Viking Ships Arguably the greatest achievement of the Vikings was their boat and shipbuilding. The Vikings were not the
first people to build ships but they did build the best ships anyone had made up to that time. The longship is part of the popular image of the Vikings today but there were many different types of boat for different purposes. so far no two boats have been found that are the same. There are some characteristics that make Viking boats distinctive. The hull is made up of overlapping planks of wood
that are held together with iron rivets. This construction is both strong and flexible, qualities necessary for ocean going vessels. |