In the Hjortspring find, many different parts were found that could not be attributed to being part of the boat or its armament, but probably as tools for use in the boat.
We have made copies of some of these. These parts are labelled with a museum number, such as #564 (wooden club).
Other parts have been necessary to have in the boat for our own safety.
The parts we have made copies of are described here.
A more detailed description of some of the parts can be found in the section: Find descriptions.
Tools / equipment for use in the boat
Parts from the Hjortspring find
Photo: Ib Stolberg-Rohr.
Photo: Ib Stolberg-Rohr.
It's so cleverly made that the handle fits perfectly over the rowing bench, as shown in the picture below.
Photo: Ib Stolberg-Rohr.
Cylindrical head made of oak with a diameter of 95 mm and a length of 100 mm, the two edges slightly bevelled. The shaft is made of ash wood, with a diameter of 25 mm, it is 255 mm long outside the club head and goes all the way through it. The shaft is turned inside the head and secured with a wedge.
Foto: Ib Stolberg-Rohr.
Photo: H.P. Rasmussen.
This tool is made from apricot wood - it should have been light coloured hardwood, but the other was available and almost grown to the right shape.
The tool is 290 mm in length and 30 mm in diameter at the centre.
‘The ‘bone’ at one end has a 13 mm hole in the face, this hole has wear marks - from a string? - on two edges and there is a Ø3 mm hole perpendicular to the large one and tangential to it at the outer edge.
In the strong curve at the other end of the tool, there is a Ø5 mm hole from the centre of the curve to the centre of the end face. The tool has a very smooth surface and is oiled (because it looks nice!).
The only use we've found for this tool is as a cord tensioner, as shown in the bottom image. This only utilises the largest hole in the tool. It hasn't been used since we came up with one that was simpler and faster to use.
No-one has been able to give a sensible explanation of what the tool can be used for
Additions we've needed to sail safely in our close waters
- Bottom plug. Not found, but necessary for us.
- Poles, 2 pcs. with large bottom plate, necessary for sailing in the muddy waters of Nordborg Lake. There are markings for water depth
- Boat hook. We use it to be able to dock at a jetty
- Mooring lines, 4 pcs. for the same reason as above, but also to secure the boat at a beach
- Throwline with monkey fist. Sometimes we need to have a tugboat and this is a good thing to have
- Towing rope with towing boom for mounting at the 10th thwart. The towing rope has a crowfoot that is assembled under the keel horn
- We have occasionally used a borrowed anchor
- Life jackets for everyone on board, donated by Trygfonden. Thank you very much!
- Rudder stick extension to make it possible to sit on the stern thwart to steer the boat with the rudder mounted on the aft keel horn - later decommissioned
Spare parts
In the find, there were parts that could not be attributed to being part of the boat, for example:
- Long ash wood list. It is interpreted as a list to repair a possible crack in the boat. One was already used to close a crack.
- A strand of lime bast cord, 3-stranded. Can be used to repair a broken seam or to sew the above list to a plank. (4)
- Lump of resin mass, 75x60x35 mm (5)
- Bundles of cords. (6)
This article was put together by Ib Stolberg-Rohr, feel free to write if you have any comments.
Notes and references
1. G. Rosenberg, Fig. 38, p. 66
2. G. Rosenberg, Fig. 35, p. 64, tekst p. 65
3. G. Rosenberg, Fig. 35, p. 64, tekst, p. 66
4. G. Rosenberg, Fig. 36, p. 64, tekst, p. 66
5. G. Rosenberg, p. 62
6. G. Rosenberg, Fig. 36, p. 64, tekst p. 62