REAL VIKING II
Hersir Ragnar Ivarsson, OL
Real Viking II is intended to be a unique Arts and Sciences event. It will be an opportunity for people to gather together for an extended weekend to demonstrate and practice the Arts and Crafts of the Viking Age in an extremely ‘period’ setting.
This will be accomplished by having two encampments: An Authentic Camp and a regular SCAdian camp. To camp in the Authentic Camp, individuals must meet the requirements set forth in the articles on this CD-ROM. The SCAdian camp will operate under the same requirements of a normal SCA event.
The Authentic Camp will seek to replicate a trading camp, possibly located just outside a small trading center, or perhaps set up at a Thing. No classes, demonstrations, or lectures will be scheduled. The occupants of the camp will go about their affairs as if they were really living during the Viking Age. However, individuals are encouraged to practice their particular art or science during the event, and instruct any who are interested in their craft. The arts and crafts practiced must be done in a period manner. For example, if you plan to make glass beads, you must do it in a manner employed by the Vikings – no propane torches! If you plan to do blacksmithing, no modern blowers or anvils – the tools have to be patterned after Viking Age tools! Trade between participants is encouraged.
If you cannot meet all of the standards to be able to camp in the Authentic Camp, you may still attend. For example, suppose you do not have a period Viking Tent. Simply set up your tent in the regular SCAdian Camp, and take part in the daily activities (assuming your garb and accouterments meet the standards), returning to your camp at night. Perhaps you do not wish to cook over an open fire. Keep your Coleman stove in the SCAdian Camp and return to it to prepare your meals.
There will be no feast and no martial activities. If individuals wish to participate in martial activities, and a Marshall is present, and their equipment is period, they may do so in the authentic camp. Regular SCA rules apply to the SCAdian camp. However, no competitions are scheduled.
The following details the general requirements to participate in the Authentic Camp. Specific requirements are outlined in the various standards sections. was difficult to select the requirements. Cost, availability, and difficulty of manufacture were all considerations when deciding how much deviation from the original article would be allowed. Were the decisions somewhat arbitrary? YES! They had to be, because we had to start somewhere. However, we tried to keep them reasonable while still maintaining an authentic appearance. Frankly, this was a difficult task.
CLOTHING: All materials must be natural. Cotton is allowed, though not period for the Scandinavians of the Viking Age. Synthetics are not to be used, even if they have the appearance of natural fabrics. This is mandated by a safety concern. We will be around a lot of open fires, especially to cook. Natural fibers are far less likely to catch fire quickly than synthetic fibers.
MATCHES AND LIGHTERS: Matches and lighters are not permitted. Fire must be made using flint and steel.
LIGHTING: No flashlights or other modern means of producing light are permitted. Candles or period lamps burning vegetable oil (only – for safety) are permitted.
PLASTIC ITEMS: Plastic items are not allowed, except for the exceptions listed elsewhere.
WOOD: Wooden items should be made, whenever possible, from solid wood, not veneer or laminates. Since wide boards are sometimes required to reproduce Viking Age designs, plywood may be substituted. However, the edges must be covered with veneer or strips of wood to conceal the layering. Wide boards made by gluing several smaller boards together are available in most hardware stores. Articles made from these boards should be painted to conceal the fact they are not one solid board. Any variety (oak, pine, poplar, etc.) of wood is acceptable, regardless of the type of wood originally used to manufacture the actual Viking Age artifact.
COOLERS: The Vikings would have had daily access to fresh meat and other foods. Since this will be practically impossible for us, coolers are permitted. However, they must be disguised and never removed from your tent. When transferring food to your cooking area, it must be taken out of any modern container and put in a period container when brought out of your tent.
FOOD: Foods must not be obviously non-period. For example, hamburger, corn, potatoes and Spam would not be acceptable.
INSIDE YOUR TENT: No restrictions are put on the items inside your tent. Therefore you can have an air mattress, a plastic ground cloth, a touch-light, etc. However, the tent flaps must be closed at all times if the items visible are not period. Artificial lights used inside the tent should emit a soft glow, to simulate a candle or oil lamp.
MEDICAL and PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS: Personal medical items, such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc. are permitted. However, participants are encouraged to minimize their appearance when possible, and to remove them during photography taken to document the event. Personal hygiene items, such as toothbrushes, toilet paper, sunscreen, insect repellant, etc. are permitted.
CAMERAS: Cameras are permitted, but must be out of sight when not in use.
Other articles have been written to more fully explain the standards for various aspects of Viking life. Not only do they detail the requirements, but will hopefully be a useful reference. Each has been documented, and in some instances, commercial sources for various items are given. Though sources for accouterments are given, neither the authors or the SCA indorse the merchants providing the goods. They are simply listed to aid prospective participants in their search for needed items.
THE CONTRIBUTORS
This project has been a collaborative effort. I would like to thank Mistress Barbara Atte Dragon, Lord Danr Bjornsson, Mistress Isabel Ulfsdottir, and Lord Ian of Senlac for their contributions. I also owe Geir Grippr a special debt of gratitude for suggesting the site, and setting up the initial meeting with the directors of the AEP Recreation Lands. Grateful appreciation is also extended to Faelan Mac Mael Mhorda for maintaining the website. This guide, and Real Viking I, would not have been possible without their assistance.
NOTE: The articles on this CD are in Word Perfect Format. The drawings for Lord Ian’s articles are Adobe Acrobat format. If you are using some other type of software to view the documents, the format and layout may not be as originally intended. If you have difficulty, you may obtain a paper copy from me for the cost of reproduction and postage. Contact me at baronboar@yahoo.com, or at (740) 894-4836 between the hours of 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm.
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