Selim I: Did you mean...?

When selecting the trunk, the Viking shipbuilder considered not only the main section for the long boards, but also the naturally curved parts in the crown, since these bends could be valuable for ribs...

The frames that formed the Viking ship’s internal skeleton were cut from naturally curved branches with an axe. Blows delivered parallel to the grain ensured these structural elements reached the strength...

Before felling, the tree’s diameter, length, and usable section were roughly calculated by the Viking shipbuilder. Since the pale outer sapwood would rot quickly and the irregular pith in the centre...

In Viking shipbuilding, instead of relying on a single ideal tree, a functional selection system was applied. Hardwoods such as oak were preferred for the keel, while lighter softwoods such as pine...

The broad-bladed axe was the Viking shipbuilder’s most important tool, and had been designed to turn oak logs into thin boards. Using these axes instead of a saw preserved the grain structure of the wood...

At this stage, the saw had almost disappeared from the process of Viking shipbuilding, and production relied mainly on cleaving and axe hewing. Ship planks were made by opening the log along the grain...

The split pieces were roughly shaped in the Viking timber yard, and the sapwood and pith were removed. The remaining core became stronger and more reliable timber for the clinker overlap. Charcoal...

The oak trunk about to be cut down was read by the Viking shipbuilder not only for its straightness but also for the degree of twist in its fibres. By looking at the bark, the builder could understand whether...

The Viking building tradition relied more on the shipbuilder’s eye than on an obsession with rulers. Correct proportions were established through memory and experience carried into the hand. Charcoal illustration...

Even a small Viking boat required hundreds of rivets, while a large Viking longship needed thousands. Shipbuilding, therefore, depended not only on carpentry but also on important iron production and an active...