Posted on 10/17/2006 1:40:48 PM PDT by blam
Viking ship found in Larvik
Archaeologists found the remains of a ship from the Viking Age on Tuesday, in a burial mound on a farm outside the coastal city of Larvik.
Knut Paasche, shown here with the famous Oseberg Viking ship, is among the archaeologists who found another Viking ship near Larvik on Tuesday. PHOTO: JAN TOMAS ESPEDAL
The discovery was made during archaeological examinations of the Nordheim Farm, which is near the Hedrum Church in Larvik. The examinations were ordered in connection with the pending expansion of the cemetery around Hedrum Church, which is located a few hours' drive south of Oslo.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that archaeologists also found indications that another ship is buried in the same area.
Archaeologist Knut Paasche has been examining the area around Nordheim Farm, near Hedrum, for Vestfold County officials. He called Tuesday's discovery "important and interesting," but said it was too early to say whether the ship could be excavated intact.
He said that so many traces of the vessel were found that it should at least be possible to describe exactly how the ship looked.
Archaeologists were quick to point out that the discovery of the Viking ship wasn't comparable to the famous Oseberg or Gokstad discoveries. The Oseberg ship, which has long been on display in Oslo, had been buried in a valley and covered with clay, which helped keep it so well preserved
OK what about the Viking Runestone found in Minnisota?
So that's where great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Oly left that darn boat. We've been looking for it ever since that one really cold night when he drank too much meade and said he was gonna go fishing....
More pix from the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo:
Uff-Da
We thought he was a Chevy man but I guess he preferred fjords
And what an opportunity for a classic joke about the Grifters themselves:
"Hillary said that when she first set eyes on Bill Clinton back in college he had a beard and he reminded her of a Viking, which is perfect because she reminded him of Iceland. ... Like a Viking, he is still out conquering and exploring virgin territory."
— Jay Leno
ouch?
I watched them build a Viking ship on a documentary one time. All the boards were split down the natural lines of the tree...not sawed...as we do today. The splitting down the natural lines gave it added strength.
Maybe that's also why the builders were able to achieve such stunning organic grace in the final result, too.
same gang, just a new location
Interesting.
(BTW & FWIW, you must have a good set of sources; I'm on several archaeology listservs, and you find lots of neat things I would otherwise miss.)
Good job! And thanks for your posts!!!
Any pix of the Gokstad vessel out there?
I believe the Gokstad and the Oseberg are the same vessel.
I found this online just now over here:
The [Gokstad] ship was built around the year 890 according to the latest research. The Gokstad ship is probably a Karve. Due to the fact that the ship had 32 oar holes and that there would have been room for 70-80 men on board it was most likely a war ship. The Gokstad ship was not as richly decorated as the Oseberg ship( excavated in 1904 at Slagendalen in Sem), but stands out as a constructional masterpiece. The ship has a stronger keel than other Viking ships from Vestfold. It was hewn from a single tree trunk that must have measured 25 metres in height. Both the mastfish(mast partner) and the kjerringa(a large block of oak) were extremely strong, the kjerringa is strengthened by knees(naturally bent branches) and the mastfish is solidly fixed to fit the cross beams, supported firmly on each side by knees. The planking, sixteen pieces on each side of the ship form the transition between the hull below the water-line and the side, and were of solid construction. These details play an important part during sailing when the hull's endurance is put to the test.
Another pic:
Also, here is a link to the museum
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