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King Haakon
divided coastal Norway into districts called "skipreide". Each district
had to provide for one or more Viking ships. The ship at Kinsarvik had
twenty-five thwarts, broad enough to accommodate four to to six men on
each. In addition there were a steerman, a cook, and armed sailors,
approximately one hundred and sixty men. According to tradition the
ship at Kinsarvik was called "Hardangergeita" (" The Hardanger
goat"). At present, the stone walled sites
of the boathouse are the only remains, possibly for two
Viking ships. The site was restored in 1953, and the excavation
revealed some iron nails and a slated floor in the south-eastern
corner. This might indicate a workshop inside the boat-house. The
importance of the leidang diminished during the fifteenth century, but
formally the arrangement persisted until 1628, when King Christian IV
organized the defence system according to European standards. Viewing the
fjord from Skiparstò, the majestic mountain of Oksen dominates
in the northwest. On the summit of Oksen there was a signal fire which
was set ablaze in case of threatening attacks. There were numerous such
beacons along the Norwegian coast and the fjords. When beacons were lit
from one lands end to the other it took about a week to give notice to
preparing for war.
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