The Kvalsund Ship: A Pre-Viking Longship

The location of Kvalsund, Herøy, on the western coast of Norway. Stadlandet is just outside the map, to the south. Nordeide, S. W. 2020. "At the threshold of the Viking Age: New dendrochronological dates for the Kvalsund ship and boat bog offerings (Norway)” Journal of Archaeological Science Reports 29, pp 1-8, Fig.3.

The Kvalsund Ship represents a critical link in the evolution of Scandinavian shipbuilding, particularly in the transition from early pre-Viking longships to the more advanced vessels of the Viking Age. Discovered in 1920 at Kvalsund in Herøy, Møre og Romsdal, near Ålesund, Norway, this ship, alongside a smaller rowing boat known as Kvalsund II, dates back to approximately 780-800 AD. Its discovery in a marsh, likely placed as a sacrifice, has provided significant insights into early naval architecture just at the cusp of the Viking Age.

Kvalsund Location. Map image: David Beard (archeurope.com)

Construction and Design Features

The Kvalsund Ship, measuring about 18 meters in length, is a clinker-built vessel, a characteristic method where overlapping planks (strakes) were fastened to the hull. This construction style not only provided durability but also enhanced flexibility, crucial for sea-going vessels facing the North Atlantic's tumultuous conditions. The ship's planks were crafted from oak and secured to the hull with iron rivets, while the ribs, which were either lashed or nailed to the planks, were made from pine. This combination of materials was likely chosen for their availability and respective strengths, with oak providing toughness and pine contributing to flexibility and ease of shaping.

Figure 18: Reconstruction drawing of Kvalsund II by Johannessen. After Shetelig & Johannessen, 1929.

A distinctive feature of the Kvalsund Ship was its T-shaped keel, which offered remarkable strength and stability. This structural element suggests the possibility that the ship could have supported a sail, although no mast or rigging was recovered. The keel's design hints at a dual-purpose vessel, capable of both rowing and sailing, marking a significant development from earlier purely oar-driven ships.

The stems and stern pieces of the Kvalsund Ship exhibit high, curving profiles fixed to the keel-plank by vertical joints known as flat scarfs. These elements might have featured light decoration, though this is speculative. The ship’s stems and stern provided not only structural integrity but also a distinctive aesthetic that would evolve in later Viking ship designs.

Innovative Design Elements

The high stem of the Kvalsund II ship. Photo: Berloga Workshop.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Kvalsund Ship is its strakes, which were narrower and more numerous than those in earlier boats. This design choice allowed for greater flexibility in the hull, accommodating the challenges of seafaring without the need for locating and preparing large timber lengths. This innovation streamlined construction processes and represented a significant advancement in naval architecture.

Fixed to each gunwale were 10 rowing benches, secured with wooden pegs (treenails), and 11 evenly spaced thwarts, or crossbeams, each 1 meter apart. These thwarts contributed to the ship's structural integrity while also serving as additional benches for the oarsmen. This arrangement not only maximized the use of space but also provided a robust framework that enhanced the ship's overall stability.

Inner view of the replica of the Kvalsund II ship. Photo: Berloga Workshop.

The Kvalsund Ship featured a detachable rudder on the starboard side, an innovative design known as the 'steerboard' (Old Norse: styri, to steer). This rudder could be removed in shallow waters, its neck fastened to the gunwale with an adjustable strap, allowing flexibility in steering. A tiller was used to manoeuvre the rudder, securing it to the hull while maintaining its ability to pivot along its longitudinal axis. This configuration was crucial for navigating the shallow coastal waters of Scandinavia and provided a model for later Viking ship rudders.

Transitional Significance

The Kvalsund Ship embodies the transitional stage between the early pre-Viking Age rowing ships and the later, more sophisticated Viking ships. It showcases a blend of structural features from both categories, representing an important evolutionary step in Scandinavian shipbuilding.

The ship’s design reflects a move towards increased seaworthiness and adaptability, essential traits for the long-distance voyages that would characterize the Viking Age. The clinker-built method, with its overlapping planks, provided the necessary flexibility and strength for open-sea navigation. The introduction of a potentially sail-supporting keel indicates an early experiment with wind propulsion, a technology that would become central to Viking expansion and exploration.

