Ancient Viking ship found buried just 20 inches below ground on Norwegian farm
A one thousand year old Viking ship has been found resting just twenty inches below ground on a farm in Norway.
It is estimated to measure about 66 feet long and appears to be largely intact.
Archaeologists using ground-penetrating radar also found what appears to be a number of graves suggesting the vessel was buried as part of a funeral ritual.
»Drømmefund«: Arkæologer finder vikingeskibsbegravelse i Norge
En norsk konservator kalder fundet en verdenssensationhttps://t.co/oQTp82HBNe#dkvid#dkforsk@DanishMuseums@NIKUnorway@CharlottePricePpic.twitter.com/jsbjU0eJFu- Videnskab.dk (@videnskabdk) October 17, 2018
The boat's physical condition is currently unknown, with one of the researchers commenting: "Yes, there was a boat there, but it's hard to say how much wood is left." To date, only three well-preserved Viking ships been found in Norway. The team is planning to conduct more non-invasive research but is unsure if an excavation will be conducted.
Project leader Lars Gustavsen, an archaeologist from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (Niku), told The Guardian: "The ship burial does not exist in isolation, but forms part of a cemetery which is clearly designed to display power and influence."