Tim Osberg's Viking Ship Page

More than twenty years ago, a teaching colleague announced over lunch: "Osberg, I see your name in print." He held a sugar packet depicting a Viking Ship with the caption: The Oseberg Ship - A fine example of a Viking Longship. This launched me on a journey to discover not only the origins of my name but its intimate link to Viking history. Despite being proud of my Swedish ancestry (my great grandfather was a Swedish sea captain), my name derives from a small town in Norway (somewhere along the way my ancestors dropped an 'e'). The town of Oseberg was the site of the excavation of the Oseberg Ship, one of the few Viking Ships whose remains were reconstructed. The other is the Gokstad Ship. Buried along with the Oseberg Ship were numerous artifacts reflecting Viking art and culture. Of course, you know it was Leif Erickson, and not Columbus, who discovered America! See the Viking ship photos and links below to learn more about Viking Ships and the Vikings.

The Oseberg Ship - A Fine Example
of a Viking Longship
(Click on the image above to
access a larger image.)

Oseberg Ship Facts:
Excavated in 1904 in Oseberg, Vestfold County, Norway after being discovered by a farmer.
One of the two most complete Viking ships unearthed in Norway (the other being the Gokstad), it is 21.5 meters long (nearly 70 feet).
The Oseberg Ship burial, including bodies of two women, is considered the most richly furnished Scandinavian grave ever found. One of the women may have been the famous Queen Asa from which the name Oseberg derives: Asa's mound.
Items buried included an ornate cart, beds, sledges, wooden chests, riding equipment, and twelve horses.
Built in oak and contains 12 board planks and 15 oar ports on each side, indicating a crew of 35-40.
The stem and stern were decorated with ornate wood carvings, with the ship likely used for voyages in the fjords along the coasts of Norway by people of high rank.
The Oseberg/Gokstad finds were joined by the discovery of five Viking Ships buried in the Roskilde fjord near Skuldelev, Denmark in 1962.

Some Viking Ship Links:
The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway
Denmark's Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde
An Excellent Viking Ship Web Site
Jørn Løset's Viking Ship Page
British Columbia Viking Ship Project
The Viking Navy
Viking Ship ORM - Amazing Privately Built Oseberg Replica
Ride a Viking Ship Replica
Swedish Page Describing the Viking Age

Take a Quiz About the Vikings

UPDATE July 2000 - My Visit to the Viking Ship Museum

At long last, along with my family, I visited the Oseberg Ship in Oslo in July 2000! 
See Photos Below: