The beginning of the Viking Age is usually dated to the year 793 when Norwegian Vikings looted the Lindisfarne monastery in England, but findings from ship burials from Salme on the island Saaremaa in Estonia show that Vikings from what is today Sweden made armed expeditions to the Baltics already before the end of the 8th century.
The exhibition, which broke visitor records in Estonia, is coming to Stockholm so that everyone has the opportunity to get acquainted with this extraordinary find of the century, which has already changed and will certainly change our understanding of the Viking Age says Priit Kivi, Member of the board at Saaremaa Museum.
Sometime around 1 300 years ago, a bloody battle took place in Estonia. On the island of Saaremaa near the present village of Salme, over 40 fallen Scandinavian warriors were buried along with their weapons and other equipment in two ships on the seashore. Salme is the oldest known burial site of a Viking Age war band in the world.
Thanks to the Salme find, we have gained a whole new insight into the earliest Vikings – who the men were, what ships they used on their expeditions, what equipment they took with them, how they fought and how they buried their dead.
The Salme ships are also an important source for the history of shipbuilding. The smaller ship has been uprooted, but the larger Salme ship has also been able to sail. It is thus the oldest known Nordic sailing ship.
Vikings before Vikings is included in the admission. Tickets can be bought online or at the museum.
The exhibition ”Vikings before Vikings” is produced by Saaremaa Museum, Estonia.
