The Oseberg Ship is one of the most significant and beautifully preserved Viking artefacts ever discovered. Unearthed in 1904 from a burial mound at the Oseberg farm near Tønsberg in Vestfold, Norway, the ship dates from the early 9th century and is thought to have been built around 820 AD. This extraordinary find provides a rich insight into Viking craftsmanship, burial customs and social hierarchy.
Constructed primarily from oak, the ship is just over 21 metres long and five metres wide, with an elegantly curved prow and stern adorned with detailed carvings. It was designed for rowing and coastal travel, equipped with fifteen pairs of oar holes and a single square sail. The vessel’s fine lines and ornamental woodwork suggest it was not built for war but for ceremonial or high-status purposes.
The burial mound contained the remains of two women, believed to be of high status, possibly a queen or priestess and her companion. Alongside their remains were a wealth of grave goods, including intricately carved sledges, a richly decorated cart, wooden beds, textiles, tools and even the remains of animals. These artefacts reflect the high degree of artistry, textile production and woodwork in Viking society.
Today, the Oseberg Ship is housed at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, where it continues to be a centrepiece of Viking Age archaeology and a source of national pride. Its discovery marked a turning point in Norse scholarship, offering tangible evidence of the sophistication and symbolic traditions of the Viking elite.
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