Ole Crumlin-Pedersen, founder of
the Viking Ship Museum, has died.
Last Friday, 14th October 2011,
Ole Crumlin-Pedersen passed away
after a long period of illness,
aged 76. Ole Crumlin-Pedersen,
born 24th February 1935 in
Hellerup, Denmark dedicated his
life to maritime cultural
heritage, maritime archaeology
and old ships. He was a pioneer,
who through his professional
engagement and an almost
unbelievable capacity for work
developed an entirely new area
of archaeological fieldwork. He
changed our view of the world of
the past, and gave us new
glasses with which to view
history. The Viking Ship Museum
at Roskilde stands as the most
striking trace of what he leaves
behind.
Ole’s remarkable career began
with the five Viking ships from
the Roskilde Fjord, and the
construction of a museum around
them. This was a pioneering job,
which demanded ingenuity, new
thinking and co-operation across
disciplinary borders. The result
was worthy of admiration, and
the methodology became the model
for work with archaeological
ship-finds throughout Europe.
Ole did things properly, with
respect for the system. He was
not rebellious. But he was, in
every way, unconventional and
innovative. With his starting
point in the history of ships,
he approached problematic areas
such as the levy system, cult
and mythology of the Viking Age
– unfettered by the academic
constraints that can hinder
archaeologists, historians and
religious historians. This gave
his research a surprising
liveliness. He was occupied with
problems and results, and in the
interpretation of ship finds he
went beyond the boundaries of
traditional sources and
disciplines, with a sure and
certain hand.
Ole was strategic and had a
sense for meaningful alliances.
He understood the meaning of
titles and positions as tools to
get a job done in this world.
But he was unsnobbish as few can
be. He met others with openness
and hope, and assessed them
based on their interests,
engagement, commitment and
ability to deliver. He created a
vigorous environment of
committed people who worked for
the cause – sometimes with a
salary and often without. He
believed in the co-operation
between widely different
approaches and experiences in
the endeavour towards new
insights, and was the
inspiration, supervisor and
mentor for many generations of
maritime archaeologists and
others with interest in the
subject.
We, who worked closely with
Ole, knew him as a man with a
mission. Professional to the
bone. With a heart that beat in
rhythm with the breaking of the
waves. A man who never spared
himself and who demanded much
from others. Goal-oriented and
uncompromising. Generous and
merciless. Always on the go.
Close personal relationships did
not come easily to him. But it
meant so much for him to see
what his work meant for others –
not least for the young. And
with his brilliant eye for what
worked, he was good at
surrounding himself with people
who made up for those areas that
he himself did not master.
The last time we saw Ole at
the museum was a beautiful day
in August. The museum was
swarming with staff, volunteers
and visitors who were all taking
part in the Water and Wind
Festival. Boats were being built,
rope was being made, sail was
being woven. The harbour was
full of boats and cheer. In the
middle of it all stood Ole with
his daughter. With happiness and
pride, he expressed that which
can be said about his life’s
work: ’Think, we created all of
this!’.
Tinna Damgård-Sørensen
Director, Viking Ship Museum,
Roskilde
Funeral and memorial
reception
The funeral of Ole
Crumlin-Pedersen will take place
on Saturday
29th October, 11:00 at
Himmelev Church in Roskilde.
Together with Ole
Crumlin-Pedersen’s family, the
Viking Ship Museum will hold a
memorial reception after the
funeral, starting at 12:30 at
the museum in Roskilde.
Read more
We have made a page, which
gathers Ole Crumlin-Pedersen’s
work in text and images. Here
you can also read obituaries
from colleagues.
» Read
more about Ole
Crumlin-Pedersen's work...
:
penzo.gilberto
gmail.com,