THE Vikings are coming to Dorchester this weekend.

The event is part of a series of events being held at Dorset County Museum to mark the Festival of Archaeology.

The festival, coordinated yearly by the Council for British Archaeology, showcases the very best of British archaeology by presenting special events hosted by museums, heritage organisations, universities, societies and community archaeologists all over the UK.

For its contribution this year, Dorset County Museum will host a variety of events including Viking re-enactments and a rare opportunity to tour the museum’s archaeology store.

Director of the museum Jon Murden said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for people to see a whole range of artefacts that aren’t normally on display.

“In the past these tours completely sold out as so many people were interested in coming along – we hope it will be even more popular this year.”

Visitors to the museum can also see the newly refurbished Ancient Dorset gallery, which tells the fascinating story of the past of the ancient peoples living in this county, from the Lower Palaeolithic Age three million years ago to 1066AD.

The gallery includes a new display of the recently discovered mass Viking burial discovered on the Ridgeway outside Weymouth.

The next tours of the museum’s archaeology store in All Saint’s Church is on Tuesday, July 26 with trips leaving the museum at 10.30am, 12noon, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Booking essential.

The museum has also held an Archaeology Day with a chance for people to bring along their finds to be examined by experts.

History will be brought to life this weekend with the Vikings invading the museum on Saturday and Sunday.

Visitors will be able to meet the Vikings between 11am and 4pm both days and witness hand to hand combat, visit craftspeople to find out how chain mail and fishing nets were made, watch Norse cooking demonstrations, mint a Viking coin and listen to exciting Viking sagas full of adventure. Normal admission prices apply.

On Wednesday, July 27 there will be Roman Dorchester tours with a chance to see inside one of the best-preserved Roman Town Houses in Britain and see the beautiful mosaic floors at close range.

Tours start from the museum at 11am, noon, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Booking is essential. Normal admission prices apply.

Finally on Saturday, July 30 the museum will host a Family Archaeology Day with activities throughout the day for youngsters and archaeologist from Wessex Archaeology and Context One Archaeological Services on hand.

For further information contact the museum on 01305 756827 or visit dorsetcountymuseum.org