Grave slab and iron axeheads delivered to Denmark as tales of York Vikings go international

© Yorkshire Museum

© Yorkshire Museum

© Yorkshire Museum

In the hills of Skåde, overlooking Aarhus Bay, the Moesgaard Museum is telling the tales of seven Vikings, all from Aros, with the help of curators from Yorkshire.Denmark’s first new-build historical museum is partly presenting travelogues of these men. The connection with York, they say, is vital – played out by a grave slab, antler combs, amber roughouts, jewellery, iron axeheads, bone ice skates and coins, all going on display for the next three years.As Royal Capital of the Danelaw, Jorvik - the name given to York during parts of the 9th and 10th centuries, when Norse warriors roamed the region - was an important political, religious and commercial centre., held during the 1970s, brought York’s Anglo-Scandinavian archaeology to the attention of the world, with unique soil conditions preserving masses of objects unparalleled by comparable Viking settlements.Some are world-renowned symbols of wealth, while others reflect the everyday lives and aspirations of the people who lived and worked around Jorvik. Aside from the 25 now docked in Denmark, the Yorkshire Museum’s current exhibition,, contains a gold arm-ring, a grave slab showing the legend ofand a silk hat from Iran, described as “incredibly rare”.“York’s Viking heritage is of global importance,” says Natalie McCaul, the Curator of Archaeology at the museum.“We are very excited to see the Yorkshire Museums’ collections being displayed on an international level.“It is always interesting to meet, talk with and learn from international colleagues with similar collections about how they interpret their objects and tell stories for visitors, too.”