The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-01-12
The VIKING AND His SHIP
BY AXEL N. RAHM

mains OF sixth bed of slightly differ
ent shape. 1t is doubtful whether the
stem Of the ship has had any special
ornaments, it may, however be taken
for granted that there had not been q
dragons head or such like. The dragon
ships described in the sagas written
several centuries later, were OF larger
dimensions than this vessel, although
probably of similar build. The gang
plank was there. 1t has hole in one
end by which it was fastened to the ship
and it is also provided with steps cut
into it. The planks Of the ship are
beautifully planed and rounded off on
the edges. The vessel throughout exhi-
bits an extremely skilful workmanship,
proving the highly advanced knowledge
Of shipbuilding attained by the ancient
Scandinavians.
The vessel could not have been very
old when buried in the mound as the
openings for the oars do not show traces
OF having been very much used.
During the excavations were found
bones alongside the ship Of at least IL
horses and six dogs, which animals evil
IDENTIFY had been killed in order to follow
their mater into the mound. In the
forehold OF the ship were also found
fragments Of three smaller boats, but
in so many pieces that none OF them
could be put together and yet so numer.
ons that correct idea may be formed
OF their build. They show in this res
pect great conformity TO the vessel itself
the deviations being such as arise from
the difference in size. Pieces OF the
ships oars and a few perfect ones, and
also oars for the smaller boats were
found. The oars Of the ship were from
II to 20 feet long, made of spruce and
had evidently been handled by one
person as the blades are rather small.
Wooden plates and fragments Of other
wooden utensils, large copper kettle
and the chain by which it had been sus-
pended when hung over the fire we're
found inside the ship. Various articles
were found in the sepulchral chamber,
OF which may be mentioned pieces Of
gold-wrought silk, some dark woollen
stuff, partly decayed leather purse,
ornaments and harness mountings OF
gilt bronze and of lead, some feathers OF
peacock probably brought home from
foreign parts by the owner. In glass
case may be seen the bones of the buried
chief, also found in the sepulchral cham
Der and from the size of these bones it
may be concluded that he was q very
tall, powerfully built man.
In conclusion | will add few words
in regard to the manner in which the
burial is supposed to have taken place.
When the man was dead and a spot for
his mound had been chosen near the sea,
his ship was drawn by his horses upon
the beach and then imbeded partly in
the potter's clay with the stem Of the yes.
sci toward the sea. The next thing was
to make the sepulchral chamber which
was built of timbers, whereupon the
mast OF the ship was cut off on level
with ii and the man put into the cham
Der, lying on his bed, dressed in his
best clothes, with his weapons and pos
sibly some other valuable possessions.
Then the sepulchral chamber was
closed 9nd, covered with birch bark,
Besides the ships inventory certain OF
the mans possessions, which, according
to the ancient Scandinavian cult, were
considered necessary for his comfort and
rank in Wallhalla, were also placed in
the ship. His horses and dogs were
killed and placed alongside, only his
peacock, memento Of his foreign trav-
els, had place in the ship itself.
Then the whole OF the ship, except
the sepulchral chamber was covered
with potter's clay with layers OF moss
and twigs on top,upon which the mound
was raised. The metallic ornaments
discovered have determined archaeolo-
gsts to fix the time of the burial at the
9th century. At this teriod burial in
a ship or boat was no uncommon occur
renee.
1t has been found in many mounds,
when opened, that the dead man, ,wheth-
er cremated or not, had been placed
in mound in vessel, the latter,
however, being completely or mostly
decayed except this onI at Gokstad and
one other, but much smaller boat found
at Tune. In both these mounds the pot
ter's clay had preserved the woodwork.
Who the buried man was is not known,
but the size OF the mound and the un.
usual grandeur OF the burial proves him
to have been man of distinction,
chief AxRL N. RAHM.