Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ocean-going trade ship, with a crew of six to eight men and lots of cargo; it's
like the ship Leif Eriksson took to America 1,000 years ago.
Skuldelev 2
is
a 100-foot-long, 60-oar longship; loaded with 65 or 70 bloodthirsty warriors,
it struck fear into the hearts of foes. It's similar to the ones depicted in the
Bayeux Tapestry in Normandy, France.
Skuldelev 3
is a modest coastal trader
that stayed closer to home (wind-powered with oar backup, similar to #1 in
design).
Skuldelev 5
is a smaller longship—carrying about 30 men, it's the
little sibling of #2. And
Skuldelev 6
is a small fishing vessel—a row/sail hy-
brid that was used for whaling and hunting seals. (There's no #4 because they
originally thought #2 was two different ships...and the original names stuck.)
Exhibits in the surrounding rooms show the 25-year process of excavating
and preserving the ships, explain a step-by-step attack and defense of the har-
bor, and give you a chance to climb aboard a couple of replica ships for a fun
photo op. You'll also see displays describing the re-creation of the
Sea Stalli-
on,
a replica of the big longship (#2) constructed by modern shipbuilders us-
ing ancient techniques. A crew of 65 rowed this to Dublin, Ireland, in 2007,
and then back to Roskilde in the summer of 2008. You can watch a 20-minute
film of their odyssey.
Leaving the hall, cross the drawbridge to
Museum Island.
Replicas of all
five ships—and others—bob in the harbor; you can actually climb on board
the largest, the
Sea Stallion
. At the boatyard, watch modern craftsmen re-
