Eastern Norway » The Viking Ship Museum

The best preserved Viking ships ever found are on display at the Viking Ship Museum. These ships were discovered in three large burial mounds where they had been buried to serve as vessels for their rich owners’ final journey to the realm of the dead. The Ships were built before 900 AD.

The OSEBERG SHIP was built around 820 AD and was used as a burial ship for a powerful woman and her maidservant in 834 AD. The GOKSTAD SHIP was built around 890 AD and used as a burial ship for a chieftain around 900 AD. Many of the grave gifts found in the burial mounds are on display in the Viking Ship Museum. The only surviving wagon from the Viking Age can be seen, as well as sledges, small boats and the very special animal head posts. Viking Age textiles of wool and silk from the Oseberg ship are on show in a separate room.