Vegard Vike

Work tasks

Conservation of archaeological objects, mostly metals and wet organic finds. Many of these are iron objects from pre-christian graves, especially from the viking age. Large amounts of leather and wooden objects from medieval towns are also treated. In addition there is exhibition work, preventive conservation and revision of stored collections.

Academic interests

• Conservation of archaeological iron
• X-ray examination
• Object photography
• Metallographic analysis ('Brynjevev': UiO semester thesis 2000, Bibsys)
• Handcrafting in the Viking Age and the medieval period.
• Experimental archaeology: crafting of shoes and leather, forging of tools and weapons.
• Weapons of the Viking Age: typology, production and use.

Background

• Major subject (Storfag) in Object Conservation at the Conservation Studies, University of Oslo (1998-2001).
• Grunnfag and Mellomfag in Nordic Archaeology at the University of Bergen (1996-1997).

Other

• Project webpage: The Viking Axe from Langeid recreated - in 2016, we recreated the broad axe from Langeid using bog ore iron and the forging techniques of the Viking Age.
• Video: From bog iron to broadaxe - rebirth of the Langeid axe - the process of recreating the broad axe from Langeid (4:23 minutes).
• Video: Unmasking the hilt - the precious metal decoration on the hilt of the Langeid sword was obscured by a crust of iron corrosion. This cover was carefully removed by micro-chiselling under a stereo microscope (4:38 minutes).

Web articles

• The ornate sword from Langeid - mystical signs inlaid with gold bedeck the magnificent hilt of the Langeid sword - a Viking weapon infused with Christian symbolism.
• The Langeid broadaxe - streamlined and elegant, but at the same time a powerful lethal weapon to rival even the sword as the symbol of a warrior.
• Langeid grave 8 - a house for the dead. This extraordinary grave contained the ornate sword and the broadaxe from Langeid.
• A Viking sword from Lesja - still sharp this sword was found by reindeer hunters far into the mountains of Oppland in Norway.