15 August 2025
Last week, our Year 9 Classics class had an opportunity to visit the Galloway Hoard Viking exhibit in the South Australian Museum. On this rainy day, we all gathered around 9:00 am and got ready to set off on a short walk down to the city with our umbrellas. It was an exciting step into the Viking era and to what we have been learning in class.
When we got there, we got ready with our tickets and then set foot in the Gallery. The exhibition featured an incredible collection of Viking-age artefacts, including silver arm-rings, gold brooches, beads, and even rare textiles. One of the most surprising things we saw was a deeply decorated silver vessel from Central Asia; proof of how far the Vikings travelled and traded.
The museum was very busy as it was the last day the exhibit was open. During the visit, we were given a booklet to complete as part of our assessment. It included questions about the items on display, Viking beliefs, and what the hoard tells us about society at the time. We worked individually, carefully observing each item, writing down facts, and finally in a group discussing what they might have meant to the Vikings. After exploring the exhibition and we had a good chance to relax and talk about what we’d seen and sharing our favourite artefacts from the hoard.
Overall, the excursion was a fun and valuable experience that helped deepen our understanding of Viking life and culture.
Aarav Bhatnagar
Year 9 Student
