Nor-way! A Viking warship is found BURIED underground using ground penetrating radar scans in Scandinavia

  • Viking ship has been found underground near the Norwegian capital of Oslo 
  • Archaeologists say they have no immediate plan to unearth the warship  
  • The 50-foot long vessel was found using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) 
  • It was likely a 'shi burial' where ships are used as a final resting place for the dead

A Viking ship has been discovered buried underground near the Norwegian capital of Oslo. 

It is believed to be a burial site and was found using geo-radar, a method which uses ground-penetrating rays to create a 3D image of what lies underneath. 

Archaeologists say they have no immediate plan to unearth it, but they will be using non-invasive methods to find out more about it.  

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Georadar technology images of a burial site (pictured) featuring what seems to be a complete viking ship among the burial mounds (circled) in Borreparken in Vestfold, eastern Norway

Georadar technology images of a burial site (pictured) featuring what seems to be a complete viking ship among the burial mounds (circled) in Borreparken in Vestfold, eastern Norway

Vestfold county spokesman Terje Gansum said it was likely used as a 'shi burial', or underground ship burial.

He said: 'The GPR data clearly show the shape of a ship, and we can see weak traces of a circular depression around the vessel. 

'This could point to the existence of a mound that was later removed.'

This ancient tradition from the Scandinavian culture involved ships being used as a final resting place for the dead.

There are only seven ship burials dating from the Viking Age (800-1050) in Europe, including three located in Vestfold county. 

This discovery would be key in understanding the culture's rituals and was found in the Borre burial mounds, considered to be one of Norway's most important cultural heritage sites

Mr Gansum said Viking-era ships are always at least 15 meters (50 feet) long.

The find is next to a museum promoting the local area's Viking heritage and covers the Viking era, which spanned from approximately 793 to 1066.

It ended around the same time the civilisation failed to invade the UK prior to the battle of Hastings. 

An aerial view of a burial site featuring what seems to be a complete viking ship on a plain among the burial mounds in Borreparken in Vestfold, eastern Norway

An aerial view of a burial site featuring what seems to be a complete viking ship on a plain among the burial mounds in Borreparken in Vestfold, eastern Norway

Ggeoradar technology images of a burial site featuring what seems to be a complete viking ship. The ship is believed to originate from the Viking Age

Ggeoradar technology images of a burial site featuring what seems to be a complete viking ship. The ship is believed to originate from the Viking Age

Following the demise of English King Edward the Confessor, who had no children or apparent heir, saw several claimants fight for the throne. 

These included the eventual victor, William the Conqueror from Normandy and Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson. 

Harold II successfully beat off the invasion by Harald Hardrada of Norway, defeating him at Stamford Bridge near York in September 1066. 

The find is next to a museum promoting the local area's Viking heritage and covers the Viking era, which spanned from approximately 793 to 1066

The find is next to a museum promoting the local area's Viking heritage and covers the Viking era, which spanned from approximately 793 to 1066

WHAT WERE THE VIKING VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY?

The Vikings made many many voyages of discovery during their history, including stops across Europe and North America. 

789AD Vikings begin their attacks on England

840AD Viking settlers found the city of Dublin in Ireland

844AD Vikings raid Seville but are repulsed

860AD Rus Vikings attack Constantinople

866AD York is captured by a Viking army

870AD Vikings colonise Iceland

981AD Erik the Red discovers Greenland

986AD Bjarni Herjolfsson sights North America after being blown off course

1002AD Leif Ericsson, son of Erik the Red, explores the coast of North America, named them Karland, Helluland and Vinland

1492AD Italian explorer Christopher Columbus lands in the New World when he stumbles across the islands now known as The Bahamas 

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