1,200-Year-Old Viking Ships Take Last, Riskiest Journey in Norway

Three of Norway’s most treasured Viking ships — the Oseberg, Gokstad, and Tune — are embarking on their most dangerous journey yet, not across oceans, but across a museum floor.

These 1,200-year-old vessels, discovered in burial mounds between 1867 and 1904, are considered priceless artifacts of Viking exploration and craftsmanship.

On Wednesday, the Oseberg became the first to be relocated, inching just 100 meters to a newly built, climate-controlled facility designed to ensure its preservation for the next century.

Suspended in a steel rig and moved by crane at less than 10 inches per minute, the 10-hour operation was fraught with risk, as even the slightest vibration could splinter the fragile oak planks.

Experts say the longships were central to Viking dominance of the seas, enabling exploration as far as Iceland and Greenland.

Once completed in 2027, the new museum will showcase the ships under conditions that protect them from humidity, vibrations, and decay, securing their place as symbols of Viking heritage for generations to come.