Lofotr, The Viking Museum at Borg
The Museum
Lofotr, the Viking-museum is a sitemuseum, today represented by a reconstruction of a chieftain’s long-house, a black-smiths house, a boathouse as wel as reconstructed Viking-ships. The origin of the museum was in 1981 when a local farmer discovered pieces of glass and potsherds in the plough-furrows. These artefacts turned out to be French and German imported ware, 1000 years old and for the first time to be found so far north. Surveys and excavations started and the results threw an entirely new light on the relationship between Lofoten, Southern Scandinavia and the rest of Europe during the Iron Age.
Archaeological excavations revealed remains of a longhouse, 83 m in length, and scholars established the fact that this was the largest building ever found in the Viking world. A modern reconstruction was built close to the original location. The museum focuses upon experimental archaeology and traditional handcraft, as well as being a “living museum.”
In the museum’s archaeological exhibition, you can see artefacts from the Iron Age. The surrounding landscape contains foundation walls for boat houses, several settlement sites, burial mounds and a court site. All together, this is evidence of an Iron Age power centre.
The Norce Project
The Vikingmuseum is situated in the middle of the Lofoten islands, an area with a strong traditional coastal culture. The ocean connects all the islands together and has been the main communication way as well as an important source of nourishment. The art of boat building in Norway is probably as ancient as the first settlers.
Lofoten is a spectacular sight with its sharp peaks, the sand beaches, the ocean and the fisheries. The mild Atlantic climate gives makes the islands a lively place year-round. The summer is the high season for tourists from many countries, while the spring and autumn offers more space and peace. During the winter it is cod season in Lofoten. With white alpine peaks as a background for the fishing boats, the Lofoten fishing season is
an exotic attraction indeed.
Through the Norce project we will focus upon coastal culture by making the ships suitable for adventure tourism. Also the sail-making process will be demonstrated at the museum
through the weaving of a “sail-reconstruction”. Food and plants in the coastal area will also be a theme with traditional herbs and plants in the area and the use of these to develop our menus.
Contact Person:Kjersti Skaufeldt
kjersti.skaufeldt@lofotr.no
Lofotr, The Vikingmuseum at Borg
Prestegårdsveien 59
8360 Bøstad
+47 76 08 49 00 (phone)
+47 76 08 49 10 (fax)
Wildlife
Boat building
Traditional food
Living History
Co-financed by European Union, European Regional Development, Fund, Interreg IIIB Northern Periphery Programme
