Skuldelev ships
The Skuldelev ships is a term used for 5 Viking ships recovered from Peberrenden by Skuldelev, c. 20 km north of Roskilde in Denmark. The remains of the ships were excavated over a 4 month period in 1962. The recovered pieces, which constitute 5 different types of ships and have been dated to the 11th century, provide a good source for the ship-building traditions of the late Viking period. The ships are today exhibited at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde.
Skuldelev 1
Skuldelev 1 is a sturdy sea-going cargo-vessel possibly of the longship type. It is 16 m long and 4.8 m wide and would have had a crew of 6-8. The ship, which is built from pine and oak, was constructed in western Sweden, and has seen repairs in eastern Denmark.
Skuldelev 2
Skuldelev 2 is an oak-built, sea-going warship, a longship, possibly of the skeid type. It is approximately 30 m long and 3.8 m wide, and would have had a crew of 70-80. The ship was built in the Dublin area around 1042. The shape of the ship would have allowed for great speed, up to 15 knots with a rowing crew of 60 and higher under sail. It is one of the longest viking-ship ever found.
A reconstruction of this ship: The Sea Stallion from Glendalough has been built by the Vikingship Museum in Roskilde and will sail back to Dublin during the summer of 2007 (arriving on the 14th of August).
Skuldelev 3
The Skuldelev 3 is a 14 m long and 3.3 m wide cargo ship, possibly of the byrding type. It is made from oak, and was constructed somewhere in Denmark. It would have been well-suited to shorter journeys in Danish waters and the Baltic Sea, it would have held a crew of 5-6 and could reach a top-speed of 8.5 knots under sail.
Skuldelev 5
Skuldelev 5 is a small warship of the snekke type. It is 17.3 m long and 2.5 m wide and would have had a crew of about 30. It is made from oak, pine and ash, and was built in the Roskilde area. The ship was purpose-built for sailing in Danish waters and the Baltic Sea, and the top speed would have been about 6 knots.
Skuldelev 6
The Skuldelev 6 is a 11.2 m long and 2.5 m wide cargo and fishing-vessel of the ferja type. It was built in Sognefjorden in western Norway, and is mainly built from pine. It would have had a crew of 12-14.