Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust

For: KS 2 Duration: 2 hours

These notes are intended as a guide for teachers who have been to the INSET session on Vikings: Invaders and Settlers, and are running the session independently. They are also for the information of those who are attending a session led by one of our staff.

Vikings: Invaders and Settlers

Before the Visit To run this session you will need to bring 5 adults to guide the children on the 5 tables that they will explore in the session. To make life easier for yourself and the other adults that you will bring on the day, we suggest that each adult takes one of the tables and stays on that table whilst the children rotate. The member of Tullie House staff that will be guiding the session will spend a few minutes before the session begins showing you and your adults the tables and activities. Please draw particular attention to the health and safety notes that are included in this pack.

On arrival Please go to the main reception desk and hand in your confirmation of booking and your signed health and safety form. If your class need the toilet we advise you to use the main ones in the reception area. A member of the Tullie House Learning Team will be contacted and you will be taken to your session. There is space to leave coats outside the Activities Room but if you have bags as well it is better to ask at Reception for a coat bin. Before the children enter the Activities Room please remind them not to touch anything.

Format of the Session This session looks at the Vikings as both invaders and settlers. As an introduction we will explore Vikings in Cumbria, using place names and a PowerPoint presentation of the Cumwhitton grave finds discovered near Carlisle. The children will then move around 3 tables handling replica objects which show the Vikings as warriors, traders and settlers. They will also consider Viking burials and Viking gods and legends. The session concludes with a drama activity. The following are the object notes for each table and instructions detailing the activities for that table.

Viking Settlers

Table Notes

Many Vikings settled in lands far away from where they were born, including

Britain. Of those who settled in this country, many were farmers. On the table

are objects related to Vikings settlers and farmers that might have been found

in a Viking home.

a. Pass around each of the objects. Think about what they are made of and what they were

used for.

b. As a group label either the Viking man or woman with the types of material he/she is

wearing (answers on the table).

c. On the hand out choose the best place to build a settlement and give as many reasons as

you can as to why you have made your choice.

The picture below is of a woman in traditional Viking dress. Label the materials that make up her outfit. (Answers for teacher reference)

WOOL

GLASS BEADS

LINEN SILK

LEATHER BRONZE

Silk

Glass Beads

Bronze

Leather

Wool

Linen

The picture below is of a man in traditional Viking dress. Label the materials that make up her outfit. (Answers for teacher reference)

WOOL LINEN

LEATHER FUR

Fur

Wool

Leather

Linen

MAP KEY Symbol Land type Resource

Marshy flood plain Water Fishing Reeds

Flat, lightly wooded river terrace, with good soil and above flood plain Sticks and firewood, possible

agricultural

Forested uplands Timber for building Game

Look at the map key and decide which area you would most like to settle in. Think about how easily the site can be defended and whether it has good access to food, water and fuel.

Which settlement would you choose?

Viking Settlers

Object Notes

Spindle whorl/wool - Often the running of the farm was left

to Viking women while the men were away fighting. One of

their most important jobs was to make clothing. For this

they used flax to make linen and wool which had to be spun

using a spindle whorl like this. They also made colourful

dyes from different types of plants including woad for blue

and weld for yellow.

Lucet - A lucet device like this one was used to make a

braid. In more modern times children have enjoyed creating

friendship bracelets in the same way. This example comes

complete with instructions so that you can have a go

yourself.

Turnshoes - Most Vikings wore shoes. They were of a simple

design and the most common leather used was goatskin.

Fancier shoes had seams in a particular design or were even

in the form of an inscription, and might have had colourful

uppers. Antler horn toggles have also been found though

shoes were normally tied with leather thongs for laces, as in

this example.

Bone needles. Bone was used to make all sorts of objects

such as combs, hairpins, spindle whorls and needles like

these. They look and feel very like plastic but are, in fact,

hand hewn bone. This was a material readily available from

the animals raised on the farm.

Sheep skin. Most Vikings were farmers. Their land provided

them with food, clothing, and materials. Two types of sheep

kept by the Vikings were Manx Loghtans (now only found in

the Isle of Man) and Hebridean sheep. Both breeds are very

hardy and shed their wool naturally so did not need

shearing. These sheep gave wool for clothing, milk for

drinking, meat, butter or cheese. The Loghtan could grow

up to six horns which provided material for making everyday

items such as cups.

