Selim I: Did you mean...?

For the clinker planks for a Viking ship, the tree was split radially from the centre outward. Unlike a saw, this process did not cut the fibres and preserved the natural strength of the wood. This first intervention with the axe formed the...

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 needed to carry the clinker hull...

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 would not be fully useful either, a larger-than-needed...

Before the overlap surfaces were closed on a Viking ship, a tarred three-ply wool cord was placed between them. Once compressed, this fibrous filler both closed the gap and made the entry of water more difficult, and the first and most elegant...

In the Viking timber yard, the logs were divided into halves, then quarters, then eighths, and then into even smaller sections. The goal was to cut fibres with a saw, but to open the wood along its natural direction and obtain a plank core...

In clinker Viking ships, branches and trunk junctions with natural curves were vital for making frames without cutting the fibres. This search for curved timber required extensive scanning within the forest and directly affected the durability...

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 forge. Charcoal illustration...

As the rough boards were prepared, it became clear which pieces would serve for the Viking ship's keel, the strakes, and the internal frame. The timber yard was not only a storage area but also the first place where the ship’s wooden parts...

When the logs for a Viking ship reached the shipyard or timber yard, they were sorted by quality and intended use. At this early stage, builders had already decided which trunks would serve for the keel, the planking, or the interior parts...

The edges where the planks overlapped on a Viking ship were not left random. The contact surfaces, called the land, were carefully shaped, and even if they were not perfectly smooth, the seating line and the water sealing geometry were preserved...