Full Circle: First Contact Vikings and Skraelings in Newfoundland and LabradorHull, Quebec, April 19, 2001 — Full Circle: First Contact — Vikings and Skraelings in Newfoundland and Labrador opens today at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC). This travelling exhibition produced by the Newfoundland Museum, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, with the support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Program, eloquently illustrates the extraordinary history of humanity in the encounter between two long-separated worlds.
"Visitors will discover through more than 300 artifacts, photos, scale models, artist's impressions and maps a fascinating story that began when our first ancestors left their native Africa," explained the curator Kevin McAleese. A myriad of groups dispersed to settle the world, some moving westwards to occupy Europe while others spread eastwards to Asia and the Americas. One hundred thousand years later, their descendants met at the site of L'Anse aux Meadows in northern Newfoundland. When the Vikings set foot in Newfoundland, their encounter with those whom they called Skraelings completed this long journey around the globe. Humanity had come full circle.
"This exhibition provides an innovative and exciting interpretation of the meeting of Viking and Aboriginal cultures. Both are explored through a wide variety of artifacts to cast light on their encounter a thousand years ago. We are delighted to host this exhibition which helps to promote the cultural heritage of both Canada and the world," stated Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation.
Full Circle: First Contact assembles Viking artifacts in silver, iron, ivory and wood, lent by the museums of several Nordic countries, artifacts from the Viking site of L'Anse Aux Meadows on loan from Parks Canada, and Aboriginal artifacts from the Newfoundland Museum, the Canadian Museum of Civilization and a number of other institutions. Viking objects found in Aboriginal archaeological sites and early Aboriginal carvings representing Europeans provide insights into the relationships between peoples whose ways of life developed on opposite sides of the globe. Objects showing humanity's common origins are presented as well, including flint tools from Africa and maps tracing the progression of humanity in its vast journey over the earth.
Enhanced by interactive elements, the exhibition is divided into five thematic zones: - Out of Africa tells of the birth of humanity in the African plains and the long occupation of the continents undertaken by succeeding generations;
- Crossing the Gap looks at the cultures of three of the Aboriginal groups that made the long, slow journey to the northeast of North America, and at the amazing travels undertaken by the Vikings at the turn of the last millennium;
- First Contact deals with the first encounter between these two peoples;
- Second Contact explores the continuing contact between Greenlandic Norse and Canadian Arctic peoples which continued over the following few centuries;
- Full Circle looks at the current state of humanity, with a focus on Newfoundland and Labrador examples, one thousand years after the completion of this incredible journey.
Full Circle is supported by the Canada Millennium Partnership Program, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Nordic Council of Ministers, Parks Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage. It is presented under the patronage of UNESCO.
"We are pleased to welcome the Full Circle: First Contact exhibit to the Canadian Museum of Civilization. The travelling exhibit is playing an important role in raising Canadians' awareness of the historical connection between the Vikings and the Aboriginal people of Newfoundland," said the Honourable Herb Gray, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the Government of Canada's millennium initiative. "The Government of Canada proudly supported the Full Circle: First Contact exhibit with a partial financial contribution of up to a maximum of $252,000 through the Canada Millennium Partnership Program."
Full Circle: First Contact — Vikings and Skraelings in Newfoundland and Labrador tells the history of humanity from a broad perspective and attempts to explain both the historical and social contexts of the artifacts on display. Visitors will learn about Viking culture and the Aboriginal cultures of Atlantic and northern Canada.
Full Circle: First Contact — Vikings and Skraelings in Newfoundland and Labrador will be presented in the Special Exhibitions Hall from April 6 to September 3, 2001.
Information (media):
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