Contest to name Balladoole Viking

Children are invited to write a story about the Balladoole Viking's life

Youngsters are being invited to take part in a competition to name the Balladoole Viking at the Manx Museum.

The contest marks the opening of the museum's Viking Gallery which features the model of a man and woman dressed in reproduction clothes and jewellery.

The figure of the Viking man is dressed according to evidence derived from two important burials from Balladoole in Arbory and Cronk Mooar in Jurby.

The figure of the woman is inspired by the Pagan Lady buried at Peel Castle.

Reproduction weapons

The exhibition also features displays of reproduction weapons from the Viking era.

Over the next three weeks children are being encouraged to write a short story about how they imagined the life of the Balladoole Viking 1,100 years ago.

Allison Fox, MNH Curator for Archaeology, said: "There are lots of questions which can't be answered from the archaeological evidence."

Children are invited to complete their entries at the Manx Museum or to collect entry forms at any Story of Mann attraction or downloaded from its website.

The closing date is 8 September.