Workers were surprised to uncover remnants from a Viking ship, dating back 1,300 years, while digging a drainage ditch in the Netherlands.
According to reports, the crew was in the process of upgrading the sewage system in Wijk Vij Durstede when they spotted a wooden beam emerging from the sidewalk.
Initially, it seemed like just an ordinary piece of wood. However, amateur archaeologist Danny van Basten recognized its significance and promptly informed experts about his find.
Experts from the Maritime Foundation Stichting Vejer Vikingchip and the Drestad Museum quickly arrived to investigate the fragment. Measuring around 10 feet long, the beam displayed notches, molding marks, and other textures indicative of Viking shipbuilding techniques.
Shipbuilder Keith Stellenberg suggested that the beam might have belonged to the ship’s frame.
Based on its positioning and nearby pottery pieces, researchers speculated that the beam originated from the Carolingian period (approximately 700-800 AD). This era was marked by the growth of medieval trade routes and the rise of Scandinavian power.
During the Carolingian period, the Frankish king Charlemagne and his heirs expanded their influence throughout Western and Central Europe, particularly in regions like Gaul, Germany, and Italy.
Furthermore, rivers like the Rhine during this time were crucial for trade, especially connecting ancient centers like Dresstad, where Wijk-by-Durstede is situated. This area thrived as a hub linking France with Scandinavian and North Sea trade routes.
Researchers also noted that these beams could be linked to heightened Viking activity, as Norse raiders often traded with or even attacked Carolingian settlements.
Another theory suggests that the discovery may belong to a cogship, a type of medieval trading vessel, which would imply a later date of around 1,300 AD.
City archaeologist and research leader Anne de Hoop mentioned that to pinpoint the wood’s origin, cleaning and tree ring analysis will be necessary, a process that may take several months.
This discovery isn’t an isolated incident that could impact archaeology. Earlier in the month, independent researcher Steve Dickinson claimed to have found a Viking ship burial site believed to house the tomb of Ivar the Boneless, a Viking leader who passed away around 873 AD.
“If my theory holds, this would be unprecedented—no Viking ship burial has been found in Britain until now,” he remarked.
