FOUND VIKING AGE 1300 YEAR OLD SKIS
Photo: Oppland County Authority. Viking Iron Age Ski c. 714 - Ski 172 cm (69 in) long and 14.5 cm (5.7 in) wide
With every passing year melting snow on the worlds glaciers reveal archaeological discoveries formally hidden from view. Alpine conditions wonderfully preserve these antiquities with curator admiration. A few days ago in the Oppland region of Norway, skis from the 8th century were discovered! Photoed is archaeologist Runar Hole with the 1300 year old ski; C14-dated.
Photo: Oppland County Authority. Viking Iron Age Ski c. 714 - Detail of the binding plate and lacing
Upon examination you will notice that the binding; a simple leather and wicker strap, sits on a raised platform in the middle of the ski. Typically ancient skis were used primarily for hunting and traveling long distances. They are usually found with up turned or rockered tips at both ends similar to our present day 'twin tip' skis. Oral tradition states the reason for twin tips was utilitarian at best...no jibbers in the Iron Age skiing switch. Twin tips of this era were constructed in case a ski tip broke mid trip; apparently this happened with regularity. The skier would simply unlace his binding, turn the ski around, lace up and ski on. Simplicity and practicality in every respect.
Also discovered near the ski, dating a bit earlier is a Viking arrow (photoed below). This one dates a bit earlier but is an example of the type of hunting weapons used in these high alpine regions. C-14 dating approximates close to 6000 years old.
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