Viking ships
The Vikings were brilliant ship builders. Their ships were strong, lightweight and beautifully shaped to skim quickly through the water. Warships and raiding ships were designed to come right up on the beach so that men could jump out and start fighting straight away.
The ships were built of wood and made waterproof with tar from pine trees. The square sails were made of woven wool and were often brightly coloured. When the wind was wrong for sailing, they were rowed by teams of oarsmen. Many ships were decorated with carvings on their curved ends.
Viking sailors found their way by the sun, the stars, the direction of the wind, and by looking for familiar landmarks.
