A 2,300-year-old war canoe deliberately sunk with weapons from 80-100 warriors. The defeated army's equipment was sacrificed to the victors' gods. It's the oldest plank-built boat in Scandinavia.
Knud Winckelmann, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
An Iron Age Sacrifice
In a peat bog on the Danish island of Als, turf cutters in the 1880s uncovered the remains of an ancient vessel. Formal excavations between 1921 and 1922 revealed the Hjortspring Boat, a sophisticated war canoe from the Pre-Roman Iron Age. Radiocarbon dating of lime bast cordage used in its construction places the boat's sinking between 381 and 161 BCE. This is the oldest preserved plank-built boat ever found in Scandinavia.
The boat's construction demonstrates advanced woodworking skill. It measures over 19 meters long and 2 meters wide, yet weighs only an estimated 530 kilograms. The hull consists of five planks of linden wood, with a single plank forming the bottom and keel. These were not held by metal rivets, but meticulously "sewn" together with cords of lime bark. Hazel limbs form the ribs, which are lashed to cleats carved directly into the planks. This technique created a light and portable watercraft. With a crew of around 24 men, the boat could be easily carried and was ideally suited for navigating shallow waters.
The Arsenal of a Lost Army
The Hjortspring Boat was not empty when discovered. It contained a large votive offering: the complete military equipment of a defeated invading force. The find included 138 iron spearheads, 31 spearheads made of bone or antler, 11 single-edged iron swords, and the remains of several chainmail coats. One of the iron spearheads measures 43.5 centimeters long.
Alongside the offensive weapons was a collection of defensive gear, primarily 131 Celtic-type shields with their associated bosses. The quantity of weapons suggests a force of 80 to 100 warriors, meaning the Hjortspring Boat was likely part of an attacking fleet of four or five similar vessels. Before being deposited in the bog, which was then a lake, many of the weapons were deliberately broken, bent, or otherwise destroyed. This ritual destruction was a common practice for sacrifices in Iron Age Europe. Beneath the boat, archaeologists also found the dismembered remains of a horse, a lamb, a calf, and two dogs, completing the offering to the victorious islanders' gods.
💡Fun Facts
The boat was propelled exclusively by paddles, with no evidence of a mast or sail.
Chemical analysis of the pitch used to waterproof the boat shows it was made from pine resin, which was not common in Denmark at the time, suggesting the boat was built elsewhere in the Baltic region.
A partial human fingerprint, left by one of the boat's builders or users, was found preserved in a fragment of the caulking material.
The boat's distinct double-prow design is similar to ship images seen in Scandinavian rock carvings dating back to the Bronze Age.
Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. Closed on Mondays. Hours may vary seasonally.
Admission
The preserved remains of the Hjortspring Boat are on display at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. Admission for adults is 150 DKK; visitors under 18 enter for free.
Accessibility
The National Museum of Denmark is fully wheelchair accessible.
