The Vikings before the Vikings. An exhibition of the ship burials of Salme.

16.02.2023 – 31.12.2023

Around 1,300 years ago, a bloody battle took place near what is now the village of Salme in Saaremaa, after which the fallen Scandinavian warriors were buried in two ships on the seashore. When these ships were found 15 years ago, it quickly became clear that this was a discovery that makes us take a fresh look at the Viking Age.

Historians have dated the beginning of the Viking Age to 793, when Norse Vikings raided the Lindisfarne Monastery in England. The ship burials of Salme, however, are direct evidence that Scandinavian naval warriors were making armed expeditions to the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea before the end of the eighth century. This is why those buried in the ships of Salme have also been called the Vikings before the Vikings.

Salme is the oldest known burial site of Viking warriors in the world. Until this finding, it was not known how seafaring soldiers were buried. However, the Salme ships themselves are an important source of the history of shipbuilding in the Baltic Sea region. The larger Salme ship is the oldest sailing ship found in the Baltic Sea region.

The travelling exhibition, created in cooperation between the Saaremaa Museum and Motor OÜ, features 150 original items that were given as grave offerings to Viking warriors hoping for their lives to continue in Valhalla. This gives us an idea of Viking life and customs – the origins of the men who belonged to the same war party, the ships they sailed on, the equipment they took with them, the way they fought and buried their dead while on raids away from home. In the Seaplane Harbour, the exhibition will be complemented by accessibility solutions to bring the history of the Vikings to a wider audience. Visitors are also welcome to try on Viking costumes and row on the Salme Strait like a Viking.

Come and discover a new chapter in the fascinating history of the Vikings!

You can also order a tour of the exhibition.

Näituse koostas Saaremaa Muuseum / The exhibition was compiled by Saaremaa Museum

Esmaesitlus 21. mail 2021 Saaremaa Muuseumis Kuressaares / First presented on May 21, 2021 at Saaremaa Museum in Kuressaare

Kuraator / Curator: Marge Konsa 

Projektijuhid / Project managers: Taniel Vares (Saaremaa Muuseum), Hälys Laanemäe, Maarja Tõnisson, Ott Sarapuu (Motor) 

Näituse disain / Exhibition design: Kadri Kaldam, Raili Paling (KOKO arhitektid) 

Graafiline disain / Graphic design: Erik Heinpalu (Motor) 

Näituse teostus /Production of the exhibition: Motor (Edgar Juhkov, Olie Järvekülg, Gertu Kallas, Tiit Kotsar, Lauri Laasik, Kristiina Laurits, Annes Leht, Joosep Matjus, Ivo Metsmaa, Kertu Moppel, Margus Muld, Villu Plink, Reigo Rand, Jaana Ratas, Kristo Reisner, Veiko Salumäe, Herkki Särkinen, Helen Västrik, Piret Õunapuu) 

Animafilm “Salme lahing 750 AD” / Animated film “Battle of Salme 750 AD”: tootja / producer Slow Solutions (Mattias Mälk ja Vesse Veering), produktsioon / production Velvet (Kadri Ann Mikiver ja Gunnar Hunt) Fotod ja illustratsioonid /Photos and illustrations: Marge Konsa, Jüri Peets, Garel Püüa, Maili Roio, Alar Rosentau, Kersti Siitan, Tarvi Toome, Ain Vares, Valmar Voolaid 

Keeletoimetajad / Language editors: Olavi Pesti (eesti keel / Estonian), Wiedemanni tõlkebüroo (inglise keel / English), Hille Saluäär (eesti keel / Estonian)

Tõlked / Translations: Aabwell Tõlkebüroo, Tõlkebüroo Pangloss 

Trükk /Printed by: Kätly Aksim ja Teele Pärna (Digitrükk) 

Täname / We thank: Eero Ahonen, Raili Allmäe, Peep Jürmann, Karmo Kiilman, Priit Kivi, Liina Maldre, Reet Maldre, Mait Malmsten, Aleksandr Okunev, Jüri Peets, Mirtel Pohla, Edvards Puciriuss, Ragnar Saage, Alar Rosentau, Tõnu Veldre, Kristjan Veskus, Riho Västrik, Madlen Hirtentreu, ERR, Tallinna Ülikool, Tartu Ülikool.

Näituse meeskond Eesti Meremuuseumis

Project Manager / Руководитель проекта выставки

Marii Väljataga (Eesti Meremuuseum)

Turunduse projektijuht / Project Manager for Marketing / Руководитель проекта по маркетингу

Iris Tomson (Eesti Meremuuseum)

Ligipääsetavus / Accessibility

Silvi Laidro, Janek Muru, Aive Peil, Jari Pärgma, Priit Põldme, Kerttu Rakke, Artur Räpp

Eriline tänu / Special thanks to / Особая благодарность

Sander Jürisson, Teele Siig, Urmas Dresen

Toetaja / Sponsor / Поддержка

EAS, Muinsuskaitseamet

Näituse täiendamist eksponeerimiseks Lennusadamas toetas Eesti Kultuurkapital

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Bookings:+372 6200 550 (Mon–Fri 9–17), except on national holidays
booking@meremuuseum.ee
Vesilennuki tee 6, Tallinn

Open Museum ships Suur Tõll and Valvas are open Fri-Sun from 10 am to 6 pm. The Seaplane Harbour hangar will open May 12th 2024.

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