Our History
The Institute of Experimental Archeology and Historical Reenactment “Sippe Ulfson” comes to life in 2008 when a group of friends, united by the passion for the Ancient Germanic culture and customs, decided to concretize their purposes and to create an Association.
In 2010 the Association created a parallel Celtic reenactment project called “Teuta Volki”, which aims to reconstruct as faithfully as possible the population of the Volcae Tectosages, from nowadays Bohemia and Moravia in the 3rd century BC.
In 2010, the Association has also developed a Celtiberian reenactment project called “Veramoi Viroi”, which aims to reconstruct as faithfully as possible the Celtiberian component of Hannibal Barca‘s army in 218 BC.
Since 2014, the Association has become a member of the EXARC, thus confirming the quality of our research and reconstruction.
Our goal
Our goal is to represent these three populations through faithful reconstructions of archaeological finds that may include weapons and armor, pots, personal items as well as clothing and other items needed for everyday life.
The key to our reconstructive approach is the reproduction of objects found in graves at the highest possible level of accuracy (where possible through experimental archeology), along with the study of iconographic and written sources from the selected areas and, if not possible, through the cross-study of peoples and period before and after the one we choosed.
Sippe Ulfson has no claim to be perfectly authentic, also because this is not possible with the current gaps in the knowledge of these times, but we believe our work is a great way to approach as much as possible to a “proper” living History, although, as we all know, what can be considered right now would not be right in a few months. We believe, however, that the reconstructions of objects of the age, combined with their use, could help us to better understand these ancient peoples.
The Association
Our Association is completely non-party, apolitical, non-religious and non-profit. Some of our reconstructions, being faithful to the finds, may include symbols that in recent times may have absorbed a negative connotation due to political ideologies. To avoid any kind of problems, we refuse any sympathy with any extremist political group or their activity, nor do we try to do proselytizing or religious propaganda.
Our Association is based in Modena but has also members in Reggio Emilia, Mantova and Florence and currently has about 24 associates. We have participated in more than 70 events since 2009, in Italy, England, France, Spain and Austria, both as historical events and lessons in museums and we also participated in the shooting of important historical documentaries such as Ulisse and Voyager.
HISTORICAL REENACTMENT
Our time-line is based on the intention to showcase:
the Celtic tribe of Volcae from the III centuries BC
the Germanic tribes between the II century BC and the II century AD, especially Catti and Cherusci.
The Celtiberian warriors who were part of Hannibal Barca’s army when we invided italian penisula in the 218 a.C.
Teuta Volki Project
Teuta Volki presents a historical and cultural representation of the Celtic tribe Volcae Tectosages, settled around the III Century BC in the Danubian area, in what is now Moravia and Bohemia, together with Boii and Cotini.
Sippe Ulfson Project
Sippe Ulfson presents a historical and cultural representation of the Germanic tribes, settled from the I Century BC to the II century AD near the Reno, like Catti, Suebi and Harii.
Veramoi Viroi Project
The “Veramoi Viroi” project was created with the purpose to accurately re-enact the Celtiberian warriors, which were part of Hannibal Barca’s army when he invaded Italian peninsula in 218 b.C.