Swedish archaeologist Greer Jarrett, currently a doctoral student at Lund University, has undertaken a remarkable three-year expedition to study Viking maritime navigation by sailing a replica of a Viking boat over 3,100 miles across the Arctic Ocean, tracing the historical trade routes of the Viking Age. This journey, which mirrors the seafaring methods of Norse explorers from over a millennium ago, has given Jarrett new insights into the complex network of harbors and maritime trade that characterized Viking exploration during the 9th to 11th centuries.
Throughout his voyage, Jarrett identified four potential Viking harbors along Norway’s coast, suggesting that Viking seafarers likely utilized a decentralized network of ports, often located on islands and peninsulas, to facilitate trade and travel. This network would have allowed Vikings to establish efficient trading routes across the North Atlantic, supporting commerce with regions as far as Britain, Ireland, and the Byzantine Empire. According to Jarrett’s analysis, these ports would have been critical for maintaining logistical continuity, especially in the absence of modern navigational tools.
Jarrett’s research highlights the Viking era’s reliance on local, accessible harbors that could be navigated efficiently under varying wind conditions. By sailing on a reconstructed wooden boat, he recreated the challenges faced by Viking sailors, including the need to adapt to unpredictable weather and oceanic currents. One of the expedition’s most notable challenges occurred when the mast spar of his boat broke while he was 15 miles at sea, forcing the team to lash together two oars to temporarily stabilize the sail and return to the nearest harbor.
Other unexpected discoveries included encounters with a minke whale during one of his voyages, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the sea. Jarrett also noted the importance of human relationships in Viking-era seafaring, emphasizing that cooperation among crew members was essential to overcome the physical and environmental obstacles of long-distance travel. His experiences have provided valuable context for understanding how Viking navigators maintained communication and coordination across vast distances.
As part of his research, Jarrett’s findings contribute to a broader understanding of Norse exploration and the Viking Age’s economic and cultural reach. Recent discoveries, such as the 1,000-year-old Viking ‘wallet’ found by metal detectorists and the unusual Christian-infused Viking grave uncovered in Sweden, further reflect the complexity and diversity of Viking society. Jarrett’s work, therefore, situates within a growing body of archaeological evidence that reshapes our perception of Viking maritime networks and their significance in shaping the medieval world.