Shields, drawn by children of McLean School, Dunfermline
shields drawn by the children of McLean School, Dunfermline
Click here to find out
about early medieval crafts
Lothene Experimental Archeology Group Click here to find out
about early medieval battles

Schools' Information Pack

Lothene Experimental Archaeology is an Edinburgh based group involved in researching and recreating aspects of life in Scotland in the past. The group specialises in Vikings and Saxons in Lothian (Lothene) in the 10th - 11th Centuries.
Members of Lothene can visit local schools to demonstrate aspects of life in Scotland in the past.


Note to teachers and parents - Please check these page before allowing children to view them. We do our best to ensure that there is nothing unsuitable on them but some topics, such as wars, may be frightenning to some children.

Some ideas for Viking history activities:

Find out about what Vikings wore and colour in this picture.
Make a simple belt pouch out of leather or felt using the pattern here.
Make some early medieval clothes using the patterns here.
Try out some early medieval embroidery stitches. (If you have made some medieval clothes you might like to decorate the cuffs and collars with embroidered designs such as zigzags or crosses.)
Make some circular shields out of card and paint designs on them. The Vikings particularly liked geometric patterns.
Find out about Viking riddles and poems. What games did the Vikings play?
Look at Lothene's Combat page and write down five interesting facts about Viking battles.
Find out about how the Vikings made their clothes (start by looking at Lothene's Crafts page). What materials were used? How was cloth made? How was it coloured?
Find out about how mailshirts and other armour were made in Viking times. (start by looking at Lothene's Combat page)


Vikings FAQ
Did Vikings have horns on their helmets?
Were all Vikings bloodthirsty and violent?
Where can I find a list of Viking names?
What did the Vikings eat?
children in Viking costume
making metal jewellery
at a medieval feast
at a medieval feast
Shields, drawn by children of McLean School, Dunfermline
shields drawn by the children of McLean School, Dunfermline


Lothene group also recreates the life of 5th Century Anglo Saxons, 15th Century Border Reivers and Scots of the 18th Century, around the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the American Revolution.

Other History Activities -

Anglo Saxons
Where did the Angles, Saxons and Jutes come from?
Who invited them to Britain, and why?
Write down the names of three animals and three crops which they farmed.

15th Century:
Border Reivers were people living on either side of the English - Scottish border. What did they do for a living?
What was plate armour. How was it worn?

18th Century
Why was armour not worn in the 18th Century?
Who was Bonnie Prince Charlie? Where did he live when he was young? Why did he come to Scotland?
Why did Scottish regiments fight for the British in the American Revolution?
Try making a plaid (you will need 8m of cloth).

Email Lothene for further information.
Lothene Experimental Archaeology - Main Page
Site Map
The Vikings Society produces a coursebook for use in Primary Schools