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Hjortspring boat

January 04, 2023

The Hjortspring boat (Danish: Hjortspringbåden) is a vessel designed as a large canoe, from the Scandinavian Pre-Roman Iron Age. It was built circa 400–300 BC. The hull and remains were rediscovered and excavated in 1921–1922 from the bog of Hjortspring Mose on the island of Als in Sønderjylland, southern Denmark.[1] The boat is the oldest find of a wooden plank ship in Scandinavia and it closely resembles the thousands of petroglyph images of Nordic Bronze Age ships found throughout Scandinavia.[2] The vessel is a clinker-built wooden boat of more than 19 metres (62 feet) length overall, 13.6 metres (45 feet) long inside, and 2 metres (6.5 feet) wide. Ten thwarts that could have served as seats, span the boat with room for two persons each; this suggests space for a crew of at least 20 who propelled the boat with paddles.[2] The boat would have weighed an estimated 530 kilograms (1,168 lb), making it easily portable by its crew.

The reconstructed remains of the Hjortspring boat at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen

Associated finds

 
Petroglyphs of boats from the Nordic Bronze Age in Scandinavia

When found, the boat contained a great quantity of weapons and armour, including 131 shields of the Celtic type, 33 well-crafted Shield bosses, 138 iron spearheads, 31 bone or antler spearheads, 11 single-edged iron swords, and the remains of several mailcoats. Two of the swords were deliberately bent, a practice associated with Iron Age rituals. The largest of the spearheads is a massive 43.5 centimetres (17 inches) long. The find also contained bowls, boxes, blacksmith's tools, and other everyday goods. The sinking of the vessel in the bog has been interpreted as a deliberate votive offering.[3] This is reinforced by the presence of a dismembered horse placed beneath the boat at the time of burial along with a lamb, a calf, and two dogs. Numerous graves have been discovered in Denmark from this time period containing similar grave goods and sacrificed horses, dogs, lambs, cows, other animals, and human beings.[4][5][6][7]

Construction

 
Reconstruction of the Hjortspring boat.

The Hjortspring boat was constructed of lime (linden) wood planks sewn together with cord of lime bark, spruce root, or rawhide. Pitch was used to caulk and coat the seams to make the boat watertight. A long dugout log forms the bottom plank, which also acts as the keel, with two additional planks, or strakes, attached on both sides to fashion the hull. This allows the large vessel to sit high in the water and to traverse shallow waters, even with a full crew and heavy load. Hollowed timbers were used to create the distinct stem and stern-posts. These stem pieces, along with the bottom plank, extend forward and backward from the hull to form the iconic "beaks" of this type of boat construction. Vertical oak struts, secured by wooden pegs and pitch, fasten the upper and lower "beaks" and brace both ends of the watercraft. Thin limbs of hazel form the ribs which were lashed to cleats in the planks. These cleats were made by carving down the rest of the plank boards; this created a strong attachment point without a need for fastening each cleat separately by lashing or pegs to the long planks of the hull. The hull planks and hazel ribs are supported by thwarts and thicker supporting ribs of ash.

The high level of craftsmanship present in the archaeological find indicates that the boat-building methods used to construct the Hjortpsring boat are significantly older than the boat itself.[8]

Hjortspring boat
  •  

    Model

  •  

    Sketch with correct scaling and angles.

  •  

    Rock carvings of boats.

Later history of this type

Watercraft of this style and construction were built and used at least until the 3rd century AD. Metal rivets become increasingly present in later finds and the stem construction was simplified to a single curved shape which extended and tapered outward from the hull. These later stems, or prows, were made of single pieces of wood or multiple pieces joined together. Much of the essential boat-building methods found in the Hjortspring boat persisted into the Viking Age. This continuation can be seen in the boat finds from Halsnøy (200 AD), Nydam (300-400 AD), Sutton Hoo (600-700 AD), and Kvalsund (690 AD).[9]

