The Norwegian government has provided funding, as expected, to begin a long-anticipated excavation of the so-called Gjellestad Viking ship. Government minister Sveinung Rotevatn hopes work can begin in June.
The historic vessel was found in a farmer’s field near Halden in Southern Norway in October 2018, and signs of rot have hastened efforts to try to excavate and save it.
It remains unclear how much of the ship has actually been preserved under the ground for the past 1,200 years. The Norwegian government has earmarked NOK 15.6 million for the excavation in its revised state budget due to be presented on Tuesday. The project will be the first full-scale Viking ship excavation in Norway for around 100 years, Rotevatn said.
newsinenglish.no staff
