DK Eyewitness Books - Viking

40

Getting around

MȶȤȩȰȧȴȤȢȯȥȪȯȢȷȪȢ is rugged and mountainous.

The large forests, lakes, and marshes make traveling

difficult, especially in bad weather. Vikings went

everywhere they could by ship. Traveling overland was

often easiest in winter, when snow covered uneven ground

and the many rivers and lakes froze over. People got around

on sleds, skis, and skates. In deep snow, they wore

snowshoes. Large sleds were pulled by horses. To stop the

horses from slipping on the ice, smiths nailed iron

crampons (studs) to their hooves. In the summer, Vikings

rode, walked, or traveled in wagons pulled by horses or

oxen. Roads stuck to high land, to avoid difficult river

crossings. The first bridge in Scandinavia, a huge wooden

trestle, was built near Jelling in Denmark around 979,

probably on the orders of King Harald Bluetooth.

WELL GROOMED

A complete

wooden wagon

was found in the

Oseberg burial

ship (pp. 54–57).

It is the only one

known from

Viking times. The

surface is covered

in carvings,

including four

heads of Viking

men. The men

all have well-

groomed beards

and mustaches.

ICE LEGS
The word ski is Norwegian. Prehistoric rock carvings in
Norway show that people have been skiing there for at least
5,000 years. The Vikings definitely used skis, but only one
example has survived. Ice skates have been found all over the
north. The Vikings called them ice legs. They were made by
tying the leg bones of horses to the bottoms of leather boots.
The skater pushed him or herself along with a pointed iron
stick like a ski pole.

16th-century engraving of a

Swedish couple skiing with

single skis, as the Vikings did

A GOOD DEED

Christian Vikings thought

building roads and bridges

would help their souls go to

heaven. This roadway in

Täby, Sweden, was built by

Jarlabanke (p. 59). He

celebrated his good

deed by raising

four rune

stones.

HORSING AROUND

Vikings were fine

riders. This silver

figure of a horseman

comes from Birka

in Sweden. It

dates from the

10th century.

The rider is

wearing a

sword and

must be

a warrior.

SLED

This is one of

the three fine

sleds from the

Oseberg burial

ship (pp. 54–57).

The curved runners

are carved with

beautiful decoration.

Lashed on top is an open

box. Ferocious animal heads

snarl from the four corners.

Beech body decorated in iron

studs wit h tin-covered heads One of four carved animal heads

Curved oak runners

Bone ice skate from York, England