The story

The Gislinge boat is not a warship, but an everyday boat – a working tool for people in the 1100th century. The boat was used for fishing and transport and probably transported people, animals and goods along the fjords. With its carrying capacity of around one ton, the boat could carry several people and animals, making it ideal for trade and daily transport. The discovery of the boat gives us a unique insight into life in the transition between the Viking Age and the Middle Ages.

The Gislinge boat shows clear signs of many years of use – it is worn, repaired and reinforced with patches, which testifies to its value to its owners. The boat was not deliberately sunk, but was probably left on the shore of the fjord or wrecked, where it slowly sank in the shallow water and became covered with sand and gytje (mud).

The boat's construction harks back to the craft traditions of Viking ships, but it also has details that point towards medieval boat types. In its own way, the Gislinge boat is both the last Viking ship and the first medieval ship.