The Kvalsund Ship also illustrates the incremental innovations that marked the development of naval technology in this period. Its narrower, more numerous strakes represent a departure from earlier, less flexible designs, indicating an understanding of how to balance structural integrity with the need for flexibility in harsh marine environments. This knowledge would be refined and expanded upon in the later Viking ships, which featured even more advanced construction techniques and sailing capabilities.

Parts from the excavations of the Kvalsund ship. From top: part of a strake, the side rudder, an oar, part of the keel. Photo: http://vikingskip.com/.

The ship's detachable rudder on the starboard side is another significant feature that foreshadows the more complex steering mechanisms of Viking ships. This rudder design allowed for precise manoeuvring and could be adjusted or removed as needed, reflecting a sophisticated approach to handling different maritime conditions.

The ship's significance led to the construction of a replica of the Kvalsund ship, which stands as a testament to Iron Age boatbuilding. Painstakingly reconstructed based on the archaeological remains of the Kvalsund ship, it was crafted from pine and oak, mirroring the clinker-built construction of its predecessor and offering a glimpse into the maritime technology of the late 8th century. This faithful reproduction not only honours the original ship's design but also serves as an educational tool, allowing enthusiasts and scholars alike to explore and appreciate the seafaring traditions of the Viking Age.

Replica of the Kvalsund ship "Kvalsund II." Photo: Wikimedia.

Conclusion

The Kvalsund Ship stands as a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of early Scandinavian shipbuilders. Its design features and construction methods highlight the transitional nature of this vessel, bridging the gap between pre-Viking and Viking shipbuilding traditions. By examining the Kvalsund Ship, we gain valuable insights into the technological advancements that paved the way for the iconic longships of the Viking Age.

This vessel not only underscores the continuity of certain design elements but also marks the beginning of a period of rapid innovation in naval architecture. As such, the Kvalsund Ship is a crucial artifact in understanding the development of early medieval Scandinavian seafaring capabilities, providing a tangible link between the maritime practices of the past and the celebrated Viking ships that would follow.

In sum, the Kvalsund Ship exemplifies a pivotal moment in maritime history, representing both the culmination of earlier design principles and the foundation for future advancements that would define the Viking era. Its study enriches our understanding of the technological and cultural transformations that characterized the early medieval period in Scandinavia.

The replica of the Kvalsund ship being rowed. Photo: Berloga Workshop.

Bibliography

Bill, J. 2010. "Viking Age ships and Seafaring in the West." In Viking Trade and Settlement in Western Europe, edited by I. S. Klæsøe, pp. 19-42.

Bonde, N. 1994. De norske vikingeskibsgraves alder. Et vellykket norsk-dansk forskningsprojekt. Nationalmuseets arbejdsmark, pp. 128-147.

Christensen, Arne Emil. 1997. Ships and Boats of the North: The Ship as Symbol in Prehistoric and Medieval Scandinavia. Nationalmuseet.

Christensen, Arne Emil. 1984. "The Kvalsund Ship: A Reconstruction." International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 13(2): 109-122.

Crumlin-Pedersen, Ole. 1993. "Pre-Viking Naval Architecture in Scandinavia: A Reassessment." Maritime Archaeology Journal 7(3): 204-219.

Durham, K., and S. Noon. 2002. Viking Longships. Osprey Publishing, USA.

Hale, J. R. 1998. "The Viking Longship." Scientific American 278(2): 56-63.

Hansen, Marie. 2004. "Navigational Advances in Viking-Age Scandinavia: The Role of the Kvalsund Ship." Scandinavian Journal of Archaeology 12(4): 315-332.

Nordeide, S. W., N. Bonde, and T. Thun. 2020. "At the Threshold of the Viking Age: New Dendrochronological Dates for the Kvalsund Ship and Boat Bog Offerings (Norway)." Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 29: 1-8.

Ravn, M. 2015. "Tradition as process. Reflections on Viking Age Shipbuilding." In The Baltic Sea – a Mediterranean of North Europe: In the Light of Archaeological, Historical and Natural Science Research from Ancient to Early Medieval Times, edited by Olgierd Felczak, pp. 63-68. Gdansk. 

Ravn, Mads. 1998. "Clinker Construction: The Evolution of Scandinavian Boatbuilding." Acta Archaeologica 69(1): 1-22.

Westerdahl, C. 2014. "The Viking Ship in Your Mind: Some Comments on its Cognitive Roles." Norsk Maritimt Museum. Årbok (2014): 33-70.

Williams, Gareth. 2008. Viking Ships and the Sea. British Museum Press.