The Viking town of Foteviken

When the plans for a Living History museum at Foteviken were hatched in 1995 the basic principle was to create an environment reflecting a late Viking age - early midieval town community. This had not been done anywhere else in Europe before. The fact that the location was the site of a major battle in 1134 AD had an influence on the decision to focus on the historical value of the site, thus choosing to recreate a society during the early 12th century. This had several advantages. Much of the oldest preserved writings in Scandinavia dates back to this century -- providing insight into human fates and how relations between people may have worked at this time period. The construction techniques could also be compared with the wooden houses and churches preserved in Norway and not just foundations unearthed in archaeological excavations.

www.fotevikensmuseum.se/