ltwilliammowett: Oseberg ship - a Viking ship’s graveThe approximately 22 m long and 5 m wide long
ltwilliammowett: Oseberg ship - a Viking ship’s grave The approximately 22 m long and 5 m wide longship in typical clinker brick construction from oak is so splendidly decorated and provided at bow and stern with carvings in the Oseberg style that one thinks it is a royal yacht or a ceremonial ship. Although seaworthy, it was probably only usable for coastal cruises. Dendrochronology analysis showed that the ship was built from oak felled in 820 and that the burial chamber behind the mast dates from 834. From the bottom of the keel to the midship’s edge, the height is only 1.60 m, the draught 0.75 m, the freeboard 0.85 m. The height of the ship is only 1.60 m. The ship is built entirely of oak and is similar in construction to the other known ships from this period, but is built weaker and was not suitable for higher loads. The rudder holes could not be closed during sailing. The mast is only weakly supported. The keelson is disproportionately short. The mast support above it is also too weak, had jumped, and was held together again with two iron bands. The floor boards are fixed to the mast except for those, so that the space underneath is not usable. All this indicates that this ship was not intended for longer voyages where food had to be taken. The mast was 9 to 10 meters high. With a sail area of about 90 m², speeds of up to ten knots could be reached. The ship had 15 pairs of belt openings, so that at least 30 oarsmen were necessary. The equipment found included a wide steering wheel, an iron anchor, a corridor plank and a scoop bucket. The ship had been in use for several years, but had not been used for some time before it was brought into the burial mound in 834. In the burial chamber were found the skeletons of two women, one of whom was about 60 to 70 years old at her death and the other 25 to 30 years old. Above the older Lady, under her the younger one Grave goods included imported silk from the eastern Mediterranean and textile works. But also a precious so-called women’s carriage as it was found more often at elaborate women’s graves, as well as four sleighs. The Oseberg Carriage around 800 A.D. The second sligh around 830 A.D. From the richness of the grave goods and the effort that was obviously put into the burial, it can be seen that it was the grave of a very important personality. Although it was initially assumed that the older woman was the queen Åsa of the Ynglinger family, the mother Halfdan of the black and grandmother of Harald “ Beautiful Hair ”, this assumption has now been abandoned. Instead, today it is more likely that she was a high priestess. The younger one assumes that she was a servant. The ship has been reconstructed and can be seen with the objects in and around it in the Viking Museum in Oslo, which also houses the Tunis ship and the Gokstad ship. Weiterlesen -- source link
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