#Maritimeheritage

In a breakthrough experiment combining archaeology and adventure, a Lund University archaeologist has rekindled centuries-old Viking maritime practices by sailing along the Norwegian coast using only technology available during the Viking Age. The research, recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, illuminates how the formidable Scandinavian sailors may have navigated the unpredictable waters of northern Europe, filling in critical gaps about their journeys between well-known trading centers.

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.