While weapons and war ships make up a key part of Viking history, this new exhibit reveals a more sophisticated, cultured and wealthy side to the Vikings than commonly depicted.
The exhibition, held at the British Museum in London, showcases piles of gold and intricate jewellery as well as the make up and tattoos Vikings used to adorn themselves.
A particularly interesting feature is a jaw bone with filed teeth on display. Historian Michael Wood says it's believed the Vikings put precious jewels in them.
“This jaw bone has got filed teeth which they must have coloured in or even put precious metal in them,” said historian Michael Wood.
“Sources say that the men wore make up, they’ve got braided hair, tattoos, they wear all this bling. I mean its Johnny Depp isn’t it? It's Pirates of the Caribbean gone Viking.”
The centrepiece of the exhibit is the reconstructed hull of the Roskilde 6. Standing at 37 metres it is the longest Viking warship in the world and was a vessel built to impress.
This ship would carry 100 fierce Viking warriors, ready to wreak havoc on ports around the world.
The Britsh Museum's Gareth Williams says it makes up a key part of Viking history.
“This particular ship is even more important,” said he said.
“It’s the largest that has ever been found and probably the largest that has ever been made.”
For more on Vikings history and culture, the new season of the hit drama Vikings starts on Monday the 24th of March on SBS One.
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