MOESGÅRD VIKING TRÆF
This is=
the
longest established Viking market of modern times and has set a pattern and
standard that many others have tried to emulate.
Every y=
ear,
on the last weekend in July, the event is held on land that runs down to the
sea near Moesgård Præhistoriske Museum. For the preceding week
hundreds of Viking re-enactors and Icelandic horse enthusiasts camp at the =
site
in authentic tents. Viking ships are often present anchored a little way ou=
t in
the shallow water, their crews camping on the clean sandy beach. Up in the
paddocks at the top of the low cliffs of sand and gravel lies the market pl=
ace
and camping ground. This area also features a reconstructed Iron Age house =
and
a grave with a ship-setting.
The cam=
ping
ground is surrounded by ancient oak forest – an oasis amongst the dark
woods. At market time the space is filled with hundreds of tents and the sm=
oke
of many fires. Furthest from the beach the grass is given over to scores of
pedigree Icelandic horses – descendants of those used by the Vikings.=
This wo=
odland
sanctuary can be reached only by forest tracks or walking along the beach. =
Its isolation
lends it a special atmosphere and this spot was long recognized as an idyll=
ic
place for a summer event before the Viking market was initiated. However, t=
he
land is Danish Crown property and access controlled by the museum.
This is=
the
site, then, that is transformed every year for a week into a Viking Period =
market
and it is thanks to the innovation and imagination of two men that this came
about.
In the
mid-1970’s the curator of Moesgård museum was Egon Hansen, a man
much involved the Danish innovation of experimental archaeology. Geoffrey Bibby, an expatriate from =
Britain
since the war worked in the archaeological department and administration of=
the
museum. Both men were interested and involved in the museums adult-education
and evening classes.
In the =
course
of the 70’s classes in handicrafts such as pottery and weaving became
popular. In these classes participants learned about ancient techniques and
tried to reproduce ancient artefacts as well as bring the crafts back to li=
fe. Over
a period the museum and students amassed a quantity of products from this w=
ork
and the decision was made to sell them at a market.
Egon Ha=
nsen
was involved in the Sea Scouts of Aarhus who had also constructed a replica=
Viking
ship at this time.
For som=
e time
prior to this the Iceland horse enthusiasts of Jylland had sought permissio=
n,
unsuccessfully, for a meeting to be held on the museum’s ground at Mo=
esgård
strand.
In 1977=
these
different elements were combined by Hansen and Bibby to create the first Mo=
esgård
Viking Market. The horses were exercised and shown in the paddocks, market
stalls sold replica ancient handicrafts and a Viking ship sat at anchor off=
the
beach. To mark the event special replica coins were struck and medallions m=
ade.
The mar=
ket
was such a success that it became an annual feature. It became a tradition =
for
many horse-owners and Viking enthusiasts to attend. The coins were minted
annually and became collector’s items.
Up to t=
his point
the concept of costumed activity was not included. The whole affair was a
contemporary summer camping event with a flavor of the past but not a
re-enactment event. This changed after 1984 when British Vikings visited the
market. The re-enactment scene had taken-off in the U.K. in the late 70R=
17;s
and the infection spread to Denmark !
The sig=
ht of
armed Vikings in costume ( however dubious they may look today ) and swingi=
ng
at each other with ‘real’ weapons electrified the participants =
and
public alike. In following years there was a surge of interest as Danish Vi=
king
combat groups sprang up and the participants at Moesgård adopted Viki=
ng
dress and camping-style. The museum laid more emphasis on the Viking aspect=
of
the market and exemplary tents were constructed to give more atmosphere.
Battles=
at
Moesgård became de rigeur. Thousands of visitors flocked along the beach paths to see two Vi=
king
armies slug it out twice a day on Saturday and Sunday – come rain or
shine. Twenty thousand people can visit Moesgård Market and they all =
have
to walk to get there – there is no public car park on the site.
Partici=
pation
in the battles is strictly controlled and since the enlargement of the EU b=
etter
travel possibilities have increased participation. More than 200 warriors f=
rom
Russia to Iceland, from Norway to Italy meet to battle and party with hundr=
eds more
traders.
![](3D"file1465-filer/image002.jpg")
Egon Hansen and Geoffrey Bibby have pas=
sed away.
Geoff visited the market up to the end and is the only man in his 70’=
s I have
seen wearing a mail shirt. Their relatives and children continue the tradit=
ion.
Indeed many couples have met and families been created at Moesgård. N=
ow
there are third generation participants at the event which is a fixture in =
the
Viking calendar and the annual summer holiday for many. The enthusiasm of t=
hese
two men and the hard work of many other people created an institution which=
is
known across Europe – indeed, across the Viking world.
Geoff Bi=
bby,
Moesgård 1998