The Viking Ship Museum ( da, Vikingeskibsmuseet) in Roskilde is Denmark's national ship museum for ships of the

prehistoric Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use of ...

and medieval period. The main focus of the museum is a permanent exhibition of the Skuldelev ships, five original Viking ships excavated nearby in 1962. The Viking Ship Museum also conducts research and educates researchers in the fields of

maritime history Maritime history is the study of human interaction with and activity at sea. It covers a broad thematic element of history that often uses a global approach, although national and regional histories remain predominant. As an academic subject, it ...

, marine archaeology and experimental archaeology. Various academic conferences are held here and there is a research library in association with the museum.

Original Viking ships

View of Viking Ship Museum from Roskilde Fjord

Around the year 1070, five Viking ships were deliberately sunk at Skuldelev in Roskilde Fjord in order to block the most important fairway and to protect Roskilde from an enemy attack from the sea. These ships, later known as the Skuldelev ships, were excavated in 1962. They turned out to be five different types of ships ranging from cargo ships to ships of war. The Viking Ship Museum overlooking the inlet of Roskilde Fjord was built in 1969 with the main purpose of exhibiting the five newly discovered Skuldelev ships. The original Skuldelev Viking ships are the main focus of the museum, but a small exhibition about the Roskilde ships and various temporary exhibitions with a broader scope can also be experienced here.

Roskilde ships

In the late 1990s, excavations for the shipyard expansion of the Viking Ship Museum uncovered the remains of a further nine ships, the ''Roskilde ships'', from the medieval period. It is the largest discovery of prehistoric ships in

Northern Europe The northern region of Europe has several definitions. A restrictive definition may describe Northern Europe as being roughly north of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, which is about 54th parallel north, 54°N, or may be based on other g ...

. Most of these are from the period just after the Viking Age, 1060-1350 AD, but ' is from 1025 AD and is the longest Viking ship ever found; about long. All except ''Roskilde 8'' have been excavated and their remains are at the National Museum of Denmark (''Roskilde 6'' on display, remaining in storage).

Reconstructed Viking ships and historical boats

Viking ship museum Roskilde Denmark 201172962

The Viking Ship Museum has a long tradition of Viking ship reconstructions and boat building and also collects boats of interest from all over Scandinavia. The boat collection at the museum now comprise more than 40 vessels and the associated ship building yard is constantly building new ships by original methods as part an experimental archaeology learning process. It is possible to follow or engage in the ship building process here. The shipyard is located on a small isle known as ''Museumsøen'' (Museum Island), connected to the main museum exhibition buildings by a drawbridge. Every summer, a handful of boats are launched for extended sea voyages to accumulate more knowledge about the seafaring techniques and conditions of the Vikings.

Gallery

Vikingeskibsmuseet 15.jpg, A look down the halls. Viking-ship at roskilde-museum, denmark.JPG, Silhouette of an original Viking ship. Vikingeskibsmuseet 12.jpg, Small scale replicas. Bridge-to-the-Viking-Ship-Museum-Roskilde-island.jpg, The bridge to the shipyard of ''Museumsøen''. Vikingeskibsmuseet 3.jpg, The reconstruction of ''Skuldelev 5'' (1991). Roskilde 020.JPG, Boat building at the workshops. RoskildeVikingWorkshop.jpg, Preservation of archaeological remains. Roskilde 012.JPG, Fullscale navigable reconstructions of original ships are built at ''Museumsøen''.

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