Horn mug - As with bone, horn was a readily available

material on the farm and was used to make household

objects. This example might have been used at a feast to

toast the home coming of warriors from a raid. Hollowed out

horns were also used to drink from with some decorated

with fancy metal rims.

Spouted pitcher - Pottery items were expensive during the

Viking period. This example is based on finds from Stamford

in Lincolnshire which was a centre for pottery production.

Here the clay was a distinctive white and when glazed took

on a patchy yellow colour. This was a domestic pot and had

three large ‘strap’ handles and a spout. This was the most

common shape but the potters in Lincolnshire also

specialised in small pots and bowls for cooking, tableware,

lamps and crucibles (small pots for melting metal). Much of

what they made was exported though cooking pots were

used locally.

Clay lamp - This example is a hand held lamp. It would have

been filled with animal fat and a wick was placed in it.

These lamps would have been smelly and dangerous within a

thatched wattle and daub Viking house. This kind of lighting

was used right up to the advent of electricity and it is

interesting to compare oil lamps from different times

(Roman, Tudor, Victorian) to see how little they changed.

On the table there is also an example of a table lamp which

would have been used in the same way.

Wooden trencher - Wood was a commonly used material for

serving food and was turned into bowls, cups and plates.

Bracelet - Vikings loved jewellery. Wearing gold and silver

was seen as a sign of wealth and status. Chieftains gave

pieces as rewards for brave warriors. Less expensive

materials were also used such as bronze, pewter and, for

the very poorest, animal bones. As with clothing colour was

important and coloured glass, amber and jet were made into

pendants and rings. Highly decorated brooches were

common with some examples being huge (look for the giant

penannular in Tullie House). This example is a plain bracelet

and could be used as a template to design something much

more fancy.

Cloak with brooch - Viking men usually wore loose trousers,

woollen tunics, linen shirts and cloaks like this one for extra

warmth. Women wore long under dresses with shorter

overdresses or aprons with shoulder straps. Brooches were

worn to hold clothes together. The example here is called a

penannular brooch. Women often wore a pair of oval or

tortoise brooches to hold shoulder straps. Two very good

examples were found at Cumwhitton.

Can you fasten the cloak with the brooch?

Viking Traders

Table Notes

Vikings travelled huge distances and visited many countries, often bringing

back home items to trade. On the table are objects related to the Vikings as

traders.

a. Pass around each of the objects. Think about what they are made of and what they were

used for.

b. Divide the objects into items the Vikings would trade with and items the Vikings would

want to trade for. Use the map on the wall to help you – it shows all the countries that

the Vikings traded with. Think about the kind of things Vikings would already be able to

grow or hunt in the cold, northern countries they came from compared to the kind of

things they would be able to find in the warm Mediterranean countries they travelled to.

c. On their ships Vikings carved figureheads on to the front or ‘prow’. They could be

monsters to intimidate and scare people, or Gods or good luck charms to protect them at

sea. Have a go at designing your own figurehead, using the pictures for inspiration.

Viking Traders

Object Notes

Longship - The Viking warship was long and slender and could

glide up narrow gorges and land directly onto the beach. They

were also light enough to carry from one inlet or river to another.

This example has 16 shields attached to each side. One theory is

that Vikings would only put the shields and scary figure head on

their boat when they went raiding. They left them off when

trading so as not to frighten their customers!

Axe - The Viking’s favourite weapon was the double-edged sword

but they also used spears and bows and arrows. The axe has been

included here as this tool would have been needed to make the

ships used to trade. They were made of iron with a wooden

handle. Some examples belonging to important warriors or

chieftains might be decorated with silver wire to depict fantastic

birds, beasts and human faces. Such intricately designed pieces

may have been for ceremonial use only.

Runes – runes were used as written communication. They were

designed to be easily carved and many examples we have are

found on grave or commemorative slabs erected to warriors.

Accounts, bills and letters have come to light on wood, antler and

bone. Some items declare who made them or whom they belong

to.

Whetstone - This smooth stone is a whetstone. It would have

been used to sharpen tools and weapons.

Coins - coins only became common towards the end of the Viking period before which goods were bartered or bought with pieces of silver. The value of a silver coin was in its weight not its type as today. Sometimes a price required the weight of a coin and a half and there was nothing wrong with dividing the coin to pay this. We have found many coins as part of hoards buried in times of danger. Their presence allows us to date these hoards and the many precious items they include (i.e. jewellery styles). Coins were minted by placing a blank hand cut piece of silver between 2 halves of a coin die and then bashing this with a hammer.

