Sailing Knots Used by Vikings

General Discussion
1

I will admit my complete lack of knowledge of knots at the beginning. So please any mistakes in terminiology or etiquette. I am trying to research what knots would have been used by the Vikings for tying ropes on sailing ships. I wonder whether anybody can help at all. Thankyou very much in advance. ???

2

Hi Andrew,

This probably won’t help a great deal, but I happen to be researching the Viking sun compass at the moment, and came across this site on it: http://etimage.com/index.htm

I haven’t fully explored it yet, but as the guy is clearly into Viking navigation, he may have some useful links.

3

ps - http://www.swordforum.com/ have a forum for re-enactment people. They might have someone who can help you. Also, have you tried the town of Lerwick, in the Shetland Isles? Upphellya was not long ago. The Jarls should have some idea of resources, if not any actual idea of knots. Emailing some of the main Scandinavian museums direct should also get some results. Apparently the biggest Viking longboat yet discovered has tree-rings which correspond not to Norway, but to Belfast, Ireland!

4

I have heard, (if I remember right,) that the common sailing knots in use the beginning of the last century where mostly the same as those found on almost all wrecked sailing ships from about all over the world.

So I would say that the sheetbend, bowline, reefknot, figure of 8 knot and some splices are likely to have been in use in Viking times. (But read, this is a guess, no knowledge.)

To see these knots, and learn to tie them, Animated Knots by Grog | Learn how to tie knots with step-by-step animation is a good site.
If you want a book with pictures and explanation on many knots from the before nylon periode, try to download this book. The Project Gutenberg eBook of Knots, Splices and Rope Work, by A. Hyatt Verrill

Willeke

5

Hi!
Try ( Those links were “in stock” on my HD and I just cheched they are still valid )
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~eowyn/Longship/viking.nav.html
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~eowyn/Longship/

http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/nalebind.html

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF8/865.html
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF8/
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/

http://www.angelfire.com/on/Wodensharrow/heathentime.html
http://www.angelfire.com/on/Wodensharrow/

http://www.polarization.com/viking/viking.html

Hope that will help you.

Cheers