If you want to use this site please update your browser!
0 0
  • $
  • C$
  • £
  • $
  • C$
  • £
  • $
  • C$
  • £
  • $
  • C$
  • £
  • $
  • C$
  • £
24.11.2020

Gokstad Ship, Oslo

The Gokstad ship, a Viking ship from the 9th century, was discovered in a burial mound in Gokstad, SANDAR, Sandefjord, Vestfold, Norway. It is currently showcased at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway, and is recognized as the largest surviving Viking ship in the country.

The location where the boat was found, situated on fertile land, has long been referred to as Gokstadhaugen or Kongshaugen. However, the significance of its name has been dismissed as folklore since other sites in Norway share similar names. In 1880, the sons of the farm owner in Gokstad, inspired by the legends surrounding the area, uncovered the ship's bow while excavating the still-frozen ground. Once news of the discovery spread, Nikolai Nikolaisen, then-president of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments, visited the site in February 1880. After confirming that the find indeed belonged to an ancient artifact, he halted the excavations. Later, Nikolaisen returned and discovered that the burial mound measured 50 by 43 meters, although its height had been reduced to 5 meters due to years of ploughing. He and his team opted to dig up the mound from the side rather than from the top, and on the second day of excavation, they uncovered the ship's bow.

The Gokstad ship was constructed using the clinker technique, primarily utilizing oak. It was designed for warfare, trade, and transportation of both people and cargo. The ship measures 23.80 meters (78.1 feet) in length and 5.10 meters (16.7 feet) in width. It serves as the centerpiece of the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. The ship was equipped with a quarter rudder, attached to a large wooden block affixed to the exterior of the hull and supported by a sturdy framework known as the wart. The wart, fastened with the aid of willow branches, features curved willow stems on the outer side that pass through the rudder and wart to securely anchor the ship.

Each side of the ship consists of 16 narrowing planks. The strakes, located near the keel, are nearly vertical at the point of attachment. The sheer strakes, which replace the hold, are narrow and only slightly wider. The planks of the upper structure gradually widen. Each oak board is slightly tapered in cross-section, allowing for an overlap of approximately 30 mm at the top and bottom, following the typical clinker style known as lapstrake. The iron rivets are spaced approximately 180 mm apart when the planks are straight, and about 125 mm when the planks are curved.

Gokstad Ship, Oslo

At the bow, each board tapers and narrows towards the junction with the stem. The stem itself is crafted from a solid, curved oak log, creating a distinct watershed, with a dedicated section for each board. The inner part of the stem is shaped like an "av," potentially to accommodate rivets during construction or repair. Notches, approximately 25 mm wide and deep, are present on each board to accommodate detachable parts. During rowing, the sea chests were placed on top of the decking. It is likely that on longer voyages, the sea chests were secured beneath the deck to serve as ballast while sailing. The central section of the keel features a small oscillating lever, working in conjunction with the flat transverse part of the middel, allowing the hull shape to be well-suited for navigating medium and calm waters. To address challenges of course control during strong winds and waves, it is plausible that some form of reefing system was employed to reduce the sail area.

The vessel was constructed to accommodate 32 rowers, and the oars could be stowed away when the ship was under sail. It utilized a square sail of approximately 110 square meters (1200 square feet), estimated to propel the ship at speeds exceeding 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 miles per hour). The mast had the ability to be raised and lowered. The ship's shallow draft allowed for swift raising of the rudder by unbinding it from the mast. Dendrochronological analysis suggests that the ship was built using wood felled around 890 AD, a period coinciding with the peak of Scandinavian expansion in Dublin, Ireland, and York, England. The Gokstad ship was commissioned in the late 9th century during the reign of King Harald Fairhair. With a capacity to carry a crew of forty to seventy individuals, the ship demonstrated remarkable seaworthiness through its design.

Gokstad Ship, Oslo

During the excavation process, a human skeleton was discovered inside a wooden burial chamber. The skeleton belonged to an unidentified man, estimated to be between forty and fifty years old, with a strong physique and a height ranging from 181 to 183 cm. Surrounding the man's body were the bones of twelve horses, six dogs, and a peacock.

Alongside the ship itself, the burial contained various pieces of equipment, including three boats, a tent, sleds, and riding gear. It is presumed that other items in the inventory were likely looted in ancient times, as no gold or silver was found during the 1880 excavations. Weapons were typically considered important components of Viking burials, but once again, no such weapons were discovered on the Gokstad ship.

The ship, along with the reconstructed burial chamber, two small boats, and two tent boards from the burial chamber, is now exhibited at the Viking Ship Museum situated on the Byugdey Peninsula in Oslo, Norway. The museum also houses other surviving artifacts from the burial that avoided looting. After thirteen years of debate regarding potential relocation, Education Minister Christine Halvorsen announced on May 3, 2012, that the ship would remain at Bugdøy and not be moved.

Gokstad Ship, Oslo

UP