Viking Navigation: How They Sailed Without GPS
The journey of the Vikings to unknown lands like Vinland was not guided by GPS, but rather by ancient navigation techniques and their intimate understanding of the sea and the sky.
Understanding the Stars and the Ocean
The Vikings were known for their daring and extensive maritime journeys. To navigate their boats across the open seas, they relied on a combination of celestial bodies, wind patterns, and instinct.
One of the primary navigation tools was the stars. At night, the Vikings would use the North Star to guide their direction. During daytime voyages, they utilized the sun's position. By observing the sun's movement, they could navigate with incredible accuracy.
Coastal Navigation Techniques
Since their boats had a shallow draft, Vikings often stayed close to the shoreline for safety. However, they still managed to venture into the open seas by using a series of landmarks and navigation techniques.
Westbound Ocean Travel: The Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland
From their starting points along the Norwegian coast, Vikings could travel westbound to the Faroe Islands, then to Iceland, and finally to Greenland. To ensure they stayed on course, they would regularly check their bearings by observing the sun each noon or the stars at night.
Accidental discoveries were not uncommon. For example, Vikings might have landed in Vinland without intentionally seeking it out. By sailing due west, they might have found this new land by mistake, guided not by a preconceived itinerary, but by the stars and the flow of their journey.
Return Journeys: Navigating Eastwards
For the return journey, Vikings would simply sail due east. Even by mistake, they would eventually hit land they were familiar with due to their regular travel patterns.
Additional Tools and Strategies
While the sun and stars were fundamental, Vikings also had other tools at their disposal. For instance, loadstones, or early magnetic compasses, allowed them to determine direction on cloudy days. Polarising crystals were used to determine the position of the sun when it was obscured.
Combining Ancient Techniques with Modern Insights
Like all true seafarers, Vikings used a combination of sun, stars, wind, waves, and primitive tools like loadstones. They likely had a basic understanding of how fast they were traveling and the duration of their voyages.
Even when setting out on long exploratory journeys, only a small percentage of Vikings were involved. However, their skills in navigation were widely known and relied upon by their fellow sailors. These techniques allowed them to navigate not only the seas, but also the unknown territories they discovered.
Compared to modern humans who used similar methods for thousands of years, before GPS became a pivotal tool just a few decades ago, the Vikings' navigation methods were rooted in the ancient wisdom of observing celestial bodies and understanding oceanic patterns.
These same principles can be observed even today in the practice of traditional navigation, inspiring a renewed appreciation for ancient knowledge in the face of technological advancements.