Modern Reconstruction- The Tilia Alsie

A full reconstruction of the Hjortsprung Boat was launched in 1999.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Thorkild Ramskou (1965). Danmarks oldtid. Guides to the National Museum (Nationalmuseet (Denmark)) (in Danish). Copenhagen. p. 43. OCLC 43695721.
  2. ^ a b Pauline Asingh (2009). Grauballemanden: portræt af et moselig (in Danish). Copenhagen: Gyldendal A/S. p. 195. ISBN 978-87-02-05688-4.
  3. ^ Thomas Dickson (2009). Dansk design. Gyldendal A/S. pp. 31–2. ISBN 978-87-02-07768-1.
  4. ^ P. V. Glob; Rupert Bruce-Mitford (trans.) (1969). The Bog People: Iron-Age Man Preserved. London: Faber and Faber Ltd. pp. 185–86. OCLC 1014843010.
  5. ^ Flemming Kaul (1988). Da våbnene tav: Hjortspringfundet og dets baggrund (in Danish). Copenhagen: Danish National Museum. ISBN 9788717060234.
  6. ^ Klavs Randsborg (1999). "Into the Iron Age: A Discourse on War and Society". In John Carman; Anthony Harding (eds.). Ancient Warfare: Archaeological Perspectives. Stroud: Sutton. pp. 191–202. ISBN 9780750917957.
  7. ^ Klavs Randsborg (1996). Hjortspring: Warfare and Sacrifice in Early Europe. Århus: Århus University Press. ISBN 9788772885452.
  8. ^ Arne Emil Christensen (1968). Boats of the North: A History of Boatbuilding in Norway. Norsk kulturarv. Vol. 2. Oslo: Det Norske Samlaget. pp. 18–20. OCLC 964234377.
  9. ^ A. W. Brøgger; Haakon Shetelig; Katherine John (trans.) (1951). The Viking Ships: Their Ancestry and Evolution. Oslo: Dreyers Forlag. pp. 48–60. OCLC 464543657.
  10. ^ https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-early-iron-age/the-army-from-hjortspring-bog/the-hjortspring-boats-sister-tilia-alsie/

Further reading

  • Ole Crumlin-Pedersen and Athena Trakadas (eds.), Hjortspring: A Pre-Roman Iron-Age Warship in Context, [Ships and Boats of the North Volume 5], Roskilde: Viking Ship Museum 2003; ISBN 8785180521

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hjortspring boat.
  • "The Guild of the Hjortspring Boat".
  • Foteviken Museum. . Archived from the original on 2006-02-10. Retrieved 2005-08-28.
  • . Southampton University. Archived from the original on 2005-01-01.
  • "Review of Crumlin-Pedersen's book". University College London.
  • . Danish National Museum. Archived from the original on 2005-08-28.
  • Axel Nelson. "Fartyg Före Vikingatiden" [Pre-Viking Age Scandinavian Ships] (in Swedish).


