VIKING SURVIVAL by Tyr Neilsen

HUNTING, FISHING and OUTDOORS LIVING in the VIKING AGE and TODAY, was a lecture by survival expert Håkon Thoresen and myself, held at  Eidsfoss Estate, Vestfold County, Norway, during the annual Eidsfoss Festival.

There has been fishing in Lake Eikeren, and hunting in the forests and hills surrounding Eidsfoss, since before the Viking Age. Today, this is area is a favorite location for modern hunters and fishermen.

Some years ago I contacted Håkon, regarding a survival course I was arranging in the hills near Eidsfoss. Not long after we started talking, we found out that Håkon was as interested in Viking Age Norway as I was about his field of expertise.

The result of these coversations became the lecture at Eidsfoss Estate.

Eidsfoss Estate, lake eikeren and surrounding forests and hills, Vestfold County, Norway.

An amazing amount of historical and archaeological research has been done regarding Viking Age farming, yet there is very little information about Viking hunting, woodcraft and survival.

History books mention people hunting and surviving harsh winters in Viking Age Scandinavia, without going into real depth about how they did it. Most of what we know about this period has been written by poets, academics, and historians. There is little, if anything, documented by hunters or woodsmen.

During the lecture, Håkon and I proposed that hunters and survivalists might have special insight into this extremely important part of Viking Age life.

For the first part of the lecture, I talked about Viking hunting, fishing and survival skills, learned by word of mouth over generations, and by practical experience. Right after that, Håkon talked about modern hunting, bushcraft and survival out in nature.

I had a variety of Viking weapons and tools, some of which was passed round the audience of locals and hunting and fishing enthusiasts, that were visiting the festival. It seemed that they were interested in what we had to say, but it was obvious they wanted to handle the Viking axe, hunting knife, bow and arrows, and smaller items, all made from natural materials, than the hi-tech equipment.

At the end of the lecture, Håkon and I dicussed the three major takeaways our reasearch had shown us.

The first is neccessity. Viking hunters and woodsmen relied on hunting, fishing and woodsmanship to obtain their food, resources and to survive, while modern-day hunters and survivalists use their skills to supplement what they already have.

Second is low-tech vs hi-tech. Viking hunters and woodsmen had a greater understanding and connection to their natural environment, were intimately familiar with their countryside, and had developed a variety of survival skills to navigate and thrive in the wilderness. In contrast, most modern-day hunters and survivalists lack the same level of experience, and rely more on equipment and technology rather than their own skills and intuition.

Finally, lifestyle vs hobby. In Viking society, self-sufficiency, and hunting and woodcraft skills, were highly valued and vital, whereas today, hunting and survival skills are regarded as hobby or recreation activities.

My big takeaway, is that technology and mindset are the biggest differences between Viking and modern hunters and woodsmen, but there were many other fascinating aspects I discovered from my research and talks with Håkon, which I’ll address in other Viking survival articles.

I’m really happy I had the opportunity to work with Håkon on this subject. I enjoyed his perspective, and appreciate him generously giving his valuable time and wealth of knowledge, to this exciting and educational, but rarely discussed part of Viking history.

HÅKON THORESEN (63) has been hunting since he was a boy. He thrives in all kinds of nature and always has a backpack, map and compass with him.

In the late 1970s, Håkon was an instructor in winter survival for British forces in Western Norway. Courses always occurred in february, and Håkon was responsible for training the soldiers to ski, live out in winter, and survive in extreme winter conditions.

From 1976 til 1996, Håkon held a series of courses in mountain survival for the department of defense. This course inlcuded all season survival, mountain rescue, climbing and maneauvers in ice conditions, and survival diet and nutrition. Håkon also contributed an article in a book about winter exercises for AMF forces (Allied Mobile Forces).

Håkon's company, PSC, has held a series of courses, lectures and seminars on the themes: raising awareness, personality development, mastery and leadership. Håkon also arranges challenge training which clarify mechanisms associated with the mentioned themes.

For more information: www.psc.no

A huge thanks to Bjørn at Gammelt og Nytt for making this happen.

Check out Norway's leading specialty store for knives, outdoor equipment and militaria at their website: https://www.gn.no/