Model: Otto Groenig, Schweiz - Photo: Franziska Keller, Speyer

The Oseberg Ship

The Oseberg ship is among the most significant finds of the Viking era. It was unearthed at the Oseberg estate on the Oslo fjord in 1904. Because of the special composition of the ground there, the ship is exceptionally well preserved. Scientific findings date the oak planks to approximately 820 AD. Behind the mast of the ship, the archaeologists found one of the richest graves of a Viking woman of that era.

The ship’s reconstruction on a scale of 1:20 emphasizes the elegance and skilfulness of the ship’s decoration. In order to make it possible to see the connections between the ribs and the hull, several of the deck planks have been left off.

Among Viking ship classes, the Oseberg ship belongs to a special type of smaller vessel, which was used on lakes or along the coast. There was room for thirty oarsmen. Even though the ship could also be sailed, it was not suited for longer voyages across open water.

“The Vikings”

They were ravening pirates, accomplished merchants, brilliant ship builders, daring explorers, simple farmers, imaginative craftsmen, unscrupulous mercenaries and heroic warriors. Our concept of the Vikings is inconsistent and burdened with too many myths, even today.

Beginning on December 14, 2008 at the Historical Museum of the Platinate, you will be able to immerse yourself in the actual day-to-day world of the Vikings. Experience the way in which a Viking ship was built, get to know the different environments in which the Vikings lived, and stride down a lane occupied by the craftsmen of the Viking era. Join a Viking crew and embark on a pillaging voyage in the direction of England. Experience which precious objects the Vikings acquired through theft and commerce and eavesdrop on the sagas of Northern gods and heroes and the poetry of the skalds.

About 300 objects--among them, precious jewellery, runestones, weapons, silver treasures, coins, parts of ships, rare evidence of Christianity and much more--were lent by museums, collections, and institutes in Scandinavia as well as from those other regions with which the Vikings were in contact.

The exhibition takes into account the latest research findings. Discoveries from meaningful excavations of settlements, as well as from the field of experimental archaeology, such as the latest voyages on reconstructed Viking ships, are included in the exhibition. At the same time, the production, which covers over 1200 m2, provides an experience for the entire family. Lavish staging, reconstructions, touchable objects, as well as the introduction of new media contribute to an all-encompassing experience of the Norsemen’s culture and the reality of their lives.