Closeup of the carvings on the prow of the Oseberg Viking Ship, a ninth century burial vessel now on display at Oslo's Viking Ship Museum.

Oslo's Viking Ship Museum

One of five exquisitely carved animal heads found in the burial chamber of the Oseberg ship. On display at Oslo's Viking Ship Museum.

A medieval Viking helm like the one Ingharr might wear. Museum of Cultural History, Oslo, Norway.

A reproduction cloth tent at the Viking Festival. Lofotr Viking Museum.

Reproduction Viking Age clothing at the excellent Lofotr Viking Museum, Borg, Norway.

A quick lesson in Norse spinning techniques at the Viking Festival, held on the grounds of the Lofotr Viking Museum, Norway.

A replica sword forged by a Czech swordsmith. On display at the Viking Festival.

Reenactors fighting in Viking garb at the Viking Festival.

The dragon figurehead on the prow of the Lofotr Viking Museum's replica longboat.

A small replica of a Viking longboat, part of the Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg, Norway.

Replica longhouse built right next to the site of the excavations of the largest longhouse ever discovered in Europe. Part of the Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg, Norway.

A replica stone and turf farmhouse near Stong in Iceland.

A wax figure of Freydis in Reykjavik's Saga Museum, depicting the scene in Erik the Red's Saga, when she places a sword against her bared breast to scare off the Native Americans.

Statue of Freydis's brother, the famous Norse explorer, outside the cathedral in Reykjavik.