Volunteers Needed for Viking Rediscover the Legend Exhibition Page not found

[said]

Vikings (Old English: wicing—"pirate").

I am surprised these re enactments don't get protestors considering they were slave masters and people traffickers.

The re-enactments appear to concern, Normans, Vikings, Saxons and Romans only - I guess the other groups are too boring. If there were protestors an audience would assume that they are part of the act.

[said]

Don't worry about it. Most of us have the measure of him by now. He's an authority on everything... via Google. A fantasist, who, given the many contradictions he makes, has a very bad memory.

I know whose version of Viking history I would believe, and it's not his.

Actually the argument was not mine! The author is a Doctor of Archaeology, who has studied the Viking history worldwide,and completed a thesis on it. This person is a Member of Historic Environment Scotland (Historic Scotland) and English Heritage who has travelled the world extensively and organised and taken part in many digs for archaeology. That person happened to be visiting when I logged on to the Q local site. I was present on one site (Offa's Dyke) for two weeks with this person, in the wettest weather imaginable, and several burial sites in Ireland - you have to be pretty dedicated. So no, I am not as highly accredited as this person, but I do have some knowledge.

[Hamble]

The re-enactments appear to concern, Normans, Vikings, Saxons and Romans only - I guess the other groups are too boring. If there were protestors an audience would assume that they are part of the act.

Years ago before the internet re enactments were ten a penny around Lancashire.
Always in muddy fields usually raining or wasp infested hot.

The children loved them.Men in tights with guns and swords priceless!
I always moaned about the smell from the burger van.
Mr Hamble loved the weird beer.

[said]

Saga Iceland Cruise...still popular.

" Later on, many of these admixed families took part in the largest movement of people during the Viking era, leaving the coastal settlements in the British Isles for a new life in Iceland." From the DNA test results of Science Direct.

[said]

Years ago before the internet re enactments were ten a penny around Lancashire.
Always in muddy fields usually raining or wasp infested hot.

The children loved them.Men in tights with guns and swords priceless!
I always moaned about the smell from the burger van.
Mr Hamble loved the weird beer.

Some of our friends would take part in these too. They were very serious about them and spent huge amounts on the costumes. Often their whole family would take part - but then again, they nearly always ended up in the local pubs after.

[Hamble]

Some of our friends would take part in these too. They were very serious about them and spent huge amounts on the costumes. Often their whole family would take part - but then again, they nearly always ended up in the local pubs after.

Thank goodness for electronic games.

[Hamble]

To be honest everyone was at that time.

I cannot feel the angst of people demonstrating against historical slave money named buildings streets or statues.

Perhaps it is due to the 'in living memory' thing as I feel differently about 'Nazi uniform' wearers at themed wartime events popular in
my area.

[rolling-thunder]

" Later on, many of these admixed families took part in the largest movement of people during the Viking era, leaving the coastal settlements in the British Isles for a new life in Iceland." From the DNA test results of Science Direct.

I once took part in a BBC Horizon programme with a geneticist called Sir Walter Bodmer { it's called Sir Walters Journey, A Genetic Map of Britain }. Sir Walter went around the Country trying to prove the people had Viking DNA in their Genes. He might have been a scientist but he couldn't talk to kids. He left the kids of Gosforth Junior school under the impression that Vikings wore Jeans We had to set them right before we left. Sir Walter was last observed in a layby filming a sequence for the programme that never appeared in the final cut, possibly because of the amount of cars beeping at him as they passed. Anyway, possibly because of the state of genetic testing at the time Sir Walter couldn't prove anything, more over for some reason everyone they interviewed to support Sir Walters claims didn't support his view but they still included their opinions in the programme.

[rolling-thunder]

I cannot feel the angst of people demonstrating against historical slave money named buildings streets or statues.

Perhaps it is due to the 'in living memory' thing as I feel differently about 'Nazi uniform' wearers at themed wartime events popular in
my area.

I've said it elsewhere before but every good guy needs a "Bad guy" to fight. Re-enactments bring History to life but people always tend to remember more information once they have seen it. My personal opinion is that Historical Uniforms should include the full paraphernalia of the Uniform. As long as they are re-enactors without a Political agenda I don't see a problem. A lot of re-enactors will behave quite aggressively towards someone with Nazi sympathies. I have seen members of the Public Nazi saluting German re-enactors, they didn't get a pleasant reaction. I collect WW2 German RC Tanks because I think they are cooler than allied Tanks {& they are easier to buy} but I've seen it suggested that German Tank collectors have Nazi sympathies?
WW2 Nazi Uniforms are there to remind us of the horrors of the War, to remind us that it should never be allowed to happen again. Our past is our past, we are supposedly evolved beyond slavery & while it should never be forgotten we can't punish people of today for the behaviour of our ancestors.
The Vikings captured Slaves but then slave owners had obligations towards their slaves. In troubled times some Norse sold themselves into slavery because the owners were obligated to feed the slaves. I have no doubts that some slaves were treated horribly but some were treated very well. Viking Slaves could even earn money, if they earned enough they could buy their freedom. Yes occasionally my society has held slave markets but this is a vehicle to educate & inform like everything we do. And no! I'm not suggesting slavery was in any way condonable or nice!

