Ladby Ship |
In this series of articles, Viking and pre-Viking ships are compared, and their historical significance and impact upon the western world are discussed. With particular reference to such finds as the Heberby, Nydam, Skuldelev, Gokstad and Ladby ships, it is hoped that this series of articles will bring a number of threads together to give a comprehensive overview of this topic.
Ladby Mound |
The
Viking museum at Ladby, located near to Kerteminde on Fyn is significant as it
is the only ship burial in Denmark. Although much of the original ship has been
lost its imprint in the ground has been preserved and can still be seen in situ
within the reconstructed mound, protected by glass.
The
Ladby ship was found in 1935 and is dated to 895CE. It was 21.54
metres in length with a beam of 2.92 metres, with a capacity for two rows of 16
oars.
A
reconstruction of the Ladby ship was undertaken in 1963 – the ‘Imme Gram’, but
with the availability of modern technology there is now a new school of thought
on the appearance of the original ship.[1]
Consequently, with a grant of 4.8 million crowns (kroner) from the Augustinus
Foundation, and using only traditional Viking methods, the Ladby Ship Guild in
cooperation with the Viking Museum at Ladby and the Viking Ship Museum at
Roskilde,[2]
have begun work on a full size construction of the Ladby ship. Completion is
expected to be in 2015.
At
the time of our visit to Ladby the keel and curved stems at each end had been
completed and the garboard strakes fitted, with the next strake in progress.
Lying around the site were many large pieces of oak, selected
carefully for their shape, from which naturally strong sections for the ship
would be crafted.
I
hope that at some point in the near future to be able to go back to Denmark and take some more photographs of the ship at various stages of construction. However I would be grateful if
anybody visiting the site could be good enough to take some digital photographs
and forward them onto me in order that I could include them in the article on that I am presently researching.
At
the Roskilde ship museum I was fortunate to find, that in addition to having the
original Skuldelev ships on display in the Viking ship hall, there was a
Skuldelev 6 under construction and that in the harbour was a reconstruction of the Skuldelev 2,
the Sea Stallion, a full size ocean going Viking ship. The
term ‘Skuldelev ship’ relating to five 11th century ships discovered
in 1962 which represent five different types of vessel.[3]
They had apparently been sunk to blockade the Peberrende, a natural channel in
Roskilde Fjord near Skuldelev.
In
addition there were numerous other early Scandinavian craft, such as the 12
oared ‘Bjørnefjord’ sailing ship in which Dr Thompson and I went out in; rowing
the ship as part of a twelve person crew. Feeling the wind catch the sail and how responsive she was to the rudder, was a fascinating experience.
Over the years there have been a number of Viking ship reconstruction, and undoubtedly they are as iconic in Scandinavia as the longbow or the spitfire is to the English. And as if to reinforce this, on the island of Vibransøy in Norway they have, or will shortly be launching a Viking dragon ship, the Dragon Harald Fairhair; a long-ship 114 feet in length, with a beam of 27 feet, and displacing some 70 tons.
As
a result of all this activity I was inspired to begin work on an article with the working title of ‘The comparison of Viking and pre-Viking ships, and their significance
and impact of on the western world.
The work will look at the development
of their design and how such ships impacted on the western world. Although such
an article is not entirely original, by looking at such vessels as the Heberby,
Nydam and Skuldelev ships, the Gokstad and Ladby ships, it is hoped to
bring a number threads together in one comprehensive article.
[1] Author
unknown. (2012) Ladby Viking museum. (Vikingemuseetladby) / Kerteminde Museum
[2] Author
unknown, (2012) Viking ship museum (Vikingeskibsmuseet)
[3] Author
unknown, (2012) Viking ship museum (Vikingeskibsmuseet)