Oseberg Sprang Loom

The Oseberg Sprang Loom

Construction photos of The Oseberg Sprang Loom

by Thatshim ( Gary Baker ) & Indunna ( Jenny Baker )

Background history on the Original Sprang Loom

In 1904 a remarkable archaeological site was uncovered at Oseberg, Norway.

It consisted of an astonishingly well-preserved Viking ship that contained the remains of two women along with a wide array of accompanying grave goods.

This vessel, which is widely celebrated as one of the finest finds of the Viking Age, had been buried within a large mound or haugr.

The burial mound measured approximately 40m long by 6.5m high and it completely covered the boat.

The conditions within the mound were particularly damp and this meant that the ship and its contents survived nearly intact.

The Ship under excavation

Professor Gabriel Gustafson and the crew. Photo: Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo/ Olaf Væring.

Excavation of the Oseberg ship in 1904. Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo/ Olaf Væring.

You can read more about the Excavation at The Story Begins

Centrally placed on the ship were the skeletons of two women whose remains had been placed in a specially built wooden tent.

One of the woman was in her eighties and this was reflected in the condition of her bones which showed that she had suffered badly from arthritis during her final years. The second woman was younger and had died in her early fifties .

The connection between the two women is unclear; it is possible that they were related or more sinisterly represent the remains of a noble woman interred with her sacrificed slave.

Indeed, some have speculated that one of the women may be Queen Åsa, the grandmother of Norway’s first king, although this remains unproven.

For a List of what was contained with in the Ship Grave By the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo/ Olaf Væring.

Museum photos of the Oseberg Sprang Loom

Original Archaeological report notes and Original Archaeological report Sketches – Oseberg Fundet - Vol II

Our Reconstruction of the Oseberg Sprang Loom

Project started on April 2012

Project Finished on - Construction time - 2 weeks - April 2012

Construction Materials Used:

• Wood used - Pine

Loom construction – Method used

• Turning of the bottom and top rails has been done on a home made wood lay which was rope driven with use of hand tools – saw, rasp, sand paper
• The holes in the side pole and foot have been done with a hand drill
• Cutting out of the Base have been done with a hand saw, chisel and power sander
• The Loom has been finished with a wipe over of Orange Oil
• Construction time - 2 weeks - April 2012

Shaping the Base

The shaping of the sprang loom foot base by chisel - this had to be done in 3 different planes / angles

It took a week to achieve this part of the construction

References:

The Kulturhistorisk museum - the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo

key search words : Osebergfunn = Oseberg Find

The Story Begins Excavation of the Oseberg ship in 1904. Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo/ Olaf Væring.

Oseberg Fundet, Vol. ii & Vol. III- Brogger and Schetelig,

http://archaeology.about.com/od/oterms/g/oseberg.htm