L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site of Canada

The Viking Encampment: Vinland 1000 AD Text: © Darrell Markewitz

• Opening of the Norsk Hydro / Petro-Canada Viking Furnace
• News Release: Crew of Twelve Trace Leif Ericsson's Historic Transatlantic Voyage from Greenland to Newfoundland in an Authentic Viking Ship
• The Viking Encampment: Vinland 1000 AD

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• Historical Background
• The Norse
• Demonstration Stations
• The Artifacts

In the early years of the 11^th century, the first Europeans to set foot in North America arrived on the shores of modern day L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. These Scandinavians, collectively known as the Norse, had travelled west from their colonies in Iceland and Greenland. They had not come to raid, but to cut timber, hunt and explore the unknown wilderness they called Vinland.

Cast your mind back along the centuries up to that time, 500 years before Colombus. Come visit the camp of Bjorn, Norse merchant-adventurer, his wife Thora and Astrid, her slave, along with members of his crew Gunnar, Kol and Harald. As you visit the reconstructed compound, the captain and his crew will invite you to participate in various demonstrations.

Experience period textile production, food preparation, woodworking and learn more about the life of these early Norse explorers. Handle reproduction artifacts and become a discoverer as you experience for yourself life in the Viking Age!

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The re-enactment represents the kinds of seasonal camp that was established by the Norse at L'Anse aux Meadows in the first decade of the 11^th century. Single ship crews of 30 or so sailed westward from Greenland to gather resource material such as timber, to hunt sea mammals and generally explore the area. Such voyages were common during the 400-year history of the Greenland settlement. Men made up the majority of the crew, but a small number of women usually took part, providing domestic support. Building houses, or even the construction of sod-walled 'booths', were time consuming tasks, so the first shelters were tents. As well, they would have to bring with them all the equipment needed to support themselves for a long stay. This would include cooking gear, tools, and even household goods like beds and chests.
 

The objects that make up this Viking Encampment are all based on artifacts from Norse Northern Europe, dating from 800 - 1000 AD. The L'Anse aux Meadows site here in Newfoundland has yielded a mere handful of artifacts, perhaps because of the short duration of habitation and marginal nature of this site. For this reason, some assumptions had to be made about the types of equipment that would have been available on a Vinland expedition. Overall, the camp is perhaps a bit too 'wealthy' to truly reflect the usual personal effects of an average Norse crew. Some extra items have been included to illustrate aspects of Norse Culture in general. Care has been taken to ensure that the picture presented, from sword to wooden spoon, is as accurate as possible.

THE NORSE

Bjorn (ship's captain) is originally from Norway and is a merchant/trader. He is the leader of the current expedition, and the owner and captain of the knarr Raven's Wing. He is the youngest son of Egil, a large and adventurous family. Although his older brothers fought in the battles around York, Bjorn himself has followed the less risky life of a merchant captain. He is a man obsessed with status and quotes from the Havemal to appear wise. He is a great teller of tales.

Thora (captain's wife) is originally from Dublin, Ireland, where she lead a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. Her mother was Irish and her father Norse. While in Dublin, Thora was attracted to the visiting Bjorn. Over the objections of her mother, they had a Christian marriage. Thora is a strong willed and dominant woman, who in some ways is more the leader of the expedition than her husband. She has not kept it a secret that she plans to divorce Bjorn once she returns to civilized lands.

Gunnar ('first mate') is the oldest serving member of Bjorn's crew, an Icelander by birth. With few prospects, he grabbed the chance to sign on with Bjorn as a seaman when he was in his teens. Over the years, he has risen to the position of 'first mate' with the majority of his duties involved with the actual handling of the ship.

Harald (ship's carpenter and blacksmith) is also originally from Dublin, and like Thora, is of mixed Norse/Irish parents. He owes much of his easy going personality to the Celtic spirit of his father. He has served with Bjorn on the Raven's Wing for several years now, but is thinking of moving on. Although not a master ironworker, his skills exceed those that are required for simple ship repairs.

Astrid (personal servant to Thora) is originally from Norway, though much of her life has been spent in Iceland. Unlike the rest of the crew, she is a slave in the household of Bjorn. She now has been in service to Bjorn and Thora for most of her adult life. Astrid is a devout Chirstian, and works to "inspire others by her example to accept the Lord."

Kol (farmer hired as labour) is a young man originally from Iceland who has recently emigrated to the West Settlement on Greenland. He is from a poor family. Being not especially bright or dynamic, Kol was ambitious and wise enough to realize that Eirik the Red's claims for 'Greenland' could mean a small farm of his own. Kol left Ireland with trouble in his wake. He killed another man and was now banished from home and on the run.

DEMONSTRATION STATIONS

Interpreters representing the Norse provide summer demonstrations.

Gunnar - Ship's Construction and Navigation: tool box and tools are based on a set found in Masternyr, Norway, ca. 1000 AD. Navigation tools are from various sources.

Harald - Iron processing and Craftsman: the anvil and blacksmith's tools are based on a number of period sources.

Thora - Domestic Technologies, Cooking and Textiles: the forged cauldren hanger is based on that from Gokstad, ca. 900 AD. The brass pots based on Masternyr. Other cooking tools, lamps and wooden chests based on Oseberg. Textile equipment based on a number of sources.

Bjorn - Trade and the Sagas: the bed and wooden chests based on Oseberg. The shield on Gokstad, no specific sources for sword and helmet.

THE ARTIFACTS

In the selection and creation of the reproductions used by the Viking Encampment, it was necessary to base the objects on a number of historic sources. Most of the larger pieces are based on the grave goods found in the Oseberg ship from Norway. This burial dates to the early 800s and consists of a rich selection of funerary items including a complete 'camping' outfit, with tent, collapsible beds and cook set. Many of the smaller items are based on the profusion of everyday artifacts found at Coppergate in York, England, and Woods Quay in Dublin, Ireland. Both of these are town sites, and dates to the late 900s. The selection of tools is based on those found in Masternyr, Norway, which have been dated to ca. 1000 AD. The bronze ring-headed pins and soapstone spindle whorls are based on those actually recovered here at L'Anse aux Meadows.

Each reproduction is as close as possible to the original artifact type. Many have been created using the same techniques that were used by Norse craftsman 1000 years ago, with extensive use of period-type tools and hand-forming techniques. In some cases, the raw materials utilized are modern substitutions because of availability, cost, time constraints or safety concerns. Mild steel bar is substituted for wrought iron, cotton canvas for handwoven linen, rough-cut pine planking for wedge split timber, as examples.

This general description of the major artifacts, their materials and historic sources is grouped by the interpreter associated with them. Overall there are some 200 individual reproductions, not including costuming and accessories. A detailed listing of artifacts is available upon request.

Date published: 1997-06-14