To maintain this
flexibility, the hull of some ships was fixed to the main timber frame with ties rather than nails. Viking ships were pointed at each end and wide in the middle, this often meant that they could sail in relatively shallow waters. To date no sail has survived intact but we have much pictorial evidence that they bore a square sail. Modern reconstruction’s prove that this is a fast and manoeuvrable
combination and if wind was lacking most ships carried oars, also useful for close handling. |