Oseberg Viking Heritage has received NOK 280.000 from Vestfold and Telemark County Counsel. The money are earmarked research into methods for woodworking during the period Viking Age – Black Death.
Our head boat builder Jan Vogt Knutsen will lead the project. Other participants are Professor Anders Quale Nyrud (Norwegian University of Life Sciences), Tore Forsberg (in charge of our work station in Sandefjord), and Terje Planke, (handicraft network at Norwegian museums).
Professor Nyrud will administer research, beginning with a pre-project defining research goals. One important goal will be to increase the number of planks from each tree trunk; oak, spruce or pine, as good materials are both expensive and difficult to find. Another intention is to learn how to judge the tree while still standing, its quality and how it should be split into boards.
The commercial value of the project lies in better use of resources and increased efficiency. There is also considerable value in saving and maintaining buildings and objects of high cultural interest.“Research and imparting of knowledge lie well within our defined vision,” says board chairman Einar Chr. Erlingsen at The Oseberg Viking Heritage Foundation. He adds: “We are both proud and grateful that our County Counsel gives us the opportunity to perform more research into this extremely interesting field within Norwegian cultural heritage.”
