Digitization Model of the Hjortspring Canoe Model

Raymond Phipps
Historical Context
The Hjortspring Boat is a Scandinavian Pre-Roman Iron Age canoe that was excavated in the 1920s from a bog in Southern Denmark. This canoe is one of the oldest known vessels in northern Europe. It is nearly 20 meters longs and 2 meters at the midship, while having an estimated weight of 530 kilos. The construction of the canoe consists of 5 planks, 4 making up the sides and a central plank down the middle. These planks are were made from lime wood and sewn together with plant fibers. There are 10 thwarts in the interior of the canoe that can support 24 people with provisions. At the bow and stern, there are wooden blocks that support double protrusions that likely served as handles to carry the canoe and to break through waves.
Digital Inking of the Hjortspring Boat

Figure 1: To scale plan view of digital inking

Figure 2: To scale sheer view of digital inking

Scale Drawing of Hjortspring Boat
Figure 3: To scale line drawing of Hjortspring with plan and sheer views. Scale is 1:1
Sketch Drawing of Hjortspring

Figure 4: Sketched sheer and plan view of Hjortspring with labels
Hjortspring Sheer View Scantlings | |
Base Line | Off Sets |
0 | 5.9 |
0 | 6.6 |
3.4 | 4 |
3.4 | 5.7 |
6.7 | 2.7 |
6.7 | 4.8 |
10 | 1.1 |
10 | 4.6 |
15 | 1.3 |
15 | 3.9 |
17 | 0.6 |
17 | 3.6 |
20 | 0.4 |
20 | 3.4 |
25 | 0.1 |
25 | 2.9 |
30 | 0 |
30 | 2.4 |
35 | 0 |
35 | 2.3 |
40 | 0 |
40 | 2.5 |
45 | 0.1 |
45 | 2.7 |
50 | 0.4 |
50 | 3.2 |
55 | 0.8 |
55 | 3.7 |
60 | 1.2 |
60 | 4.5 |
62.5 | 2.1 |
62.5 | 4.8 |
65 | 3.2 |
65 | 5.7 |
71 | 5.2 |
71 | 8.6 |
0 | 6.1 |
0.5 | 7.4 |
3.3 | 4.4 |
3.4 | 5.6 |
7 | 3.4 |
7.1 | 4.4 |
11.5 | 3 |
16 | 2.2 |
21 | 1.6 |
26 | 1.3 |
31 | 1 |
36 | 0.8 |
41 | 0.9 |
46 | 1 |
51 | 1.4 |
56 | 2 |
58.5 | 2.4 |
63.5 | 4.7 |
63.2 | 4.4 |
66.2 | 4.3 |
66 | 5.1 |
67 | 4.4 |
66.8 | 5.5 |
71 | 8.1 |
70.8 | 8.5 |
Hjortspring Plan View Scantlings | |
Base Line | Off Sets |
0 | 0.5 |
5 | 0.5 |
10 | 2 |
18 | 4.5 |
22 | 5.8 |
29.5 | 7 |
33 | 7.5 |
37 | 7.5 |
41.5 | 7.1 |
45 | 6.9 |
49 | 6 |
52.5 | 4.3 |
60 | 2.2 |
64 | 0.8 |
71 | 0.5 |
Plan, Sheer, and Bow/Stern Photos with Labels

Figure 5: Plan View of Hjortspring

Figure 6: Sheer View Hjortspring

Figure 7: Bow/Stern View Hjortspring