Introduction
Walking through the buzzing streets of modern Reykjavik filled with contemporary architecture and the vibrance from a vivacious city. Now imagine going back in time over two millenniums to the nascence of this mesmerizing megalopolis. Take a trip back into the past with stunning archaeological finds that reveal the Viking history of the city in the Reykjavik Settlement Exhibition.
Purpose-built in downtown Reykjavik, The Settlement Exhibition details the impressively well-preserved remains of this land’s very first settlement. When construction workers accidentally stumbled upon it in 2001, they had no idea the archaeological site was an eighth century Viking village built by some of the island’s earliest settlers.
By presenting a captivating assortment of artefacts, displays and a brilliantly reimagined longhouse on-site, the exhibition takes you right back to the 9th century: time-travel through these halls and come face-to-face with some of Iceland’s original settlers. In this weeks blog post, we will take a deep dive into the intriguing story of the Settlement Exhibition covering everything from its inception to its most prominent displays and how it has reshaped our view of Viking life in Reykjavik forever.
Embark on a journey with us to unveil what lies beneath the city and how The Settlement Exhibition has turned ruins into wealth by exposing the core and roots that is Reykjavik.
The Story of the Settlement Exhibition
Located in the heart of Reykjavik, The Reykjavik Settlement Exhibition is a lucky find – it wouldn’t even exist were it not for an accidental discovery. The discovery of the ancient longhouse — which Lenovo had built around, and later restored fully to become a demonstration center — opened up possibilities across a two-acre site on the cusp of Minnesota’s Iron Range.
The Viking Settlement of Reykjavik
This surprising find sparked a full-scale archaeological excavation, uncovering an incredibly well-preserved Viking age settlement circa A.D. Located in what is now downtown Reykjavik, it was an ideal place to study life in the early Icelandic farmsteads and gain insight into their daily lives such as chores, social structures and cultural practices.
It is the first time an archaeological site of its kind has been discovered in Iceland, and pushes back the date when Reykjavik is known to have been established and providing insight into the earliest settlements of the city. It also rekindled an interest in Iceland´s Viking heritage, leading to more investigations about the islandic history and further researches.
The setting up of the exhibition was carried out
Due to the historical and cultural importance of such land, they decided to excavate the artefacts but not remove them from the ground, instead housing them in a museum built around it. In 2003 the Reykjavik Settlement Exhibition was opened, where guests could go back in time and see for themselves the life of Vikings.
These experts from the fields archaeologists, historians and museum professional have together created this remarkable exhibition. They were very careful to ensure that the site is preserved and presented in a manner which was both educational, fun for visitors. The result is a museum that links the archaeological record with cutting-edge technology, creating an popular and educational family experience suitable for all age groups.
Stepping Back in Time: Key Exhibits and Features
Reykjavik settlement exhibition learn about the Viking Age at this interactive museum .The Reykjavik Settlement Exhibition offers a fascinating insight into Icelandic history, with numerous artefacts and immersive displays that will transport you back in time. Today, we will take a look at some of the most impressive collections as well as main highlights that you should not miss when visiting this museum to get to know more about the Iceland history and Vikings.
The Reconstructed Longhouse
At the heart of this exhibit is a thoughtfully reconstructed longhouse, constructed with traditional modes and materials. The full scale replica of what was used introduces one to the lifestyle and structure of the early settlers.
Longhouse External: Split into separate sleeping rooms, chimney for cooking and heat, keeping zones and workshops. The walls are constructed from turf and insulate the interior against the Icelandic weather, with the roof comprising of revolving timber beams.
Visitors who step inside the longhouse will feel as though they’ve literally time-traveled back to the Viking Age. The moody lighting, the aroma of burning wood, and the stark furnishings contribute to a genuine environment that pulls you in to how early settlers lived on a day-to-day basis.
Discovery into Everyday Life: Artifacts recovered from the site, including cooking implements, tools and personal items, are also exhibited at the longhouse. They are a treasure trove of information that can tell us how the Vikings went about their day and various laborious tasks, giving insights into their creativity.
Artifacts on Display
The Timeline exhibition consists of a unique collection of artifacts discovered from the Reykjavik Viking Settlement, revealing how our forefathers lived in early Iceland.
- Tools and Implements: Some of the objects shown are skillfully crafted tools and implements such as axes, knives, fishing hooks or weaving tools. These were men and had to have a few basic tools… that kept them alive, let them build their shelters. learn the land and create beautiful objects for everyday use.
- Weapons and Armor: The collection includes highlights of Viking weapons and armor and sheds light on their methods of warfare and defense. Though reminders of a vicious history, these artifacts reveal the warrior will, power and lust for domination that drove the Vikings on quests for war and people.