Viking Warriors

Table notes

On the table are objects related to the Vikings as warriors.

a. Pass around each of the objects thinking about what they are made of and what they

were used for.

b. Try on the chainmail and helmet. Think about what it must have been like to wear these

for long periods. Are they heavy? Comfortable? Would these, the sword and the shield

have been effective as defence?

c. Make your own Thor’s Hammer charm to give you good luck

Viking Warriors

Object Notes

Helmet - Poorer warriors wore leather caps, sometimes

strengthened with a band of iron. Wealthier warriors wore an iron

helmet with either a nose guard, like this one, or eye-guards.

Shield - Vikings used wooden shields with an iron boss. They were

brightly painted and about 1 metre across to protect the body

from the thighs up to the neck. This example is child size. Later

shields were a kite shape and offered greater protection to the

body than the circular design.

Sword - Viking warriors believed that their swords had magic

powers. On the handle you will see runes which are Viking

letters. These too had magic powers which is why the word

‘spell’ is used for the act of forming words today. Swords which

were put into graves were often broken, maybe to break these

spells.

Chain mail - This could be used as part of the helmet to protect

the neck but was also worn as a tunic. It took a long time to

make, as each link had to be forged separately. This also made it

very expensive. Chain mail was very heavy but worn in this way

the weight was distributed over the whole body making it easier

to carry.

Thor’s Hammer necklace - Thor’s hammer was a popular charm

with peasants and farmers. The Vikings believed that when he

threw his hammer he caused thunder. A pendant like this one was

often worn in the same way we might wear a cross today. A

warrior might have worn his for good luck.

Drinking horn - This would have been used

as a cup. Hardy cattle, such as long horns,

were vital for food, hides for clothing and

warmth, bone and horn for every day items

such as combs, needles and vessels such as

this. Most commonly drunk was beer made

from barley but the wealthy often imported

wine from Germany. Examples of items like

these are often found in graves.

Mask - This is a mask of the God Thor, who

was the God of thunder and lighting and

associated with war.

Viking Burial

Table Notes

On the table you will find a large picture based on one of the burials at

Cumwhitton and a photo pack of the excavation.

a. Hand out pages from the photo pack and discuss what is happening in the pictures and

what you can see.

b. Look closely at the large picture and again discuss what you can see.

c. Use the body mat, a volunteer and the modern whole objects in the plastic box to

recreate the Viking grave but in modern times. Once everything is in place think about

what an archaeologist would find in 1,000 years time. What would be left behind? Take

away the bits that would rot away in the ground. You can use the box of parts to help

you create what would be found in an excavation.

d. On the handout fill in examples of what the Viking is buried with and then design a grave

in the square box. If you were going to the afterlife what would you want to take with

you today?

A Viking grave

Some Vikings believed that when they died they went to another world called Valhalla. To prepare for their new life important things were put in their grave with them. What can you see in the picture? Now draw a picture showing what you would take. Put in things that are important to you.

Viking Gods Table Notes

The Vikings worshipped many different Gods: there was one for almost every part of Viking life, from birth and death, to war and peace. One of the most popular gods was Thor. Thor was God of Thunder and was a great warrior. He had a magic hammer, Mjollnir, which could strike down any enemy.

a. Read the story of Thor’s hammer and how he stole it back from the Frost Giants.

b. The story has been split into sections. Each group will act out one section. Give each member of the group a character and practise your scene – what would the characters be saying? Use the props and costumes provided and the fact files on each of the Gods to help you get to know your character. One person in your group can be the narrator.

c. Use the big stickers on the table to make a name badge for your character. You can draw a picture of what you think your character might look like, or pictures of objects related to your character. Use the fact files for help.

Thor’s Hammer

1. Thor woke one morning to find his hammer gone – he was furious! He called a meeting of the Gods to ask if anyone had seen it. Odin shook his head: he told Thor off for being so careless. Frigg, Odin’s wife, and Freyr (God of Peace and Plenty) had not seen it either. Heimdall (the Watchman of the Gods) said he hadn’t seen the hammer and that no-one had used the Bifrost (the bridge between Asgard and Midgard) last night. Loki offered to find the hammer and Freyja lent him her magic cloak so he could fly swiftly in search of it.

