Editing Longship (section)

===Timber===
Analysis of timber samples from Viking long boats shows that a variety of timbers were used, but there was strong preference for [[Oak#Uses|oak]], a tree associated with [[Thor]] in Viking mythology. Oak is a heavy, durable timber that can be easily worked by adze and axe when green (wet/unseasoned). Generally large and prestigious ships were made from oak. Other timber used were [[Fraxinus|ash]], [[Elm#Wood|elm]], [[pine]], [[spruce]] and [[larch]]. Spruce is light and seems to have been more common in later designs for internal hull battens (stringers). Although it is used for spars in modern times there is as yet no evidence the Vikings used spruce for masts. All timber was used unseasoned. The bark was removed by a [[bark spud|bark spade]]. This consisted of a {{convert|1.2|m|ft|adj=mid|long}} wooden handle with a T crossbar at the upper end, fitted with a broad chisel-like cutting edge of iron. The cutting edge was {{convert|60|mm|in|abbr=in}} wide and {{convert|80|mm|in|abbr=in}} long with a {{convert|120|mm|in|adj=mid|long}} neck where the handle was inserted. It appears that in cold winters wood work stopped and partly completed timber work was buried in mud to prevent it drying out. Timber was worked with iron [[adze]]s and [[axe]]s. Most of the smoothing was done with a [[Broadaxe|side axe]]. Other tools used in woodwork were [[hammer]]s, [[wedge]]s, [[drawknife|drawknives]], [[plane (tool)|planes]] and [[saw]]s. Iron saws were probably very rare. The [[Domesday Book]] in England (1086&nbsp;AD) records only 13 saws. Possibly these were [[pit saw]]s and it is uncertain if they were used in longship construction.