the Norse Encampment
Living History for the Viking Age


A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

The 'Norse Encampment' is the collective name given to a series of living history programs, starting in the early 1990's, which illustrate daily life in the Viking Age. Historic interpreters, employing replica objects, bring the past to life through typical activities of the Norse. These interpreters speak as voices from the past, portraying historic styled characters. Throughout the series exceptional care was taken to ensure everything involved in a presentation was reflective of current archaeological research. One cornerstone of all the presentations was reference to the Vinland voyages by the Norse, circa 1000 AD.

Encampment INDEX

L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC

Artifacts and Replicas

A Teachers Guide

Research

Interpreting the Viking Age

Experimental Iron Smelting

Dark Ages Re-creation Company

from the Wareham Forge

LINKS

the Dark Ages Re-creation Company

In this section...
Expect new additions !

" The Dark Ages Re-creation Company seeks to create an environment that stresses historic re-creation of the Viking Age through the use of strict interpretation at a 'role playing' level and authenticity guidelines regulated by peer review. The Company intends to provide a resource of skilled and experienced historic interpreters and physical demonstrators to museums and educational programs. "

This is the 'Unofficial' press release / background information posted by DARC on the internet to promote its August 2010 presentation at L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC.
the DARC web site
off the Encampment series

This link will take you to the separate DARC web site. Here the Company records its ongoing experimental archaeology projects (textiles, glass bead making, iron smelting) plus research in many areas. There is also a photo record of past musuem presentations. Information is available on our interpretive stance and demonstration methods.

The Dark Ages Re-creation Company was formed in 2000. DARC seeks to create an environment that stresses historic re-creation of the Viking Age through the use of strict interpretation at a 'role playing' level and authenticity guidelines regulated by peer review. The Company intends to provide a resource of skilled and experienced historic interpreters and physical demonstrators to museums and educational programs. Members are drawn from throughout Central Ontario, and are serious amateur living history enthusiasts, most with decades of experience. DARC has provided skilled and well equipped interpreters for special programs for all of the major events and exhibitions that marked the 'Viking Millennium' in Canada. No other group of Canadian re-enactors has as much accumulated museum experience. As a group and as individuals, members have worked both throughout Canada and the USA. Personal research has taken members to museums and archaeological sites across Iceland, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia.
DARC focuses on daily life in the Viking Age. A presentation will centre on a 'camp', with costumed interpreters surrounded by a collection of replica objects consisting of domestic goods, tools, and storage. Individuals will be outfitted with the tools of their various trades and arts, all representing our real interests and skills. (We really are weavers and cooks, blacksmiths and carvers.) All of the objects seen, from clothing to tents, are based on specific artifact prototypes. The selection of objects is carefully made, often included to illustrate specific points about the world of the Norse.
To the public, the members of DARC present themselves as actual voices from the past, with shared experiences and direct interactions as a group. Individual members of DARC have prepared detailed characterizations based on their personal research into the Viking Age, developing considerable expertise in specialized areas. These characters are the 'common man': artisans, merchants or farmers typical of the Norse of the North Atlantic circa 1000 AD. Any conversation is likely to begin at this 'role playing' level of historic interpretation. The interpretive level used is then shifted to suit the needs of individual visitors. Some people delight in talking to a character from 1000 years ago, others are more comfortable with more of a modern commentary. The experienced interpreters of DARC are able to handle a wide range of topics and level of detail.
Readers are also referred to:
This ongoing blog collection contains many shorter 'articles in progress' discussing aspects of both iron smelting and metalworking from the Viking Age, as well as topics of interest to historic re-enactors in general. A separate index is also available (updated quarterly).

Darrell Markewitz
Interpretive Program Designer

The Wareham Forge
The Hamlet of Wareham, R.R. #2
Proton Station, Ontario
CANADA - N0C 1L0
(519) 923-9219 // info@warehamforge.ca


Who is Darrell Markewitz?
Content © Darrell Markewitz
Other images credited to the individual sources, who retain full copyright