Major Viking Exhibit Opens in DC

On the 1,000th anniversary of what is believed to be the Viking discovery of America, a $3.0-million exhibition of Viking artifacts opens at the Smithsonian in Washington.

The exhibit uses a diverse collection of ancient Viking antiquities to retrace the history, culture, lives, travels, jewellery, religion, and clothing of the Norse people.

Modern scholars believe the Vikings traveled vast distances -- from Iceland in the north to Constantinople in the south, Russia in the east and Newfoundland in the west. It is believed that they arrived in America some 500 years before Columbus and the show makes this event a key focus.

More than 200 artifacts are included in the exhibit, many dating from the period between 800 - 1400 AD.

The exhibit will be in Washington through August 13, then travels to the New York Museum of Natural History Oct.20-Jan 20, 2001. Other stops include Houston, Los Angeles and Ottawa, Canada.