Displayed in the museum located on the Bygdøy Peninsula are three Viking burial vessels that were excavated near the Oslofjord. One of the ships, the Oseberg, dates back to the 9th century. The Oseberg, shown below, was built around 815-820 A.D. and used as a sailing vessel for many years before it was used as a burial ship for a prominent woman who died in 834. The woman was placed in the burial chamber in the aft section of the ship. Next to her lay the body of another woman, possibly a servant, as well as her most valuable possessions. Under the ship was a bed of blue clay, while the mound itself was built up of turf. This clay preserved the ship for over 1000 years.
Finds in royal burial mounds in the Oslo fjord were unique treasures such as wagons, horses and especially textiles which are seldom preserved from the Viking age, now on exhibit at the museum.
Our knowledge of daily life in the Viking Age comes mainly from archaeological finds. The graves contained not only jewellery, weapons and vehicle tools, but also other tools and household goods. These finds are exhibited in the museum.
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