Researchers Uncover Clues to Mysterious Origin of Famous Hjortspring Boat

Researchers uncover clues to mysterious origin of famous Hjortspring boat

A new study may bring scientists one step closer to uncovering the mysterious origin of the famous vessel known as the Hjortspring boat, unearthed in Scandinavia over 100 years ago.

New Thoughts on Denmark’s Ancient Hjortspring Boat - Archaeology Magazine

Caulking fragment with a fingerprint (left) and a high-resolution X-ray tomography scan of fingerprint region (right) COPENHAGEN, DENMARK—According to a statement released by the Public Library of Science, a new study of the 2,400-year-old Hjortspring boat, discovered with a cache of weapons in the early twentieth century on Denmark’s island of Als, suggests that it may have been constructed in the Baltic Sea region. First, Mikael Fauvelle of Lu…

How we unlocked the secrets of Denmark’s oldest plank boat – with the help of an ancient fingerprint

Vikings Heading for Land, by Frank Dicksee (1873). Christie's via WikimediaAround 2,400 years ago, before the emergence of the Roman empire, a small armada of boats approached the island of Als off the coast of southern Jutland in modern-day Denmark. The armada carried around 80 warriors armed with spears and shields. Some of them were officers, and these men carried iron swords. The seafarers had travelled across what is now the Baltic Sea in s…

Over 2,000-year-old Hjortspring boat study reveals Baltic origins and advanced seafaring long before the Viking Age

A new scientific study is now casting fresh light on one of Scandinavia’s most famous prehistoric vessels, moving researchers a significant step closer to solving the puzzle of the origin of the warriors who led a daring sea attack over 2,000 years ago. The Hjortspring boat is the oldest known preserved plank-built boat unearthed in […]