Viking Shipbuilding

Viking shipbuilding was a highly skilled craft originating in Scandinavia during the Viking Age. Builders used techniques like overlapping wooden planks (clinker construction) to create strong, flexible hulls that could handle rough seas. The ships were designed for speed, agility, and long voyages, featuring a shallow draft allowing navigation in rivers and open oceans. Craftsmanship involved selecting quality timber, precise joinery, and waterproofing to ensure durability. These ships enabled Vikings to explore, trade, raid, and establish settlements across Europe, North Africa, and beyond, reflecting sophisticated engineering and maritime expertise of their time.