7.3 The Oseberg Ship Burial

A large ship was discovered under a mound near Oseberg Farm [pronounced oz-burg], Norway in 1903. The boat was made in the area that is now Norway from oak and pine that was felled in the 820s or 830s. The prow and stern had ornate, carved animal decoration. The ship could be either sailed or rowed by 30 oarsmen. The oars were painted and showed no signs of wear. Inside the boat, on a bed surrounded by a tapestry, lay the bodies of a woman who was between 70 and 80 years old who died of cancer, and another woman who was around 50 years old. The latter’s cause of death is not known. Also in the boat were found:

• Clothes, shoes and combs
• Kitchen equipment
• Farm tools
• Four sleighs
• A cart decorated with images of cats
• Five carved animal heads
• Five beds
• Two tents.
• Fifteen horses
• Six dogs
• Two small cows

Explore the Oseberg Ship Burial in this website from the University of Oslo  and Viking Ship Museum.