BUILDING OF A SHIP. 



171 



Though several centuries had probably elapsed l>et,\veen 

 the construction of the Nydam and that of the Tune and 

 Gokstad boats, we find the same principle of construction and 

 of joining the planks by rivets used in each case. 



The clinch nails here represented were discovered not far 

 from Upsala, in the decayed remains of a small ship buried in 

 the Ultima mound. They were from H to 2 inches in length, 

 and still remained in their places, holding the planks together. 

 The exact size of the vessel could not be ascertained, as the 

 mound had been disturbed before the systematic researches by 

 competent authorities had been undertaken. There were 

 besides a double-edited sword with hilt of gilt bronze, with 





Fig. 996. ^ real size. Fig. 997. real size. 



Rivets or clinch nails for ships. 



fragments of its wooden scabbard, a bundle of 19 arrow-points, 

 ) dice, 36 checkers, parts of two horses, skeleton on the prow 

 of the ship, and a gridiron, etc., etc. 



The following passages are the only ones in the whole 

 literature of the North which describe the . building of a 

 ship : 



" Next winter, after King Olaf came from Halogaland. 

 he had a large ship built at llladhamrar; it was far larger 

 than the other ships in the country, and the stocks on 

 which it was built may still be seen (in Snorri's time). 

 It was 148 feet long, touching the grass (i.e., at the keel). 

 Thorberg Skafhogg (blow-scraper) was stem-smith (made 

 stem and stern) for the ship; many others were engaged 

 in the work, some to fell trees, others to shape wood, others 

 to nail, others to carry wood. Everything used was most 

 carefully selected. The ship was long and broad, with high 

 gunwales and large timbers. While the bulwarks were 



