Interpreting archaeological boat material, the G1 boat of the Gokstad find

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7577/formakademisk.5485

Keywords:

Waterlogged archaeological wood, viking age, model building, Boat building, 3-D materials, Gokstad find

Abstract

We will discuss the limitation of cardboard as a material for reconstruction models, and whether an alter­­native material could be helpful to overcome these limitations. We have experimented with 3D-print­ed plastic and ways to reduce the longitudinal high edge stiffness, to get around what we think is the main weakness using cardboard. The goal has been to open the possibilities of interpretation. The end result of the tests has been used to build a 1:5 reconstruction model, for our interpretation of the 10m boat from the Gokstad find (G1) from late 800’s. We found that the use of 3D-printed plastic, with a designed internal weakness, gives us more longitudinal flexibility in the model. This flexibility opens up for interpretations that are less feasible when using cardboard.

Author Biographies

Svein Erik Øya, Norwegian Maritime Museum

Water Engineer/Boatbuilder

 

Lars Stålegård, Norwegian Maritime Museum

Boatbuilder

References

Andersen, E., Crumlin-Pedersen, O., Vadstrup, S. & Winner, M., (1997). Roar Ege. Skuldelev 3 skibet som arkæologisk eksperiment [Roar Ege. The Skuldelev 3 ship as an archaeological experiment]. Vikingskibshallen i Roskilde.

Bishoff, V. (2019). Rekonstruksjon af Osebergskipet [Reconstruction of the Oseberg ship][PhD thesis, Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademis Skoler for Arkitektur, Design og Konservering]. https://adk.elsevierpure.com/da/publications/rekonstruktion-af-osebergskibet-form-konstruktion-og-funktion

Planke, T., & Stålegård, L. (2014). Barcode 6 fra vrak til rekonstruksjon. En utlegging av resultater og metoder [Barcode 6 from wreck to reconstruction. An exposition of results and methods]. In E.S. Koren & F. Kvalø (Eds.) Hundre år over og under vann. Kapitler om maritim historie og arkeologi i anledning. Norsk Maritimt Museums hundreårsjubileum [A hundred years above and below water. Chapters on maritime history and archeology on occasion. The Norwegian Maritime Museum's centenary]. Novus forlag. https://www.academia.edu/7828665/Barcode_6_fra_vrak_til_rekonstruksjon_En_utlegging_av_resultater_og_metoder_Planke_og_St%C3%A5leg%C3%A5rd

Planke, T., Øya, S. E., & Heide, E. (2022). The Third Gokstad Boat: The Documentation and Context of a Viking Age Boat. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 50(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/10572414.2021.2014720

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Published

2023-09-20

How to Cite

Øya, S. E., & Stålegård, L. (2023). Interpreting archaeological boat material, the G1 boat of the Gokstad find . FormAkademisk, 16(4). https://doi.org/10.7577/formakademisk.5485

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