A LIVING HISTORY PROJECT THE NEW VIKINGS COMPETITIVE, EXHILARATING, SOMETIMES Archaeological findings in Newfoundland, Canada, have proved that the Scandinavian Vikings were the first DANGEROUS AND ALWAYS ENTERTAINING, Europeans to discover and explore North America – 492 years before Columbus set foot in the new land. THE NEW VIKINGS WILL BRING TO LIFE THE SAGA OF HOW THE SCANDINAVIAN VIKINGS But what was life like for the ancient Vikings as they crossed the Atlantic? How were relationships built and lost, CROSSED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO THE challenges met and overcome? This extraordinary documentary series offers a revealing look into the ancient Viking crossings, by enlisting the help of Viking descendants to mount a real expedition across the Atlantic AMERICAS, LONG BEFORE COLUMBUS. Ocean. We will carefully select a group Viking descendants from the Scandinavian countries, United Kingdom and North America – place them in a world set 10 centuries back in time – and watch how ancient history comes alive, as they walk in the footsteps of their predecessors from centuries ago.... At the close of an intensive training period, 8 new Vikings will be selected to make a historical journey. Only the best prepared (mentally and physically) will board an original replica of an ocean-going Viking ship, to begin a 2,600 mile odyssey across the drift-ice and stormy seas of the North Atlantic Ocean. Duration: 5 one-hour episodes An adventurous journey set in magnificent natural environments, with recreated sets and special visual effects (or 10 half-hour episodes) - all this will make The New Vikings an unbeatable television event for a worldwide audience! Format: HDV THE VIKING ERA Few periods in the history of mankind are more fascinating than the era of the warlike Vikings, who dominated the maritime regions of Northern Europe in the Viking Age. The Vikings had a reputation as savage warriors, but they were also magnificent The Vikings did not stay long in North America, but the story of their arrival craftsmen, traders and seafarers. One of them, the legendary Viking explorer and contact with native Americans is a remarkable saga. It is this journey to Eric the Red, found an ice-rimmed coast in 982, which he explored for several Iceland and then onto Newfoundland that our New Vikings will trace, finding a years before returning to Iceland, reporting this new place to be a “good land”. connection with the spirit of these grand explorers from more than a thousand With the hope of luring settlers, he named his discovery “Greenland.” In the year years ago. 1000 An incredible 492 years before Columbus’ grand journey into the Carib- bean - Eric´s son, “Leif Ericson”, set out from his father’s colony in Greenland and became the first European to discover and explore North America. He called the land “Vinland the Good,” settling at a place known to day as L’Anse aux Meadow, Newfoundland, Canada. 2 THE SHIP See the film “Ottar – the ocean-going trading vessel” ! (DVD included) Our Viking ship Ottar, is an exact recon- There then remained the colossal task of conserving the timber fragments and struction of Skuldelev 1, a sturdy, Oceango- painstakingly assembling all the pieces to recreate five Viking ships. ing trading vessel of the type known as a ”Knarr”. NOTE : We have access to archive material showing the excavation, and reconstruction The original ship was built of stout pine of Skuldelev 1, and a film showing how Ottar was constructed as an exact replica of the planks at Sogne Fjord in western Norway, original ship. and was later repaired at Oslo Fjord and in eastern Denmark. It may have been owned by a chieftain, and used for sailing expedi- tions between Denmark, Norway, Iceland Material: Pine, oak and linden and Greenland. Length: 16.0 m Skuldelev 1 can be seen on display at Roskil- Breadth: 4.8 m de Viking ship museum in Denmark. It is one Draught: Unladen 0.6 m, of five original Viking-ships, which were scut- tled to form a blockade in the Peberrende, a Laden 1.3 m natural channel in Roskilde Fjord near Skul- Displacement: max 36 t (incl. 24 t cargo) delev, some 20 km north of Roskilde. That is Cargo capacity: 20-24 t why they are known as the Skuldelev ships. No. of oars: 2-4 The ships were excavated from the sea bed in Crew: 6-8 men 1962. The blockade was surrounded by iron Sail area: approx. 90 m² sheet piling and the site then drained. In less Average speed: Approx. 5 knots than four months, the five ships were suc- cessfully excavated in thousands of pieces. Top speed: Approx. 