Posted on 04/11/2023 9:19:21 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The Viking shields found on the Gokstad ship in 1880 were not strictly ceremonial and may have been used in hand-to-hand combat, according to a new analysis.
Dozens of Viking round shields from a famous ship burial unearthed in Norway were not strictly ceremonial as long thought; instead they may have protected warriors in battle, a new study finds.
A reanalysis of the wooden shields, which were unearthed in the Gokstad ship in southern Norway in 1880, suggests they may have once been covered with rawhide (untanned cattle skin) and used in hand-to-hand combat, according to a new study published on March 24 in the journal Arms and Armour...
A total of 64 shields — possibly one for each of the crew on board, Warming said — were tied along the top edge of the hull of the ship, just above its oar-holes.
The vessel was once used at sea, probably for warfare, trade and transportation. But about 900, it was dragged onto land and used for the burial of a Viking king.
Warming's reanalysis shows the shields consisted of tapered wooden boards or planks around an iron hemisphere known as a boss on one side and a wooden handle on the other, although only one handle has survived. This would have made the shields light and easy to maneuver.
The planks of each shield were painted either yellow or black, giving the overlapping shields the appearance of yellow and black crescent moons...
Viking ships had square sails; but they were also fitted with oars to use in ill-winds or when navigating rivers. These boats also had shallow and light clinker-built hulls, so seafaring Vikings could get close to land and pull their boats ashore when needed.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
The Gokstad ship as it would have looked on the water, in a drawing from the original 1882 report of the discovery. The yellow and black painted shields can be seen in a row along the top of the hull.Image credit: Harry Schøyen/Nicolaysen et al, 1882
They come from the land of ice and snow...
Typical dudes.
“You’re using your GOOD shield?? I just had that dry cleaned!”
Going about in the North Sea in that would not have been for the faint of heart.
There has never been any doubt that they were an important weapon in battle!
When Erik the Red settled Greenland, 35 ships left but only 14 survived the journey to Greenland.
Is there any other kind?
Yeah, that’s the North Atlantic, that’s even worse than the North Sea. Crossing to Britain is a picnic compared to getting to Greenland.
Vikings could get down!
Well, generally speaking you don’t need any extra incentive to murder a dry cleaner.
It’s not surprising that the Vikings made those journeys and settlements, but it’s probably not surprising that they didn’t long endure.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/freydis-eiriksdottir
Flashback to high school in the early 1970s.
You can load it with extra food, water and weapons or you can tie round pieces of wood along the side to make it look pretty.
Someone needs to get their nose out of a book and go sailing.
Which is why I am all for hands on archaeology.
Exactly!
Just hang on, man. It’ll be over in a minute.
Flokie settled Greenland.
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