The Vikings have been the victims of “bad press.”
English and Irish histories have tended to focus on one limited and negative
aspect—the early raiding activities. The image of Vikings as horned, bloodthirsty
barbarians has been repeated in history texts of English-speaking countries
such as Canada and the United States. However, archaeological work has
helped to paint an entirely different picture. A more accurate representation
of Vikings as mariners, colonizers, merchants and skilled craftspeople
has emerged. The Vikings addresses the issue of stereotypes, attempting
to replace the current “Hollywood” image with a balanced one by presenting
available evidence on Viking activities in North America and Europe. Text,
illustrations and artifact replicas illustrate a variety of day-to-day
activities. Many of the main Viking sites in northern Europe and the temporary
settlement at L’Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland, are coupled with items
from Inuit camps to items from Canada’s High Arctic island.
Graphics, text and high-quality artifact replicas are mounted on a
series of 12 panels fixed on free-standing units. These units are
flexible, and can be configured to suit almost any space, such as a
linear orientation along a corridor or in a variety of clusters.
Artifact replicas are an important and necessary part of the exhibition,
allowing it to be displayed in smaller institutions where budget,
standards of security or environmental controls cannot permit rare
irreplaceable artifacts.
Exhibition Sections:
- Vikings as Settlers and Traders
- Vikings as Shipbuilders and Sailors
- North American Settlements
- Vikings as Superb Craftspeople
- Viking Households and Farmsteads