Tilia Alsie

Tilia Alsie was built by volunteers in the guild, Hjortspringbådens Laug, as a full-scale replica of the Hjortspring Boat found during peat digging in 1888 and excavated by the National Museum in 1921-22 on the island of Als.

It is a war canoe paddled by a crew of 22 warriors. The boat is 18 metres long and 2 metres wide. It weighs 550 kg and is built from planks of lime wood sewn together with lime bast.

The replica, which was launched in Dyvig on 5 June 1999, is named Tilia Alsie (the Latin words for lime and the island of Als) and the boat has become a bit of a film star, as it has been featured in historical TV documentaries for Norwegian, Swedish and Danish TV channels.

For larger groups, lectures on the history of the boat can be organised, for prices and booking contact K.V. Valbjørn, pr@hjortspring.dk or by phone (+45) 74 45 15 83 or (+45) 42 77 03 88.

The original boat, believed to have been sacrificed to the gods in 350 BC, can be seen today at the National Museum in Copenhagen.