Viking Hand Auger, 9th-11th Century

Rare and important Viking tool which enabled their daring sea voyages. Viking ships outperformed all others owing to their unique plank construction. The hull or €œskin€ was constructed of overlapping planks fastened together by €œrivet and rove€ construction: iron pins or rivets which pierced both overlapping planks and were peen locked with gussets. The hulls, then, were not built on the superstructure and were able to flex with, rather than resist rough seas. The hand auger was the tool that produced the hole for the rivet and rove. This one is about 7 1/4€ in length and a little over 1/2€ in width, the dimension of the bore hole. It is finely forged with an offset bit with beveled cutting edges. The butt end is curled, originally locking on a cross grip now perished. Excellent preservation and struck with a star mark, probably astrological. Museum worthy