "Vikingeskibshallen" in Roskilde, Denmark.
      This museum is located beautifully at the Roskilde fjord and has a very interesting collection of replica viking ships. Interesting memorabilia are for sale in the museum shop.

    I also went to the

    • "Wikinger Museum Haithabu" in Haddeby, near Schleswig, Germany.
      This museum with its remarkable architecture of seven shackled log-cabins shows impressions of viking craftsmanship, among which the reconstruction of a viking ship. When the weather permits, a replica of the viking ship is sailing the lake. Nearby the ancient fortifications (the Danewerk) are to be seen.

    In England I went to the very interesting

    • "Jorvik Viking Centre" in York, Great-Britain.
      This museum is really worthwile. Apart from lots of artifacts, it has a lifesize model of an ancient viking village, complete with characters, sounds and smells of that era. The museum is partly underground at the archeological site of Jorvik. The tourist office and the Youth Hostel in York can supply information on the museum. Apart from the information on the internet (which is excellent), "Anglia Multimedia" has released a CD-ROM called "Vikings!" in association with the Jorvik Centre. Lots of stuff for sale at the museum shop.

    Other viking museums are

    • "Lofotr" in Borg i Lofoten, Norway.
      This museum consists of archeological finds and a sailing replica of a ship.
      • and
    • "Fotevikens Museum" near Höllviken, Sweden.
      This is a maritime archaeological museum concentrated on research and inventory of shipping, ships and maritime relics. It also runs Foteviken Viking Reservation where handicraft, environment and mannors of living in the viking-ages is reflected. Part of the reservation is educational activities.

    Several other museums have viking related material, like the "Maritiem Museum Prins Hendrik" in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. More museums can be found on the sites mentioned above.

VIKINGS IN REFERENCE MATERIAL

    Literally dozens of books have been published on vikings. Any good library and bookshop can supply titles. However, being from the Netherlands, I can recommend four titles, of which three are published in Dutch:
    • "De Vikingen, heersers der zee" (ISBN 90 269 4129 3)
      This title is translated from "Les Vikings, rois des mers"
    • "Zo was het bij de vikingen" (ISBN 90 6113 461 7).
      This title is translated from "I was there. Vikings"
    • "Eric de Rode, De Vikingen steken de Atlantische Oceaan over" (ISBN 90 72718 83 6).
      This title is translated from "Eric the Red, The Vikings sail the Atlantic"
    • "Life In The Time of Harald Hardrada and The Vikings" (ISBN 0 7451 5190 6).

    Multimedia has caught up with the vikings. "Anglia Multimedia" has released a CD-ROM called "Vikings!" in association with the Jorvik Centre. This interesting CD-ROM runs well on almost all Macintosh, Windows and Risc-OS (Acorn) platforms.

Page written by Lucien A. Stam

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