Viking invasion at Candie Museum

The latest exhibition opened this week.

Heroes of the Viking World is touring from the award-winning Jorvik Viking Centre.

The collection features a replica Viking tent, with a series of display panels, replica tools and human remains with battle injuries.

Social history curator Matt Harvey said he was excited to invite Guernsey people back to the museum again with a brand new exhibit, and unique learning experiences for families.

‘The Vikings were an amazing and fascinating people,’ he said.

‘They were adventurers, explorers, great craftsmen, fierce warriors, merchants and entrepreneurs.’

He added that the Vikings were more than likely to have visited Guernsey, due to the island’s geographical position as they adventured, raided and traded down from the north into England and France.

He said they may therefore be a contributory factor to Guernsey history and cultural make-up.

‘So learning more about them might well tell us more about ourselves and why we are who we are.’

Mr Harvey said there was very little surviving physical evidence of Vikings in this region.

In fact, the new display features the only artefact attributable to the Vikings to ever be uncovered in the Channel Islands.

A carved bone gaming counter was found in 1967 during an excavation at Cobo.

Visitors can play draughts using exact copies of that 'board game' in this exhibition.

The Discovery Room also features The Vikings Timewarp to complement the touring exhibit, featuring a replica Viking ship centrepiece and replica Viking weapons and costumes.

n The museum is open daily from 10am until 5pm and the Viking exhibits is open until 31 December. Admission is free with a Discovery Pass, other normal admission fees apply.

n More information can be found at www.museums.gov.gg/vikings.