January 04, 2023
hjortspring, boat, danish, hjortspringbåden, vessel, designed, large, canoe, from, scandinavian, roman, iron, built, circa, hull, remains, were, rediscovered, excavated, 1921, 1922, from, hjortspring, mose, island, sønderjylland, southern, denmark, boat, oldes. The Hjortspring boat Danish Hjortspringbaden is a vessel designed as a large canoe from the Scandinavian Pre Roman Iron Age It was built circa 400 300 BC The hull and remains were rediscovered and excavated in 1921 1922 from the bog of Hjortspring Mose on the island of Als in Sonderjylland southern Denmark 1 The boat is the oldest find of a wooden plank ship in Scandinavia and it closely resembles the thousands of petroglyph images of Nordic Bronze Age ships found throughout Scandinavia 2 The vessel is a clinker built wooden boat of more than 19 metres 62 feet length overall 13 6 metres 45 feet long inside and 2 metres 6 5 feet wide Ten thwarts that could have served as seats span the boat with room for two persons each this suggests space for a crew of at least 20 who propelled the boat with paddles 2 The boat would have weighed an estimated 530 kilograms 1 168 lb making it easily portable by its crew The reconstructed remains of the Hjortspring boat at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen Contents 1 Associated finds 2 Construction 3 Later history of this type 4 Modern Reconstruction The Tilia Alsie 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksAssociated finds Edit Petroglyphs of boats from the Nordic Bronze Age in Scandinavia When found the boat contained a great quantity of weapons and armour including 131 shields of the Celtic type 33 well crafted Shield bosses 138 iron spearheads 31 bone or antler spearheads 11 single edged iron swords and the remains of several mailcoats Two of the swords were deliberately bent a practice associated with Iron Age rituals The largest of the spearheads is a massive 43 5 centimetres 17 inches long The find also contained bowls boxes blacksmith s tools and other everyday goods The sinking of the vessel in the bog has been interpreted as a deliberate votive offering 3 This is reinforced by the presence of a dismembered horse placed beneath the boat at the time of burial along with a lamb a calf and two dogs Numerous graves have been discovered in Denmark from this time period containing similar grave goods and sacrificed horses dogs lambs cows other animals and human beings 4 5 6 7 Construction Edit Reconstruction of the Hjortspring boat The Hjortspring boat was constructed of lime linden wood planks sewn together with cord of lime bark spruce root or rawhide Pitch was used to caulk and coat the seams to make the boat watertight A long dugout log forms the bottom plank which also acts as the keel with two additional planks or strakes attached on both sides to fashion the hull This allows the large vessel to sit high in the water and to traverse shallow waters even with a full crew and heavy load Hollowed timbers were used to create the distinct stem and stern posts These stem pieces along with the bottom plank extend forward and backward from the hull to form the iconic beaks of this type of boat construction Vertical oak struts secured by wooden pegs and pitch fasten the upper and lower beaks and brace both ends of the watercraft Thin limbs of hazel form the ribs which were lashed to cleats in the planks These cleats were made by carving down the rest of the plank boards this created a strong attachment point without a need for fastening each cleat separately by lashing or pegs to the long planks of the hull The hull planks and hazel ribs are supported by thwarts and thicker supporting ribs of ash The high level of craftsmanship present in the archaeological find indicates that the boat building methods used to construct the Hjortpsring boat are significantly older than the boat itself 8 Hjortspring boat Model Sketch with correct scaling and angles Rock carvings of boats Later history of this type EditWatercraft of this style and construction were built and used at least until the 3rd century AD Metal rivets become increasingly present in later finds and the stem construction was simplified to a single curved shape which extended and tapered outward from the hull These later stems or prows were made of single pieces of wood or multiple pieces joined together Much of the essential boat building methods found in the Hjortspring boat persisted into the Viking Age This continuation can be seen in the boat finds from Halsnoy 200 AD Nydam 300 400 AD Sutton Hoo 600 700 AD and Kvalsund 690 AD 9 Modern Reconstruction The Tilia Alsie EditA full reconstruction of the Hjortsprung Boat was launched in 1999 10 See also EditIron Age Scandinavia Dugout canoe Sewn boat Lashed lug boat Clinker boat building Nydam Mose Ship burial Bog body Death in Norse paganism National Museum of DenmarkReferences Edit Thorkild Ramskou 1965 Danmarks oldtid Guides to the National Museum Nationalmuseet Denmark in Danish Copenhagen p 43 OCLC 43695721 a b Pauline Asingh 2009 Grauballemanden portraet af et moselig in Danish Copenhagen Gyldendal A S p 195 ISBN 978 87 02 05688 4 Thomas Dickson 2009 Dansk design Gyldendal A S pp 31 2 ISBN 978 87 02 07768 1 P V Glob Rupert Bruce Mitford trans 1969 The Bog People Iron Age Man Preserved London Faber and Faber Ltd pp 185 86 OCLC 1014843010 Flemming Kaul 1988 Da vabnene tav Hjortspringfundet og dets baggrund in Danish Copenhagen Danish National Museum ISBN 9788717060234 Klavs Randsborg 1999 Into the Iron Age A Discourse on War and Society In John Carman Anthony Harding eds Ancient Warfare Archaeological Perspectives Stroud Sutton pp 191 202 ISBN 9780750917957 Klavs Randsborg 1996 Hjortspring Warfare and Sacrifice in Early Europe Arhus Arhus University Press ISBN 9788772885452 Arne Emil Christensen 1968 Boats of the North A History of Boatbuilding in Norway Norsk kulturarv Vol 2 Oslo Det Norske Samlaget pp 18 20 OCLC 964234377 A W Brogger Haakon Shetelig Katherine John trans 1951 The Viking Ships Their Ancestry and Evolution Oslo Dreyers Forlag pp 48 60 OCLC 464543657 https en natmus dk historical knowledge denmark prehistoric period until 1050 ad the early iron age the army from hjortspring bog the hjortspring boats sister tilia alsie Further reading EditOle Crumlin Pedersen and Athena Trakadas eds Hjortspring A Pre Roman Iron Age Warship in Context Ships and Boats of the North Volume 5 Roskilde Viking Ship Museum 2003 ISBN 8785180521External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hjortspring boat The Guild of the Hjortspring Boat Foteviken Museum The Hjortspring boat Archived from the original on 2006 02 10 Retrieved 2005 08 28 Bibliography on the boat Southampton University Archived from the original on 2005 01 01 Review of Crumlin Pedersen s book University College London The conservation of the boat Danish National Museum Archived from the original on 2005 08 28 Axel Nelson Fartyg Fore Vikingatiden Pre Viking Age Scandinavian Ships in Swedish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hjortspring boat amp oldid 1130336542, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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