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The
longship The Sea Stallion in the museum harbour of the Viking Ship
Museum
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In
1962 five ships wrecks was found in Roskilde Fjord. This is the
reason for Roskilde today being a centre of marine archaeology in
Denmark.
A
museum was build for the five Viking ships and since then the facilities
has been enlarged many times. Today it is not only a museum but a
marine historical centre with its own ships yard and harbour
hosting many kinds of ships.
The
jewel of this centre is still the five Skuldelev wrecks at the
museum and they often are models when new Viking ships are build
in Denmark or other countries.
As
special gift from the past the five ships are completely different
and clearly shows the wide span of abilities for ships builders in
the Viking age.
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Skuldelev
3 (front) and the small longship Skuldelev 5 in the back
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Skuldelev
1
This is a trading ship for travelling in open sea. Probably the
type of ship the Vikings called Knarr and it might be this kind of
ships they used for sailing to Greenland and North America. In the
museum harbour outside the museum it is possible to see the full
size reconstruction Ottar build by the Viking Ship Museum.
A Norwegian reconstruction of Skuldelev 1 has once been crossing
the Atlantic Ocean and visiting North America.
Skuldelev
2
This warship has become the most famous of the Viking ships from
Skuldelev. A longship 30 meter long. Able to host more than 80
warriors. This is the kind of ship Danish and Norwegian Vikings
used for attacks on England and France. When the wrecks were found
the archaeologists thought they found two ships and they named the
ships number 2 and 4. Only later they found out that it was all
from one very long ship and there was no ship number 4. For this
reason this ship is often named "Skuldelev 2-4".
Research has shown that the ship was build in Ireland in the year
of 1042. In 2004 The Viking Ships Museum launched a full size
reconstruction of the ship by the name "The Sea Stallion from
Glendalough". In 2007 the ship will do the journey back to
Dublin where the original Skuldelev 2 was build.
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Skuldelev
1 in the front. The longship Skuldelev 2 is seen to the left in
the back. To the right the smaller Skuldelev 6
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Skuldelev
3
Ship number 3 is probably the most reconstructed Viking ship in
the World. Both professionals and amateurs has copied it or been
inspired by it when building new Viking ships. One of the reasons
is that the size is easier to handle but it has also been an
argument that more of the ships is restored from this ship than
any of the others. The Viking Ship museum has reconstructed
Skuldelev 3 under the name of Roar Ege. It also can be seen in the
harbour near the museum.
Skuldelev
5
This a smaller longship. A warship for the inner waters of
Denmark. Also this ship has been copied several times. At least
four times reconstructed in Denmark. Also the town of Catoira in
Spain has a reconstruction of this ship. The Viking Ship Museums
own reconstruction Helge Ask has done several journeys
among them a visit to Paris in France.
Skuldelev
6
Is a smaller boat for fishing and transport on shorter distances.
Like Skuldelev 1 it was build in Norway and there are reasons to
believe, that it has even been build by the same ship builders.
The
Viking Ship Museum has many special exhibitions and events during
the season. Some time it is even possible to enter some of the
reconstructed ships and sail with them on Roskilde Fjord.
The
museum held's a Viking Market the first weekend of September. See
more about this and other Viking events at the calendar of the Viking
Today Magazine
The
Viking Ship Museum
Vindeboder 12
4000 Roskilde
Denmark
Phone: (+45) 46 30 02 00
Opening
hours:
Daily from 10 - 17 (10am - 5pm)
More
information
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