1886.] PROCEEDmOS OF UNITED STA.TES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 455 



The rudder had a lixed position soiuewiiat before the stern-post on 

 the right side of tlie vessel. The helm consisted of a plank in the 

 shape of a broad oar, the lower portion of which, in the middle, was 

 provided with a round hole, through which it was fastened to the side 

 of the boat by means of a rope, while its short round upper neck was 

 caught by a grummet. A small aperture in the opposite direction of 

 the blade was made for the tiller in the upper part of the neck. The 

 rudder was mounted with iron,^ to which one or more cramps were 

 added down towards the heel of the rudder. 



The mast^ is set in an opening made in a large block of oak fixed 

 above the mid-frames of the vessel; over this is a large grooved block 

 to admit the beams. The aperture extended at the same breadth a 

 considerable distance sternward in order to facilitate the raising and 

 lowering. In the fore it is supported against a projecting knot of the 

 wood, so that there is a space between the mast and the side of the slot 

 in the mast-block. 



The most recent excavation of Viking naval architecture, 



THE GOKSTAD SHIP, 



(See Plate xix.) 



was made in 1880, by Mr. Ni col ay sen, president of the Norwegian Arch- 

 aeological Society, at G-okstad, near the town of Sandefjord, west of the 

 mouth of the Kristiauia fjord, and a short distance from the head of 

 a small frith. This ship, fully described by Mr. Mcolaysen,^ as well as 

 that from Tune, belongs to the Archaeological Museum of the Royal 

 Frederiks University at Kristiania, and of the same I now give the 

 description, verbatim, as obtained while viewing these interesting relics 

 on occasion of a recent visit to Norway. 



The ship measures 07 feet along the keel and 79 feet 4 inches from 

 bow to stern (extreme measure); the width amidships is 17 feet; and 

 its depth amidships, from keel to top of bulwark, 4 feet. 



The ship is entirely of oak, clinker-built, the boards connected with 

 iron nails and the seams caulked with oakum made of cow's hair spun 

 into three-stranded cord. The connection of the plank with the frames 

 is effected in the same peculiar manner as in the Tune ship. In the top 

 sid^s only have nail fastenings been used, part of wood and part of 

 iron ; elsewhere the plank and frames are tied together through holes in 

 the under side of the latter and corresponding holes in cleats which 

 project from the planking. The cleats and the plank are in one piece 

 In this vessel the plank is fastened to the frames with ties made of the 



iBergens Bylov, ix, p. 18. (cfr. Nicolaysen, Laugskibet, p. 19.) 

 'Skillings Magazin, 1867, p.717. (cfr. Nicolaysen, Langskibet, p. 20.) 

 ^ The Vikiug ship, discovered at Gokstad, in Norway. With a map, 10 engravings, 

 and 13 plates ; 88 p., 4°. Kristiania, Alb. Cammermeyer, 1882, Lan gski bet fra Gok- 

 stad ved Sandefjord. Beskrevet af N. Nicolaysen. Med 1 Kort 10 Trtesnit og 13 

 Plancher. Kristiania, Alb. Cammermeyer, 1882. 



