Sewer shock: 1,300-year-old Viking ship fragment discovered during suburban excavation

Workers were taken aback after discovering a 1,300-year-old fragment from a Viking ship during a drainage excavation project in the Netherlands.

The employees had been replacing a sewer system in Wijk bij Duurstede when they discovered a wooden beam protruding from the pavement, Jam Press reported.

While it initially appeared to be an ordinary piece of timber, volunteer and amateur archaeologist Danny van Basten recognized the significance of the artifact and flagged the find to experts.

Specialists from maritime foundation Stichting Beheer Vikingschip and Museum Dorestad arrived to inspect the piece, which measured 10 feet in length and sported cut notches, shaping marks and other worked surfaces indicative of shipbuilding methods.

The features suggested it could be part of a ship’s frame, according to shipbuilder Kees Sterrenburg.

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