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Living history in the early medieval period

We bring living history to life in the Viking period 900 to 1000 B.C. We show our way of living and working at a Viking camp. We will demonstrate craftmanships like thread spinning, dyeing wool, wood milling, forging iron, fighting, Hnefatafl and making bows.

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Below you can find serveral examples of these craftmanships in our tented camp.

 

Woodturning

The Niflheim Vikings brings woodturning from the Viking period with our encampment. We will demonstrate how woodturning is done by Vikings as a craftmanship. The wood lathe is clever made with branches and rope.

Forging iron and steel

Within the Niflheim Vikings there are serveral sibbings that participate in forging iron and steel on the event. In the smithy iron and steel are being formed to usable forms, like hooks, hinges, knifes and many more objects. These pieces can be used by other families on the camp, or maybe by you at home.

Hand spinning

Spinning is an old textile art in which plant or animal fibres are drawn out and twisted together to form yarn. In the Viking period, fibre was spun by hand using simple tools, the spindle and distaff. Loose fibres are not usable to weave, therefore they first need to be spinned to usable yarn.

Vechtdemonstraties

The Niflheim Vikings also presents fighters that will do their training at our encampment if enough space allows this. Joining with other Viking groups, battlefields will be recronstructed at some events. The safety regulations of many large re-enactment events in Western and Eastern Europe are applied.

Boogschieten

Within the Niflheim Vikings there are also archers who like to shoot an arrow at a target. If fighters have adequate protection and the event permits, they can also contribute to reconstructed battles. They will then keep the fighters at bay with the hail of arrows.

Making bows

Besides making woodturning objects, we will show you how bows were made. These bows are made from wood species during the Viking period. When a bow is crafted, they will be examined carefully for shooting arrows like they should. Crafted bows are being displayed on the encampment.

Wood carving

By carving wood maily smaller decorative items are made, such as wooden statuettes or the like. Also kitchenware is made, such as spoons, dishes and bowls. This is very practical, because we also use them for eathing our dinner.

Hnefatafl

Hnefatafl is a strategic Viking game and is often compared to chess. It is possible to sit at a table where the game with the many rules and variants will be explained. Do you dare to play the game against our Viking?

Dye wool

To give colour to the wool in a medieval way, it is colored by means of water, fire and ingredients for the correct colour. Plants with Alum is usually used. Different plants give different results in colours.

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Cooking

Cooking will often take place in the center of the Niflheim Vikings' encampment. The food is prepared as it was done in a Viking period encampment, with a wooden fire. This can be quite a challenge as all Vikings get hungry several times a day! Fortunately, there are Vikings who are very good at cooking for the whole group.

To dye wool in the early medieval period, fire and water with ingredients was used. The ingredients can differ and are important for the right colour. Mostly vegetable ingredients and Alum are being used. Different vegetable ingredients will result in different colours of the wool. 

Cooking shall often happen in the center of our encampment. The food is prepared like in an old encampent, above a wooden fire. This can be a big challange, because all the Vikings are getting hungry multiple times a day! Fortunately we have Vikings that are very good in cooking for so many people.

Viking spellen

When the opportunity presents itself, various games from the Viking period are played. The games are intended for entertainment, but at the same time also intended to train insight and the body for combat. Various games are played such as Hnefatafl (board game), Jomswikinger (blindfold game with box), Glima (wrestling) and Toga Hönk (tug of war).

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