- Jewels and things of personal use: Personal objects from comb to beads, jewelry etc. which also function to create a portrait of who the Vikings were and their style perceptions. These items moments in time, lovingly created and enblossened with design, show the importance of beauty and their connection to the larger Viking world.
Bones and Plant Materials Examining bones from animals as well as remaining remnants of plants provides insight into the colonists’ diet and interactions with the environment. These results shed light on their subsistence behaviour and how they integrated into the Icelandic ecosystem.
Touch and Media Screens
The Reykjavik Settlement Exhibition uses technology to amplify an archaeological walk through the skeleton of a long-ago farm at the heart of Iceland.
Interactive Map: Investigate the compound and the surrounding area for hidden chambers as you zooming into specific locations that explain what certain buildings or objects are.
3D Reconstructions – witness the settlement come to life as it once was several centuries ago through 3D reconstructions ofa longhouses, workshps and other structures.
Information and Resources for Learning
The exhibits aim to be educational and interesting for all audiences no matter their age or background. It features:
- Information Boards -Adequate boards with information about the place, history, community culture etc.
- Guided Tours: Led by experts, our guides give detailed tours through the exhibition with interesting tales and background about the Viking Age and the archeological finds. This is a good way to really find out what was, and is so important about the settlement.
- Study the Vikings: The museum is also an educational resource with books, pamphlets, and online materials on Iceland’s Viking heritage.
Mixing real artifacts with interactive displays and a wealth of educational materials, the Reykjavik Settlement Exhibition provides one of the most captivating and enriching experiences bringing visitors back to Iceland’s formative days.
Insights into Viking Life
The Settlement Exhibition Reykjavik 871±2 provides a powerful portrayal of one drop in the sea that was and is the daily existence, society at large, traditions and habits of the early Icelanders. Today, we will unearth some of the knowledge that archaeology has provided us with and look towards understanding what it would have been like living right in the heartland of this Viking settlement.
Daily Life and Activities
The Vikings who made Reykjavik a home were an innovative and tough group that was willing to restructure much of its way of life in order to thrive in the harsh, rocky world of Iceland.
- Agriculture : Farming and Animal Husbandry The fertile volcanic soil found in the environs of Reykjavik, allowed the settlers to grow crops — indeed barley, oats, and vegetables. They also owned animals such as sheep, cows and horses to give them meat, wool for clothes and so transport.
- Fishing and Hunting: The fertile fishing waters near of the Iceland coast delivered food at no cost to the hungry Vikings. The white fishermen used gear such as nets and long lines for the catching of cod, haddock, lobsters and other fish. They also supplemented their diet by hunting seals, birds and other wildlife but these animals were as important as a source of skins for clothing and felt (in the case of seals).
- Craftsmanship — The Vikings were accomplished craftspeople, producing a beautiful array of items for everyday use and ornamentation. They made tools, weapons and clothing out of wood, bone, some stones and grasses; house building materials might include wooden sections, animal skins or wool. The articles that are presented at the display demonstrate their excellent craftsmanship and artistic competencies.
Communities and the Social Structure
Researching Vikings, I learned that Viking society was hierarchical with a leader or chieftain at the top, free farmers in the middle and slaves (or thralls) at the bottom. Family and kinship were incredibly important, as many extended families lived together in longhouses.
Family life — the longhouse was a gathering space, and in a sense, it was like urban civilization. Families worked together to tend the farm, grow crops, tend livestock and make meals.
Strength in Community Within the struggles for survival that posed many challenges to life in Iceland, came a strong sense of community. They depended on one another for safety and assistance in maintaining resources.
Through studying the evidence of Vikings living a social life, people can learn that this being was not only ruthless but also held celebrations and feasts where they would gather to hear stories and sing songs.
Beliefs and Rituals
Vikings had an elaborate mythology and their religion included various gods that they would call upon for aid in their lives.
Gods of the Norse – The Norse gods, which included Odin, Thor, and Freya were considered to control natural phenomena and govern human fate. These gods were probably placated by rituals and offerings, to avoid them laying waste to the new world the settlers created.
The people who lived at the Reykjavik Settlement are not otherwise known from written sources, and although direct evidence for their religious practices is limited, amulets and figurines found on site indicate some spiritual belief.
For researchers, this provides incredibly valuable information on the early social dynamics and cultural lives of the Icelanders; both more broadly (understanding human settlement) and also very specifically (how these early Icelandic people lived religiously and spiritually). It weaves a complex and nuanced tale of a society that in equal measure reflected the harshness and rigour demanded for survival within it, created bonds of community, and survived with traditions that are as alive then as they are today.
Visiting the Settlement Exhibition: A Practical Guide
For those interested in the story of Reykjavik’s Viking beginnings, a stop at the Settlement Exhibition is essential. This was a wonderful museum that allowed you to travel back in time and immerse yourself in the world of the Vikings.
