We did all the of legwork last week, so let us enjoy the fruits of that labor and look at pretty pictures of beautiful ships.
Contents:
- Oseburg
- Gokstad
- Tune
- Ladby
- The Skuldelev Ships (1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
- Roskilde 6
Oseburg
By far one of the most stunning ships that the Viking Age has to offer. Better yet, it was used in a burial specifically for two women, making it a rather interesting piece of history. It also displays the shift from oars to a ship utilizing a sail. Here are the “specs:”
Date: ca. 834 (the oldest single-sailing ship found).
Size: 21.5m long and 5.1m broad. (30 oars)
Type: Single square sail.
Discovery: Excavated 1904-5.
Findings: Two female skeletons, 14 horses, an ox, three dogs, much more.
Gokstad
This ship was stronger, displaying a curved hull and keel. Modern versions of this ship have been able to sail the Atlantic! Specs:
Date: ca. 890.
Size: 23.1m long and 5.2m broad. (32 oars)
Discovery: Excavated in 1880.
Findings: It was painted and had 32 shields lining it.
Tune
Date: ca. 900.
Size: 19m long and 4.2m broad.
Discovery: Excavated in 1876.
Type: Longship. (warship, fragmentary)
Ladby
Date: Early tenth century.
Size: 21.5m long and 2.9m broad.
Type: Unique Style. (also used in burial, Denmark)
Waters: Baltic Sea.
The Skuldelev Ships
These ships were deliberately sunk in order to protect Roskilde, which was Denmark’s capital at the time. These are not all warships, showing some pleasing variations in Viking ship design. Based on some of the wood used, we can figure out where some were constructed. Also, Skuldelev 2 and 4 are the same ship (they originally thought they were separate ships), so 4 will not show up since it is actually the same as 2. They have not survived in such a pretty manner, but you can still admire their framework:
Skuldelev 1
This ship is a prime example of a cargo ship. These ships were small, but carried large loads. In order to achieve this, they were built wide and deep. Due to this weight they were designed to carry, they relied heavily on their sails. Crews would be given an equal share in the cargo as well. These ships were vital to national development and their expansion into the northern Atlantic (Iceland, Greenland, etc.). Specs:
Date: ca. 1030.
Size: 15.84m long and 4.8m broad.
Type: Trade and cargo ship and the largest yet found. (24-tons)
Crew Size: 6-8 men.
Speed: Around 13 knots (24 km/h).
Waters: Open.
Origin: West Norway.
Skuldelev 2
This is the second largest longship we have ever discovered. It is no regular longship either, it was fit to be a chieftain’s. This ship was one that was sung about.
Date: ca. 1042.
Size: 30m long and 3.8m broad. (60 oars)
Type: Longship. (Warship)
Crew Size: 65-70 men.
Speed: Around 15 knots (28 km/h).
Waters: Open.
Origin: Dublin.
Skuldelev 3
Date: ca. 1040.
Size: 14m long and 3.3m broad.
Type: Coastal trade ship. (therefore smaller)
Crew Size: 5 men.
Speed: Around 10 knots (19 km/h).
Waters: Coastal.
Origin: Denmark.
Skuldelev 5
Date: ca. 1030.
Size: 17.3m long and 2.5m broad. (26 oars)
Type: Small longship. (smallest of class)
Crew Size: 30 men.
Speed: Around 6 to 7 knots (13 km/h), max of 15 knots.
Waters: Coastal.
Origin: Denmark. (reused materials)
Skuldelev 6
Date: ca. 1030.
Size: 11.2m long and 2.5m broad. (14 oars)
Type: Fishing. (whaling, seal hunting, etc.)
Crew Size: 5-15 men.
Waters: Coastal.
Origin: Western Norway. (repaired often and expanded upon)
Roskilde 6
This. This ship is the longest longship ever discovered. The interesting story of this ship is that it was discovered during the dig to build the Roskilde Viking Ship museum. It was partially scraped for parts, so not much was left. The image above is a reconstructed version of its framework.
Date: ca. 1025.
Size: 36m long. (40 oars)
Type: Longship.
Crew Size: 78 men.
Waters: Open.
Owner: Possibly Harald Finehair.
Wrap-up
“The icon of the Viking Age is the Viking ship. Praised by poets and the writers of saga, depicted in art and graffiti, and even taken to the grave by members of the elite, these vessels were certainly the most important means of transport in the maritime societies of Scandinavia, but they were also symbols of power, wealth, and prestige.” (Viking Age Reader, 151.)
I hope you enjoyed the beauty of these ships. There are many more ships, and there are even more detailed stories behind them, of course. I merely provided the basics. A rough overview of these fascinating vessels. If you are curious about more, visit the websites of some of the Viking ship museums. They all have interesting stories to tell us.
Sources
- Jennifer Dukes-Knight, “Ships and Seafaring,” Lecture, Viking History, University of South Florida, 2015.
- Images:
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