Viking Ship Finds

The major ship finds at Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune represent the high point of Norwegian archaeology. The burial mounds in which they were found were formed of blue clay and densely-packed turf. This helped to keep the wood moist and maintained an air-free environment, explaining why these finds were preserved. After over 1000 years in this environment the wood had weakened considerably. When the boats had been excavated the wood was dried slowly and carefully, and was impregnated with linseed oil.

The Tune Ship

The Tune ship and the Gokstad ship were in relatively good condition, although they were not complete. The Oseberg ship, on the other hand, had broken into around 1000 pieces. Engineer Frederik Johannessen took the fragments apart, warmed the wood with steam, and reconstructed the ship. The Oseberg ship as it stands today consists of almost 90% original wood and around 60% original iron rivets. When the Gokstad ship was moved to the Viking Ship Museum in 1930 it was restored in the same way, while the Tune ship remains in the same condition as when it was excavated from the burial mound.

The ships were reassembled with glue, plaster, modern nails and screws. Nearly 75 years later, the time has come to improve the supports built for the ships in 1927-30, because the wood no longer has the strength to bear its own weight. More support is needed. Compared with the wood of ships that have been found at the sea bottom, that of the Viking ships has been less waterlogged, and has not needed to be subjected to comprehensive conservation techniques.

The wooden objects found in the Oseberg ship that were not made of oak, on the other hand, needed more comprehensive treatment. The method that was considered appropriate in 1904 was conservation with alum, a slow drying process, and treatment with linseed oil. This form of conservation has protected the objects for almost 100 years, but does result in problems. The wood is no longer wood-like; it has become heavy and fragile. Today’s conservation experts are seeking methods of preserving these objects for future generations.

The Viking ships and the other finds from the ship burials are on display at the Viking Ship Museum on the Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo.