Bedsteads

Three whole bedsteads and several fragments were found in the Oseberg burial.

The large bedstead was found towards the stem of the ship. It was made of beech, and was 2.20 m long and 1.90 m wide. At the headboard, the bedstead is capped with carved animal heads. The carved ornaments have been painted, and other decorations have been painted on the flat surfaces.

Fragments of five oak bedsteads have been found in the Gokstad burial. It proved possible to reconstruct two of the bedsteads. One of them measured 109 cm in width and 227 cm in length, and the other was somewhat smaller. All the bedsteads were constructed in such a way that they could be dismantled when they were not in use.