Havhingsten - the Sea-stallion
Inspired by this great post by @everittdmickey I got to think of the experimental longship built by the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, that travelled from Denmark to Dublin in 2007. I know one of the crew, but I think that he signed on after the trip to Dublin. I found this BBC-documentary that follows the trip in great detail.
Below you can see another documentary... in Danish... which shows how the ship was build with original tools. The most important things to know is that the wood is cleaved to follow the ores of the wood, making a much stronger keel and planks, and that all the nails are made by hand by this guy: Aage smed If you do not understand Danish you will have to skip all the interviews and enjoy the fine ax-craftmanship. But for woodworkers with (or others) with specific questions, please ask, and I will try to translate or find the answer.
Images from the Viking ship museum. (see link above)
It was very impressive that they rebuilt the ship completely with the methods and tools from 1000 years ago.
Yes, it is an incredible project. They began in the eighties first reconstructing the small trade-wessel called Skuldelev 5 with modern tools. Then they tried with axes, and realised that they worked just as fast, and made a much better boat.
I remember watching it as a child on television. All these red-bearded hippies constructing something the same way red-bearded Vikings had done 1000 years before. I can remember the excitement I felt with this strange craftman connection to the world of old.