The Viking Ship

Description

The Viking ship is one of the most iconic images of the Vikings and the longship in particular has been central to our understanding of the Viking Age. The Vikings used their shipbuilding skills to command the sea and their famous ships permittedthe exploration, colonization and the raids for which they are best known. This book explores the evolution of their sea-going vessels and celebrates this outstanding feature of the Viking Age. In addition to well-known ships such as the spectacular burials from Gokstad and Osebergin southern Norway, The Viking Ship features the newly-conserved longship Roskilde 6 from Denmark. Measuring over 37 metres, this is the longest Viking ship to have been discovered to date. From Viking Age coins, brooches and graffiti, to the use of the Viking ship on contemporary banknotes, labelling and logos as a symbol of national and cultural identity, this book includes a surprising range of objects that have helped to shape our understanding of the Vikings and their ships. With over 50 illustrations.

Gareth Williams is Curator of Early Medieval Coins and of the exhibition Vikings: life and legend at the British Museum, London. He is the author of various titles including Vikings in Britain and Ireland (with Jayne Carroll and Stephen Harrison), Early Anglo-Saxon Coins, Treasures from Sutton Hoo and The Vale of York Hoard (with Barry Ager).