VIKING Backpack from Gokstad | Viking Tutorial | Viking Bushcraft - Viking Crafts (Ep. 3)

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See full description for information on the Gokstad Backpack, my tools and gear. Feel free to ask questions in comments and I will answer. And please let me know what you think of this video.

This video is my interpretation of a viking age backpack based on two wooden boards found in the Gokstad Viking Burial. The 2 boards are oval in shape (aprox. 46cm long and 19cm wide) and contains several simple carvings. One depicting a dog and a horse resembling a hunting scene suggesting it was a backpack used for hunting. This is discussed further in the link below.

The lower board has a series of parallel small holes around the edge at around an inch apart indicating that something was attached to it. But both boards has bigger
elongated holes in matching position suggesting a strap system. Only the boards were preserved for present time so everything in between is my interpretation. The relatively wide spacing of the smaller holes suggests birch bark or thin wooden panels because too many holes will weaken the bark unlike leather or fabric. I have added a hazel twig reinforcement along with spruce root bindings for structural support. My trees didn't provide bark in decent quality but luckily I had a small stash put aside.

I drill the holes by starting the holes with se sizes of awls and then proceed to use my drill device. I make all the holes before shaping the boards with my axe. The carving is made by first cutting along the line in a slight angle from one direction. Then carving the same line in the opposite angle from the other direction resulting in a tiny V shaped cut.

Its tricky to sew in birch bark. Pull too tight or have too many holes next to each other and it will crack or split. Therefor I use long stitches in a zig zag pattern or in two levels. I use 2 layers for the main structure and reinforce the edges and seams with strips of bark as well.

The strap system runs on both inside and outside of the backpack to make sure that all pull wear and tear is on the wooden boards and not the more fragile birch bark. The backpack is surprisingly sturdy and really lightweight.

The split spruce roots are soaked in water for at least one day and become very pliable and rope like. Perfect for bindings. The hazel twigs are heated over fire to soften the fibres and slowly bended into shape and set to dry on the lower boards fixing them in the right oval shape. They are left to dry for a few days.

Tools used:
Viking carving axe (made by Kim Holm Andreasen The Dragon Smith. Handle by me.
Several different carving knives (not made by me).
The auger drill for birch sap is of modern make (sorry).
Awls and my interpretation/guess of a viking age drill device.
Something similar is found in iron from Staraya Ladoga - this is very speculative though.
Small set of forges pliers, a bone hair pin for extending holdes (and munching sausage)
Small drill bit for hand use.
linen thread and beeswax and linseed oil.
Small antler (and wood) clamps from Haithabu.
Piece of red deer antler for digging for roots.
The plane is not based on viking age - only the plane iron. The sole/block is merely my imagination and does not resemble found wooden plane parts from viking age.

Materials:
Wooden boards from oak and beech (originals in oak)
Birch bark and sap harvested from my own trees.
Spruce roots and hazel twigs and straps of leather.

Personal gear:
Shoes from Haithabu.
Nail bound socks, hat and wrist warmers.
Woolen Thorsberg pants dyed with walnut.
Linen tunic.
Woolen Skjoldehamm Tunic dyed with reeds for green and onion peels for yellow.

Everything handmade, hand stitched, dyed and crafted by me unless otherwise stated.

Music: Gjallar by Alexander Nakarade - Open Source

A PDF article discussing the Gokstad possible backpack is availible on this link (in Norwegian only) https://www.duo.uio.no/handle/10852/3...