“This is huge for us! We have been preparing for this move for many years, and finally the first shipment is on its way,” says archaeologist and collections manager Hanne Aannestad.
She is in charge of the logistics of moving several thousand artefacts from the museum’s storage at Økern to the Museum of the Viking Age at Bygdøy.
Stored away
When the Viking Ship Museum closed for renovation in autumn 2021, all the artefacts were moved from the museum into storage. The exceptions were the three Viking ships and the fragile sleds from Oseberg, which remained in the old museum building. Everything else was carefully packed and transported to Økern.
While the new Museum of the Viking Age has taken shape, the museum’s conservators have prepared the artefacts for their new display. They have been examined, photographed, 3D-scanned and conserved when necessary.
In addition to the approximately 350 artefacts that were displayed at the old museum, nearly 5,000 other objects will be installed in the new museum. Many of them have never previously been exhibited to the public.
“Everything must be packed, secured and given a safe journey from storage to the new Museum of the Viking Age,” Aannestad explains.
And with the first shipment in place, only the rest remains…