Museum Vestsjælland participates in a research group that receives 4,5 million kroner from the Augustinus Foundation for research into sustainable preservation of Viking ships.
Old oak structures, such as Viking ships, give us important knowledge about Denmark's past and create a physical connection to the people who lived at that time.
Therefore, it is important to be able to preserve finds of old oak, and a recognized method is to put the wood in water. As long as it lies there, it will be fine. When it is taken up, it requires conservation and a stable surrounding climate to last.
It is very energy-intensive to control the climate in the museums where the ships are stored, so it is important to know exactly how sensitive the preserved wood is to changes in temperature and humidity.
Over the next four years, a team of researchers will analyze original Viking ships, including the Gislinge Boat, which is on display at Holbæk Museum, to investigate how the condition of the wood and the preservation method affect its durability when we change the ambient climate in the museums.
The purpose is to assess to what extent the museums' strict climate recommendations can be relaxed without compromising the long-term preservation of the exhibited objects. The results will form the basis for new, energy-saving climate recommendations that ensure sustainable collection care of the museums' Viking ships and at the same time that our cultural heritage is there for the future.
The project is a collaboration between the Royal Academy's Institute of Conservation, the National Museum, the University of Copenhagen, the Viking Ship Museum and Museum Vestsjælland.
Research coordinator Jonas Abkjær Andersen, Museum Vestsjælland, says: "The wood from which the Gislinge boat is made gives us today a direct insight into the techniques and skills of the boat builders of the time. We are therefore looking forward to the new research project, which will give us even more knowledge about how we can best preserve this unique cultural heritage."
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