2. Loki discovered that it was Thrym, a Frost Giant, who had Mjollnir. The

other Frost Giants just laughed when Loki asked for it back. Thrym said he would return it only if he was sent Freyja as his wife. Loki returned to Asgard and told the Gods what had happened – Thor was even more furious when he found out! Freyja was very upset and cried golden tears. Loki wanted to send her to Thrym, but the Heimdall came up with a better plan.

3. Heimdall decided that Thor should dress up as a bride and pretend to be

Freyja. Once in Thrym’s hall he could perhaps recover his hammer. Frigg helped Thor dress in his bridal gown. Odin shook his head – he was embarrassed to see his son dressed as a bride. Loki went along to join in the fun, disguised as a bridesmaid.

4. When Thor and Loki arrived at Thrym’s hall the wedding feast was laid.

There were hundreds of Frost Giants eating round the table. Thor nearly gave himself away by his outrageous appetite, but Loki explained it by saying the “bride” had not eaten for days in her excitement.

5. Delighted that she was so eager, Thrym called for Mjollnir to bless the

bride. He placed the hammer on her knees in the traditional way. At once, Thor grabbed it and threw off his veil. The Giants ran for their lives, though Thor killed Thrym and several others.

Character Fact Files

Odin Odin is King of all the Gods and is also known as the Allfather He is very wise – he gave up one of his own eyes so he could drink

from the Well of Mimir and gain knowledge of the Runes, which he then taught to mankind.

He enjoys visiting Earth in disguise. He has servants called the Valkyries – fearsome female warriors

who chose the most valiant warriors who die on Earth to go to Valhalla and be Odin’s guests in the afterlife.

He has two pet ravens, Huginn (meaning ‘Thought’) and Muninn (meaning ‘Memory’) who sit on his shoulders. They fly around the world collecting information then whisper it in Odin’s ears.

Frigg Frigg is Odin’s wife. They have two sons, Balder and Bragi. She is Queen of the Gods and Mother Goddess. She helps women

during childbirth. She can change her shape and often visits Earth in disguise to

involve herself in human affairs. The English word Friday comes from ‘Frigg’s Day’.

Freyr Freyr is Freya’s brother. He is the God of Fertility and Plenty and

also protects warriors in battle. He has a magic sword that moves through the air by itself. He also has a magic ship, called Skidbladnir, which is big enough to

hold all the Gods but can still be folded up and put in his pocket. He drives a chariot pulled by a magic golden boar called

Gullinbursti.

Freyja Freyja is the Goddess of Fertility, Love and Beauty. Her brother Freyr is the God of Fertility and Plenty. She loves beautiful objects like gold and jewels. She was a powerful witch and taught other Gods some of her

magic secrets. She has a magic falcon skin which gives her the power of flight

when she wears it. She also drives a chariot drawn by two flying cats. She could grant good harvests and fishing, and protected women in

childbirth.

Loki Loki is the Trickster God and is Odin’s brother. He was exciting to be around as he loved adventures and having

fun, but he was also nosy, mischievous and loved to gamble. He was a talented shape-changer and could become any animal he

wanted to. He had two children called Fenrir, a giant wolf, and Jorumungand,

a monstrous serpent. Fenrir had to be chained up by the other Gods as he was so dangerous. They believed that when Fenrir escaped he would bring about Ragnarok (the end of the world).

Loki often played tricks on the Gods but they normally forgave him. His one enemy was the god Heimdall who was the Watchman of the Gods and guarded the bridge (called the Bifrost) between Asgard, Land of the Gods and Midgard, Earth. Heimdall was always suspicious of Loki and kept a close eye on him.

Heimdall

Heimdall is the guardian of the Bifrost, the Rainbow bridge between Asgard and Midgard. He warns the Gods when strangers are approaching.

He hates Loki. Has super powerful sight and hearing – he can hear the grass grow

and see for a hundred miles.

Thrym and the Frost Giants Thrym is the Frost Giant who stole Thor’s hammer. He is arrogant

and unwise. Frost Giants live in the frozen wastes of Niflheim, a place of ice

and snow. They are huge monsters, twice the size of even the largest man.

They have long beards made from ice. The first Frost Giant was called Ymir, and he made his children

from his own sweat!