"In 1903, on a farm in southeastern Norway, a once-in-a-lifetime discovery emerged from within a large yet unassuming mound in a field. When the spot was excavated in 1904, the mound revealed an entire Viking longship that had been interred in its entirety as a burial containing the remains of two women, several animals, and a wide array of elaborately decorated objects."
"Nestled deep in the wet earth, the wood was remarkably preserved for more than 1,000 years, although much of it was crushed and degraded. Initial restoration efforts of the Oseberg took more than 20 years, and experts tried to preserve as much of the structure as possible through the use of oils and resin to prevent the wood from crumbling. Today, around 90 percent of the ship's composition is original, making it the best-preserved example in the world."
The Oseberg Viking Ship was discovered in 1903 on a southeastern Norway farm and excavated in 1904, revealing a complete longship burial with two women, animals, and ornate objects. The vessel dates to about 820 and was buried around 834. Reconstructions indicate the ship was seaworthy rather than built solely for burial, a practice for high-status individuals. Buried in wet earth, much of the wood survived over a millennium, though parts were crushed and degraded. Early restorations lasted over 20 years using oils and resin to stabilize the wood. About 90 percent of the original ship remains. Conservation concerns and museum construction prompted encasing the ship in a 50-ton steel frame and relocating it to a new permanent home, with similar plans for the Gokstad and Tune ships.
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