An archaeologist from Lund University has revived ancient Viking seafaring techniques by sailing along Norway’s coast using only technology available during the Viking era. The project, published in the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, sheds light on how Nordic sailors navigated rough northern waters and fills gaps about routes between major trading hubs.
For Thai readers, the story highlights how hands-on fieldwork can illuminate how early societies adapted to their environments. The Vikings, active from roughly 800 to 1050 CE, are celebrated for far-reaching sea journeys. While well-documented ports like Bergen, Trondheim, Ribe, and Dublin are known, the exact paths taken between these centers remain partly speculative. The in-between legs resemble Thailand’s own historic river trade networks, where safety and provisioning stops were essential.
To bridge this gap, the researchers conducted seven traditional Nordic clinker boat voyages along the Norwegian coast between September 2021 and July 2022. They carried out 15 sailing trials and two extended trips, totaling about 1,494 nautical miles. The team faced real-world challenges, including a snapped mainsail pole 25 kilometers from shore, which forced them to improvise with tied-together oars to stabilize the vessel.
A key aim was to identify potential havens—staging harbors that offered fresh water, protection from swells and winds, clear navigation sightlines, accessibility in low visibility, and space for multiple ships. The havens would ideally lie in transition zones between open coastlines and sheltered inlets, balancing safety with efficient travel.
Beyond on-the-water testing, the study incorporated digital reconstructions of Viking-era sea levels and reviewed historical sailing routes. This hybrid approach suggested four plausible harbor sites along the Norwegian coast. These are not definitive proofs of Viking activity but serve as starting points for future archaeological surveys.
The archaeologist emphasizes that often only the start and end points of Viking trade are known. The hypothesis is that a decentralized network of small-island and peninsula ports made trade more efficient during the Viking Age. This challenges the tendency to rely solely on textual or terrestrial evidence and demonstrates the value of embodied knowledge in reconstructing the past.
While direct archaeological finds remain essential, experiential research offers plausible scenarios to guide future fieldwork. The study clarifies that the focus is on broad trade and exploration routes, not military campaigns, underscoring the complexity of Viking maritime life.
For Thailand, the study resonates with regional maritime heritage. The Thai coastline hosts natural harbors and sheltered inlets that could have supported ancient seafaring and commerce. The movement of early Thai traders around the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea depended on understanding tides, weather, and resource availability. Experimental archaeology could similarly illuminate connections among Ayutthaya, Pattani, and broader Indian Ocean networks, enriching both local history and global maritime scholarship.
The researchers’ working haven list remains flexible, ready to evolve with new discoveries and refined models. The work signals a shift toward immersive, interdisciplinary archaeology that invites future scholars to “step into the boats” and learn from practical experience.
This approach invites Thai researchers and institutions to adopt similar methods, fostering hands-on learning for students and the public. Such engagement deepens appreciation for cultural resilience and ingenuity—qualities that echo in both Thai and Viking maritime traditions.
Looking ahead, integrating digital modeling, oral histories, and experimental voyages could transform public engagement and scholarly understanding of ancient sea networks. For Thailand, collaboration with Scandinavian experts and international maritime historians could enable comparative studies and reveal overlooked clues about our own littoral history.
For readers and educators seeking more, the full study appears in the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, with in-depth coverage available through credible science media outlets. The broader takeaway is clear: careful, evidence-based exploration of maritime history is both possible and valuable for shaping future research and education in Thailand.