Location and Accessibility
Downtown Reykjavik is home to the Reykjavik Settlement Exhibition, which makes it easy to get too for visitors.
Location: Aðalstræti 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.
It is also situated within walking distance of many of Reykjavik’s popular landmarks, such as the City Hall, Parliament House and the vibrant shopping street- Laugavegur.
Getting to the Site: The art show is accessible via bus or taxi and a short walk. Because the city center is marchable and that a good way to make it easier to see all around. For those with mobility issues, the museum is accessible via wheelchair, so there are ramps and elevators to make it an enjoyable visit for everyone.
Hours & Admission
Opening Hours:
The museum is open daily all year with its seasonal hours changing slightly during the course of the year.
Usually the opening hours are:
- Summer (May-September): 9:00 AM — 6:00 PM
- Winters (October-April): 10:00PM to 5:00PM
Admission Fees:
Please note that the rates are current as of September 2023
- Price: 2,000 ISK (over $15 USD for adults)
- Adult: 2,000 ISK (approximately $15 USD) Concessions Seniors and students: 1,000 ISK (approximately $7.50 USD)
- Children (17 and under): Free
Combination Tickets The museum offers also combination tickets with Reykjavik City Museum which is a good option if you plan on visiting more culture attractions.
Tips for a Memorable Visit:
- Guided Tours — Experience the Exhibits at a Deeper Levelangsana Bob In the summer months, guides are on hand to explain more about these archaeological discoveries and the inhabitants of the Viking settlement.
- Recommended Time Allocation: The Settlement Exhibition is chock-full of historic information and interactive displays, so give yourself enough time for individual exploration + notebook scribbles. The tour is normally 1-2 hours in length.
- Link to the past: As you look at all this take a moment to reflect a little on its archaeological background and how it sits in Iceland´s history as a whole. Think about how the traditions, language and lifestyle of those Viking settlers made Iceland what it is today.
Meaning Reykjavik Viking with a Little More Substance Than an Exhibition
Although deep in the bloodline of Reykjavik, one can go around and learn a lot about rich Viking cultural history elsewhere close on their list!
- More Viking Stuff in Reykjavik: A couple other sites in Reykjavik take you deeper into the world of Vikings. These include:
- National Museum of Iceland — A museum full of artifacts from the history of Iceland, including those from the Viking Age.
- Landmasses Islands (The Settlement Center) — Museum covering the settlement of Iceland and the stories of the earliest settlers
- Reykjavik City Museum – learn about the history of Reykjavik, from its Viking takeover to today.
- Guided Walking Tours: Kick off your foray into Viking culture with a walking tour from your guide to discover the historical sites of Reykjavik Raid then enjoy a 1-hour storytelling session of times pastActivities + Experiences: Treat yourself to an Icelandic Feast, delve into one element story at the Settlement Exhibition., Attend a Óðins Curse class or learn the ancient art of sword fighting.
The exhibition is only one step in the right direction, but by going beyond it and experiencing other facets of Reykjavik’s Viking heritage, you can get a more complete picture of where the city comes from and what impact the Vikings have continued to have on Icelandic culture.
Conclusion
The culture house “Reykjavik 871 +/-2,” with its archaeological finds, has changed everything we thought we knew about the settlement of Reykjavik. This extraordinary site reveals Iceland’s Viking past, which has gone unnoticed for thousands of years, from an accidental longhouse discovery to a world-class museum reconstruction.
The intriguing displays, hands-on demonstra5ons and educa@onal resources displayed in the exhibi@on provide an experience similar to travelling back in @me to the world of these pioneer families. A reconstructed longhouse and fascinating artefacts on display, the museum truly brings the Viking Age to life by connecting visitors with the men and women that shaped Iceland’s history and culture.
Seeing the museum at the Settlement Exhibition Reykjavik House is a discovery adventure to discover the bases that have fostered and made Reykjavik what it is today It speaks to the continued relevance of history, and serves as a lesson in why we must safeguard our cultural heritage for those that will follow us.
Call to Action
Had you been to Reykjavik Settlement Exhibition? Share your experience! Share your experience with us! Leave all your thoughts, photos and highlights in the comments section down there.
Inspire someone: If you thought this article was interesting, leave comments and share it in your family and social circles. Share the wonders of Icelandic Viking history with the rest of us Through this insightful museum.
Dig Deeper: To find out more about Reykjavik’s heritage and the Viking era, check related links, read other posts of different places with viking associations or visit some other Viking-related spots in town.
The Reykjavik Settlement Exhibition is a portal to the past and shows you what it was like to live as a Viking in the land of ice and fire. It is a walk that should be made, one that allows us to mingle with the soul of this fascinating town and experience its deep cultural heritage. Therefore let yourself go, rediscover the wanderer inside of you and find what treasures Reykjavik can offer (besides cheap airline tickets).