13 knots 3 THE CREW Captain Esben Jessen (35) from Denmark – has 23 years of sailing experi- ence and has been sailing Viking ships for the past 15 years. He has been cap- tain on a 36 feet sailing boat, sailing from Trinidad to Denmark, and in 1996, he participated in an extremely daring expedition, sailing a traditional Polynesian canoe all the way from Denmark to Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean! Esben Jessen has been Captain on the Viking-ship Ottar, since her maiden voy- age in the year 2000. Navigator Lena Borjesson (50) from Sweden - is one of the worlds leading experts within the field of traditional navigation. She has more than 30 years of sailing experience and has been captain herself on several daring sailing ex- peditions in the North Atlantic. In addition to her career as a respected scholar and scientific researcher, she is also a teacher at Fosen Folkehøjskole in Nor- way, where she teaches different subjects including navigation, seamanship, outdoor coastal life and meteorology. Assistant Navigator Kristian Weihe (33) from Norway, is a certified Ma- rine engineer, and an experienced navigator in the Royal Norwegian Navy. Kristian Weihe is also fully capable of sailing a Viking ship. He has a masters certificate from the Royal navy, and has been sailing traditional boats in Nor- way since his early childhood. In the past years Captain Jessen and his navigators have been carrying out a Captain Jessen and his number of extraordinary experiments. crew are confident that In 2005 they succeeded in sailing Ottar to Edinburgh in Scotland, without any they will make it all the use of modern technology. They simply observed the position of the sun and way to Newfoundland the North Star, and used simple tools like a circular wooden plate, which can – just like their ances- be used as a sun-dial compass. These ancient Viking tools proved to be sur- prisingly accurate, compared to what could have been achieved with modern tors did, more than a satellite navigation. thousand years ago! In 2006, Captain Jessen and his crew took the navigational experiments one step further, as they sailed all the way from Bergen in Norway, to the Farao Islands and back to Norway without any type of instruments at all. They simply followed the sailing directions as described in the Icelandic sagas. Sailing an exact replica of a Viking-ship across the drift-ice and stormy seas of the North Atlantic Ocean, without any help of modern technology, will be the ultimate challenge and a dream come true for our captain and his crew. If they succeed in making this journey it will be the first time in history since the Vikings discovered America, and no less than a world sensation! 4 THE VIKING TRAINEES Our Viking trainees may be from rural Manitoba in Canada, or the city centre of Stockholm, or maybe even from Hollywood, California, but all of them can trace their heritage back to the Vikings. Those interested in taking part in the journey, will be able to enroll themselves on our web-page, by filling in a standard application form. The following will be used as the base criterion in the selection: • Experience with sailing similar ships • Other sailing experience • Other relevant experience • Health, physique and mental strength • Commitment according to time Next stop will be The Viking-ship Museum in Roskilde – the ancient Viking We will strongly emphasize the potential dangers involved, in sailing an an- capital - on Zealand in Denmark. cient vessel, without engine, across the drift-ice and stormy seas of the North Atlantic Ocean. It will be a daring and dramatic journey totally depending on The Museum’s large collection of Viking-ship reconstructions, is berthed in the wind and the forces of nature! museum harbour – and five 11th century Viking Ships excavated from Roskilde Fjord near Skuldelev, in 1962, can be seen in the Viking ship hall, providing a Our Viking-trainees must be ready to participate in all training and selection unique impression of Viking shipbuilding skills and craftsmanship. sessions; and - if they make it all the way through - they must be prepared to spend several months, away from home. - In return we can promise an experi- The Viking trainees will be welcomed to the ence of a life-time!! museum, by Captain, Esben Jessen, who will give them their first introduction to the ship 20 pre-selected Viking trainees will get their first introduction to ancient Vi- ”Ottar”, and tell them more about the journey king culture in Ribe Viking Centre in Jutland, Denmark. The Viking centre is ahead. To illustrate the potential dangers, an extraordinary place which provides its visitors with a unique experience and he will show our Viking-trainees a dramatic new knowledge about the Viking Age. Our Viking trainees will be given the sequence from a film about a similar replica opportunity to wander round the reconstructed life-size Viking estate, popu- of the original Skuldelev 1 – the Norwegian lated with volunteers who live and work there as part of a unique historical Viking ship Saga Siglar.