A marine archeologist from the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark, has invented a new method of digitally documenting the depths of holes found in ship timber.
The research is part of ongoing work at the museum, which has an active boatyard and is heavily involved in Viking Age shipbuilding research.
Critical knowledge
The marine archeologist Mikkel Thomsen recently revealed the technique in a report from the museum.
"If we have a hole that does not go all the way through the wood, you cannot see the depth or direction of the hole on a digital scan," Mikkel commented.
"That's why we've invented this little gadget to put into the hole we're investigating."
The instrument, which Thomsen assembled from bicycle wheel spokes, hearing plugs, a small wooden bead, and a glue gun, is inserted into the hole to help gauge its size and depth.
"We know that the length to the center of the small wooden bead is 140 mm," he explained. "That way, we can digitally project a line into the hole and document both the direction and depth of the hole."
"That knowledge can sometimes be critical. If you are in doubt about which of the two planks was sitting in a certain place on a ship, for example, the direction of the holes should be able to indicate fairly accurately which plank had a nail that fit right into the hole."
Indeed, precision is essential in both research into ships and reconstructions, where it is vital to have the right dimensions to produce an exact replica of the vessel in question.
Using a tool crafted from bicycle parts and a bead, Thomsen has developed a way to digitally project the depth of holes found in ship timbers. Source: Viking Ship Museum
A detailed project
Currently, many of the marine archeologists at the Viking Ship Museum are working on documenting the two shipwrecks, Svælget 1 and Svælget 2, which were lifted off the seabed close to Copenhagen Harbor in 2023.
Neither of the two boats is actually from the Viking Age – the first is a 19th-century cargo ship, and the second has been dated to approximately 1329.
At the same time, the restoration techniques and rebuilding work are closely connected to the work on the famous Skuldelev Viking ships housed at the museum.
Indeed, the museum has also shared an update on their reconstruction of Skuldelev 5.
The first three planks for the decking of the replica Viking warship have now been fitted, and the team is working on shaping the ribs of the ship.
The ribs are made from naturally curved oak branches that have been specially selected to match the original design of the ship.
The design for the new replica ship is largely based on cutting-edge digital reconstructions that have been completed by experts at the museum.
- READ MORE: All you need to know about Viking ships
Combining a simple tool with digital scanning, Thomsen can project the depth of holes in ship timber to ensure accurate reconstruction. Source: Viking Ship Museum
A fountain of knowledge
Marine archeology involves the study of how past cultures interacted with the world's oceans, lakes, and river systems and the interpretation of historical artifacts found in water.
Just like shipbuilding itself, it is a highly challenging profession. Analyzing a ship, particularly with a view to recreation, is a hugely complex puzzle that often needs to be solved with many of the original pieces missing.
Marine archeologists from the Viking Ship Museum recently attended an international workshop in Wales to discuss the methodologies they have been applying in their work, including Mikkel Thomsen's innovative diagnostic technique.
Visitors to the museum can also follow the work of the marine archeologists on the two shipwrecks in person by visiting the on-site Marine Archeologists Workshop.
Location: Viking Ship Museum, Vindeboder 12, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
Opening hours: Summer season (May 1 to October 20): 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Winter season (October 21 to April 30): 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Admission: Summer: Adults: 160 DKK, Family ticket: 300 DKK. Winter: Adults: 125 DKK, Family ticket: 230 DKK. Children under 18: Free.
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