Archaeology & History

1,000-year-old Viking boat discovered on island

By T.K. Randall
May 31, 2020 ·  2 comments

The Vikings were renowned for their seafaring prowess. Image Credit: Oscar Wergeland The millennium-old eight-oared vessel, which measures 40ft in length, was found less than 500ft from another boat of the same age that was unearthed six months earlier by the same researchers.

Both boats were discovered using ground-penetrating radar - a technology that builds up a picture of what lies beneath the soil.

The remnants of two houses, as well as five burial mounds, were also found at the site.

The find emphasizes just how important the island must have been during this particular period."This helps strengthen our impression of Edoya as a power center in the Iron Age," said county conservator Bjorn Ringstad.

The burying of boats alongside the dead was a significant part of funerary rituals of the time however it was only done for the most wealthy and important members of society.

"They took a ship or a boat with them into their tomb," said Ringstad.

Second Viking Ship Grave Found on Tiny Norwegian Island - Life in Norway https://t.co/cqS9w5EVwx

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Source: UPI.com | Comments (2)

Tags: Viking