[Hamble]

I've said it elsewhere before but every good guy needs a "Bad guy" to fight. Re-enactments bring History to life but people always tend to remember more information once they have seen it. My personal opinion is that Historical Uniforms should include the full paraphernalia of the Uniform. As long as they are re-enactors without a Political agenda I don't see a problem. A lot of re-enactors will behave quite aggressively towards someone with Nazi sympathies. I have seen members of the Public Nazi saluting German re-enactors, they didn't get a pleasant reaction. I collect WW2 German RC Tanks because I think they are cooler than allied Tanks {& they are easier to buy} but I've seen it suggested that German Tank collectors have Nazi sympathies?
WW2 Nazi Uniforms are there to remind us of the horrors of the War, to remind us that it should never be allowed to happen again. Our past is our past, we are supposedly evolved beyond slavery & while it should never be forgotten we can't punish people of today for the behaviour of our ancestors.
The Vikings captured Slaves but then slave owners had obligations towards their slaves. In troubled times some Norse sold themselves into slavery because the owners were obligated to feed the slaves. I have no doubts that some slaves were treated horribly but some were treated very well. Viking Slaves could even earn money, if they earned enough they could buy their freedom. Yes occasionally my society has held slave markets but this is a vehicle to educate & inform like everything we do. And no! I'm not suggesting slavery was in any way condonable or nice!

I agree with you on the Vikings and other historical re enactments not in living memory.
They are of legend having an incomplete clear and verifiable history of
their life on earth.

I do not agree with you on the SS Uniform wearers re enactments in public particularly at family events.
They are offensive and many do have a political agenda if you agree as I do that neo Nazi's are racist and far right sympathisers belonging to far right groups should be banned from family/child orientated groups.
These events cannot be monitored by the voluntary organisations that
produce them.

A war enactment with a 'Nazi' uniform is unnecessary when regular German soldier uniform without the Nazi ensigns is available and not offensive.

Private collectors of German war memorabilia with Nazi ensigns
is a personal choice and(I guess) only offensive if shown to a person
whose life has been affected by the hate they represent.

[said]

Slavery was known even before the Roman occupation in the UK. Many of the writings concerning slavery was written in the Icelandic Book, written some three or four hundred years after the Vikings. In particular excerpts in this book it describe the life of some slaves and that the slaves attempted to escape but were all killed - so how did the author know about the slaves and their lives? The only evidence that can be relied on is from the finds in burial grounds and archaeological excavations.

[seivad]

. Many of the writings concerning slavery was written in the Icelandic Book, written some three or four hundred years after the Vikings. In particular excerpts in this book it describe the life of some slaves and that the slaves attempted to escape but were all killed - so how did the author know about the slaves and their lives?

Much like the Inuit in Canada, Icelanders had a strong tradition of oral history. This was the basis for the Icelandic Sagas.

The only evidence that can be relied on is from the finds in burial grounds and archaeological excavations.

It's true that oral history can change as it's passed down from generation to generation. And that it may be impossible to verify everything that isn't supported by archeological evidence. However, in the case of slavery in Anglo-Saxon England, there are original written means of verification that slavery existed in England prior to, and after, the Viking invasions/Norman Conquest. An original written account of slavery in England by an Anglo-Saxon monk still exists. The Domesday Book lists the number of slaves after the Norman Conquest.

Off topic. If people had taken Inuit oral history seriously they would have found Franklin's lost ships a lot sooner.

[said]

Much like the Inuit in Canada, Icelanders had a strong tradition of oral history. This was the basis for the Icelandic Sagas.

It's true that oral history can change as it's passed down from generation to generation. And that it may be impossible to verify everything that isn't supported by archeological evidence. However, in the case of slavery in Anglo-Saxon England, there are original written means of verification that slavery existed in England prior to, and after, the Viking invasions/Norman Conquest. An original written account of slavery in England by an Anglo-Saxon monk still exists. The Domesday Book lists the number of slaves after the Norman Conquest.

Off topic. If people had taken Inuit oral history seriously they would have found Franklin's lost ships a lot sooner.

It would appear that the Inuit knew of the 100 odd men who left the ship to seek help by travelling over the ice. They were also aware of the location where one of the ships went down, which was in fairly shallow water. But they did nothing to either help those in the ship nor to guide the men over the ice? That they said nothing officially until the 21st century?

[SeaCopRimmer]

Just for interest, I would ask those who know what they mean by the Viking Sagas. It's an expression I have never heard here in Scandinavia. Are you referring to Snorre's Sagas (Sturlason)? I'm interested because my son is currently planning to produce a film about King Olaf (later St Olaf), and I'm been given the task of translating the rough manuscript. The film is intended to been shown world wide.

Hello D, Is your son researching the local names here in the North West by any chance? In particular, could you look into the Rimmer surname which we know is Scandinavian - and I have two theories which have been developed looking at Arthur Rimmer's origin and also reading Walter Jesson's books? Trust all is well with you and yours?