Valhalla – Life and Death in Viking Britain to open in February

A new Valhalla exhibition - Valhalla – Life and Death in Viking Britain – will open on 8th February at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery.

The exhibition will give an insight into the lives of the Vikings in Britain and will feature artefacts and human skeletons that have been discovered at burial sites.

Key findings from archaeologists will be on display, as well as the latest research into the lives of our Viking ancestors, who arrived in Britain from Scandinavia in the 8th century.

Research on show will include recent evidence discovered about their beliefs in the afterlife and how Vikings commemorated and celebrated their dead.
Valhalla – Life and Death in Viking Britain will also include objects from working and domestic life, replica objects from boat burials and skeletal remains.

The exhibition will also showcase the Hungate and Coppergate excavations from York as specific case studies, although Shropshire’s own Viking history will also be central to the exhibition.

Visitors will be able to learn the story of Hastein, an adventurer who travelled up the River Severn as far as Welshpool and is known to have raided as far afield as southern Europe and north Africa.

The name Valhalla comes from the location where the god Odin houses the dead whom he deems worthy of dwelling with him – it’s just one of many complex concepts surrounding the Viking beliefs in the soul and the afterlife – as explored in this exhibition.

Team leader (collections and curatorial services) at Shropshire Council, Emma-Kate Lanyon, commented, “The stories and legends surrounding the Vikings have long captivated our imagination, so I know that visitors are going to find this a very exciting exhibition.

“Valhalla will bring together items of incredible historic significance and modern tools of analysis so that visitors will get a unique insight into the lives of these warriors for whom death, as well as the ceremonies and traditions surrounding it, were central”

Valhalla – Life and Death in Viking Britain will open from 8th February until 4th June.

For opening times and more information visit www.shrewsburymuseum.org.uk.