Oseberg Ship

The Oseberg Ship was discovered in a large burial mound at the Oseberg farm near Tønsberg, in Vestfold county, Norway. It was excavated in 1904 by Norwegian archaeologists Gabriel Gustafson and Haakon Shetelig. The site is located right by the Oslofjord.

The ship contained the skeletal remains of two women, indicating they were of extremely high status. One was an older woman, likely in her fifties or sixties, and the other was younger. Based on the lavish grave goods, scholars believe the older woman may have been a powerful queen or a high-ranking völva (seeress).

The Oseberg Ship was built in the early 9th century, around the year 820 CE. The burial itself took place a few decades later, in the year 834 CE. It is one of the finest and most well-preserved Viking Age artifacts ever discovered.

The fully restored Oseberg Ship is currently on display at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway. The museum sits on the Bygdøy peninsula and houses the ship along with its surviving wooden carts, beds, and intricately carved sleighs. It is considered the centerpiece of Norway's national Viking history collection.