What is a Kaårv ?
Both sides of my family come from European descent. My wife's from Ireland and mine from Sweden, Ireland and Germany. Like many kids growing up, I enjoyed Viking heritage and their imagined way of life. Their helmets, beards, and long swords were inspiring. Plunder also had a nice ring to it. Not many images embody the Viking spirit more than the longboats that were used as warships, merchant vessels, and for enjoyment. This style of Viking ship - called a Kaårv - was found near Oslo, Norway in 1905. It dates to AD 800 and was the burial site of a Viking noble woman, probably a Queen. Other burial finds included three dogs, an ox, and an ornately-carved wagon. Imagining Vikings rowing vessels like this across oceans, it seems that success then - like today - requires a similar mindset. Leverage your strengths. Work as a team. The ship is preserved today in the Viking Museum outside of Oslo. Courtesy of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University www.nautarch.tamu.edu |