Vinland Saga

Vikings from Japan

For fans of the genre, this Japanese manga series is no doubt familiar. In the stories of Vinland Saga, main character Thorfinn grows from a Viking warrior into someone who dreams of a land without war: Vinland. The manga series and anime series on Netflix thereby loosely base themselves on the historical figure Thorfinn Karlsefni who lived at the time of the European Viking invasions around the year 1000.

Viking… or not?

The MAS lends objects from the archaeological Hasse collection and the maritime collection. Two axe heads and a lance point from the 9th century illustrate the battle of the Viking age, alongside swords from the Musée de l'Armée in Paris.

The eye-catchers are two (casts of) stem ornaments, dredged up from the Scheldt last century. They were originally thought to be stem decorations of Viking ships. Indeed, little imagination is needed to see these dragon- or snake-headed figures on the bow of a Viking ship ... But multiple dating studies place the pieces earlier in history than there were Viking raids in our regions (early 9th century). So they would be Anglo-Saxon or even late Roman pieces. A new and more precise radiocarbon dating of the small snake head (image at top) is expected later this year. The original can be admired on the sixth floor of the MAS in expo 'Freight'. (Continue reading below the images)

Marlborough

'Vinland Saga' is an exhibition that unites contemporary manga with historical pieces from various collections. Thorfinn's stories are set 500 years before Malbrouck Castle was built. An anachronism? Either way, for history buffs and families with children alike, the castle is an attraction in itself.