The museum grew out of the archaeological investigation of sunken viking ships in Foteviken Bay and local interest in the Battle of Fotevik, which was fought there on 4 June 1134.

[4] Buildings in the reserve are built or rebuilt by staff and volunteers almost every season, with traditional methods being supplemented by modern technology in winter;[5] as of 2010[update] there were about 22, including a tapestry-lined chieftain's house[6] and a hof.

[12] An international viking thing is held in the Tinghöll building every year; according to the museum, in 2001 66 representatives from 22 countries were present.

[8] It offers various educational programmes, including overnight stays; since it is also the municipal museum of Vellinge, these are free to local schools.

[9] At the market in summer 2016, five actors in a group who travel between Viking Age reenactment sites, the Nordic International Slave Trade Company, reportedly threw a bag over a tourist's head and auctioned her off as a thrall.