An impressive horde of Norse academics is set to descend on York during the 36th annual JORVIK Viking Festival, with lectures and talks planned that explore the concept of a single common European-wide market enjoyed by the Vikings, the remarkable voyage of replica ship The Viking, and the latest discoveries at Trondheim.
The programme of talks has been compiled by Dr Chris Tuckley, head of interpretation for York Archaeological Trust. “JORVIK Viking Festival is attended by Norse enthusiasts from around the world, from children getting their first taste of Viking culture, to academics who have devoted their lives to learning more about our Scandinavian ancestors, so alongside the colourful hands-on events and presentations, we always host a series of talks and lectures that are accessible to a wide range of people, from enthusiastic amateur historians to leading names in the worlds of archaeology and research.”
Talks for 2020 include:
- Home & Away: Fashion and identity in the Viking Age presented by Dr Gareth Williams of the British Museum. The talk will explore how fashion varied across the Viking world, including how it fused with other styles as the Vikings explored the globe. The talk takes place on Tuesday 18 February, taking place in JORVIK Viking Centre from 7.00pm to 8.30pm. Tickets are £25/person.
- The Helen Thirza Addyman Lecture features Chris McLees, archaeologist and researcher at Trondheim, a 10th century Viking trading settlement. This lecture will present the archaeology of this important place on the northern periphery of the Viking and medieval worlds, including the results of recent excavations at sites associated with the renowned late-Viking kings Olav Haraldsson (St. Olav) and Harald Hardrada. It takes place on Wednesday 19 February at Fountains Lecture Theatre. Tickets are £10 for adults, £8 for concessions.
- Looking for Jet in A Dark Place by Sarah Steele, consultant geologist for Whitby Museum explores the trade in black jet around the Viking world. The mineral, which requires extreme global warming to form, was traded as far afield as Greenland, yet remains notoriously difficult to identify in the archaeological record. Attendees will learn how modern technology may be about to fully appreciate the scope of Whitby Jet’s trade during the medieval period. The talk takes place at JORVIK Viking Centre on Thursday 20 February, from 7.00pm to 8.30pm. Tickets are £25.
- All of the events build up to the Richard Hall Symposium, taking place on Sunday 23 February to close the Festival. The theme for the day’s talks is ‘A Single Market for Goods and Services? Travel and Trade in the Viking World’, with experts including Professor Lesley Abrams of Oxford University, Dr Gareth Williams from the British Museum, Dr Jane Kershaw of the School of Archaeology at Oxford University and Maria Nørgaard, project leader at Vikinger på Rejse, Denmark. Tickets for the Symposium – named in honour of the late Dr Richard Hall, who was director of archaeology for York Archaeological Trust – are £35 for adults and £30 for concessions. It takes place in the De Grey Lecture Theatre at York St John University.
For more details on all the talks and presentations taking place during the 2020 JORVIK Viking Festival, please visit www.jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk
