Fearsome Craftsmen

Discover the Artistry of the Viking World

Vikings made ordinary things to serve their everyday needs but they decorated them with designs which reveal the true spirit of the Viking Age. This exhibition allows you to discover how these Fearsome Craftsmen working over 1,000 years ago turned simple materials into complex objects.

In this exhibition, you can see how Vikings made everything they needed from natural materials. Antler, bone and horn could be turned into combs, knife handles and jewellery. Wood was vital for everything from houses and furniture to spoons and bowls. Leather from animal hides made shoes, belts and scabbards. Smiths turned ores into iron, lead and copper. Potters made clay into pottery. Dyed and woven wool was transformed into colourful cloth.

Discover the Vikings like never before by exploring a replica Viking house and experience what it was like to be a blacksmith in our specially designed children’s area.