by Michael Haskew
Without the use of their fine longships that carried the Vikings along narrow rivers and across the open seas, the era of Norse expansion could not have occurred. The designs of the remarkably seaworthy longships, built in several configurations, shared common attributes. They were shallow draft vessels constructed in the clinker style, meaning that their wooden planks overlapped one another while rope soaked in tar was wedged between the planks for a watertight seal.
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Characteristically, the longships were often adorned with curved prows, sometimes with finely carved spirals or images of dragons or other creatures. The length and beam of a longship varied depending on its primary purpose, ranging from trade and fishing to raiding, warfare, and extended exploration. Although Viking shipbuilders are believed to have preferred oak, other timber such as ash or pine was also used.
The 1904 Discovery
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