Jorvik Background Information
The original JORVIK Viking Centre was opened in York in 1984.
JORVIK has attracted over 13.5 million visitors over the past 20 years and is one of the most popular paid for visitor attractions in the UK.
The concept for the attraction came about following the discovery of Viking Age artefacts when the site of the new Coppergate shopping centre was being prepared. Archaeologists from the York Archaeological Trust spent 5 years excavating the Coppergate dig, as it was known, between 1976 and 1981.
The attraction is therefore based on real site discoveries with archaeology and academic research playing a key role in what is presented to visitors.
The aim of the centre is to present archaeology in a unique setting where the Viking Age city of Jorvik is brought to life as it was on 25th October AD975 at 5.30pm.
The centre underwent an extensive five-month £5 million redevelopment programme in 2001 to recreate the Viking Age city of Jorvik, even bigger and better than ever before. The renamed JORVIK reopened in April 2001.
The key differences to the attraction are:
-The presentation of a citywide view of the Viking Age city of York as it was in AD 975 (previously AD 948).
-The introduction of a suspended ride to fly visitors around the city.
-Placing of artefacts to become the key focus, using display techniques never before seen in the attractions industry.
-Everything displayed is backed up by a further 20 years of archaeological research and is seen in the exact position in which it was found.
York Archaeological Trust owns the centre and is an independent educational charity based in York (Registered charity no. 509060).
York Archaeological Trust reinvests 80% of every pound spent at JORVIK back into the Trust. This is used for further excavations, research, training, publications and education – helping to make archaeology accessible to more people!
For further media information please contact: Karen Nixon, Tel: 01904 610077, email: karen@partners-group.co.uk
For any further information and your free guide to York please contact: York Visitor Information Centre, Tel: 01904 550099, email: info@visityork.org or visit the website at www.visityork.org
Press contact: Kay Hyde, PR Manager - Visit York, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org website: www.visityork.org