The Tradition of Shipbuilding in Northern Europe before the Viking Age
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52575/2687-0967-2025-52-4-801-807Keywords:
shipbuilding, Northern Europe, the Bronze Age, “shell-first”, “frame-first”, archaeological findsAbstract
The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of shipbuilding in Northern Europe from the Bronze Age to the Early Middle Ages, drawing on key archaeological finds like the Dover and Ferriby boats, the Brigg remains, Romano-Celtic vessels, and the Hjortspring warship. It meticulously traces the technological
development from simple logboats to sophisticated sewn-plank and expanded-bottom constructions, demonstrating how environmental constraints, woodworking innovations, and intensive cross-regional contacts across the North Sea drove technological change. Special attention is given to the complex coexistence and interaction of shell-first, frame-first, and hybrid building methods, as well as to the critical gradual adoption of iron fastenings and purpose-shaped planks. Through a detailed analysis of hull forms, construction sequences, and functional roles, the study convincingly argues that advanced shipbuilding was fundamental to socioeconomic mobility, long-distance trade, and military prowess in the region. Ultimately, the article posits that these multifaceted early maritime traditions created an indispensable technological and cultural foundation, which not only enabled the rise of advanced Scandinavian seafaring but catalyzed the widespread maritime expansion of the Viking Age
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Crumlin-Pedersen O. 2006. The Dover Boat – a Reconstruction Case-Study. In: International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. 35(1): 58–71.
Lillie M. 2005. Deconstructing Reconstruction: The Bronze Age Sewn Plank Boats from North Ferriby, River Humber, England, UK and their Context. In: Journal of Wetland Archaeology. 5: 97–109.
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McGrail S. 1981. The Brigg «Raft» and her Prehistoric Environment. BAR British Series 89. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.
Millet M., McGrail S. 1987. The Archaeology of the Hasholme Logboat. In: The Archaeological Journal. 144: 69–155.
Nayling N., McGrail S. 2001. The Barland’s Farm Romano-Celtic Boat. CBA Research Report 138. York: Council for British Archaeology.
Roberts O.T.P. 1992. The Brigg «raft» reassessed as a round bilge Bronze Age boat. In: The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. 21(3): 245–258.
Van de Moortel A. 2003. A New Look at the Utrecht Ship. In: Boats, Ships and Shipyards. C. Beltrame (ed.). Oxford: Oxbow Books: 183–189.
Van de Noort R. 2004a. An Ancient Seascape: The Social Context of Seafaring in the Early Bronze Age. In: World Archaeology. 35(3): 404–415.
Van de Noort R. 2004b. The Humber, its Sewn-Plank Boats, their Contexts and the Significance of it all. In: The Dover Bronze Age Boat in Context. P. Clark (ed.). Oxford: Oxbow Books: 90–98.
Wright E. 1990. The Ferriby Boats. Seacraft of the Bronze Age. London: Routledge.
Khlevov A.A. 2016. The Ship in the Culture of the Scandinavian Bronze Age: A Geographical Aspect. In: Society. Environment. Development. (1): 65–69 (in Russian).
Clark P. (ed.) 2004a. The Dover Bronze Age Boat. London: English Heritage.
Clark P. (ed.) 2004b. The Dover Bronze Age Boat in Context. Society and Water Transport in Prehistoric Europe. Oxford: Oxbow Books.
Crumlin-Pedersen O., Trakadas A. (eds.) 2003. Hjortspring: A Pre-Roman Iron-Age Warship in Context. Ships and Boats of the North 5. Roskilde: Viking Ship Museum.
Crumlin-Pedersen O. 2003. The Hjortspring Boat in a Ship-Archaeological Context. In: Hjortspring: A Pre-Roman Iron-Age Warship in Context. O. Crumlin-Pedersen, A. Trakadas (eds.). Roskilde: Viking Ship Museum: 209–233.
Crumlin-Pedersen O. 2010. Archaeology and the Sea in Scandinavia and Britain. Roskilde: Viking Ship Museum.
Crumlin-Pedersen O. 2006. The Dover Boat – a Reconstruction Case-Study. In: International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. 35(1): 58–71.
Lillie M. 2005. Deconstructing Reconstruction: The Bronze Age Sewn Plank Boats from North Ferriby, River Humber, England, UK and their Context. In: Journal of Wetland Archaeology. 5: 97–109.
McCaughan M. 2008. Irish Vernacular Boats. In: Traditional Boats of Ireland: History, Folklore and Construction. C. Mac Cárthaigh (ed.). Cork: Collins Press: 3–11.
McGrail S. 1981. The Brigg «Raft» and her Prehistoric Environment. BAR British Series 89. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.
Millet M., McGrail S. 1987. The Archaeology of the Hasholme Logboat. In: The Archaeological Journal. 144: 69–155.
Nayling N., McGrail S. 2001. The Barland’s Farm Romano-Celtic Boat. CBA Research Report 138. York: Council for British Archaeology.
Roberts O.T.P. 1992. The Brigg «raft» reassessed as a round bilge Bronze Age boat. In: The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. 21(3): 245–258.
Van de Moortel A. 2003. A New Look at the Utrecht Ship. In: Boats, Ships and Shipyards. C. Beltrame (ed.). Oxford: Oxbow Books: 183–189.
Van de Noort R. 2004a. An Ancient Seascape: The Social Context of Seafaring in the Early Bronze Age. In: World Archaeology. 35(3): 404–415.
Van de Noort R. 2004b. The Humber, its Sewn-Plank Boats, their Contexts and the Significance of it all. In: The Dover Bronze Age Boat in Context. P. Clark (ed.). Oxford: Oxbow Books: 90–98.
Wright E. 1990. The Ferriby Boats. Seacraft of the Bronze Age. London: Routledge.
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