The enigmatic world of the Bronze Age, with its remarkable cultural and technological advances, continues to surprise modern scholars, shedding light on the ingenuity of ancient civilizations. A groundbreaking study published in PLOS One has suggested that people living in Bronze Age-era Denmark may have been capable of traveling directly to Norway across more than 100 kilometers of open sea. This intriguing possibility challenges previously held assumptions that ancient seafarers only followed coastal routes, revealing that they might have ventured boldly into the open ocean. This study, led by Boel Bengtsson and her team from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, opens new doors to understanding how ancient peoples navigated the waters of northern Europe.
A Shared Cultural Landscape
The Bronze Age cultures of Scandinavia—specifically what is now northern Denmark and southwestern Norway—share striking similarities in their material culture. Archaeological evidence points to common themes in the artifacts found in both regions, including pottery, tools, and weapons, as well as similar burial practices and architectural styles. These cultural markers suggest that the two regions were not isolated from each other, and cultural exchange likely occurred across the waters.
It’s widely accepted that ancient people would have used coastal routes to travel, possibly relying on a complex network of waterways and estuaries that connected Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The 700-kilometer coastal route, which extended from northern Denmark up the coast of Sweden and down into southwestern Norway, would have offered safer passage through familiar, sheltered waters. This maritime corridor likely facilitated trade, cultural exchange, and the movement of people across these regions.
However, this study raises an exciting new question: Could the people of the Bronze Age have traveled not just along the coastlines but also directly across the open sea, linking Denmark and Norway via a 100-plus kilometer stretch of open water?
The Modeling Revolution: Simulating Ancient Seafaring
To investigate this intriguing question, the research team developed a cutting-edge computer modeling tool that integrates a variety of environmental factors, including wind, sea currents, and the way boats interact with the water. This new tool allows researchers to simulate ancient voyages under realistic conditions and offers valuable insights into how Bronze Age people might have navigated across open seas. By incorporating data on these environmental elements, the team could model realistic scenarios of maritime travel and determine whether it was feasible for ancient vessels to make the journey between Denmark and Norway.
The researchers chose to model the journey using a reconstruction of the Hjortspring boat, a large paddle-driven canoe that dates back to around 350 BCE. The Hjortspring boat, discovered in Denmark in 1921, is one of the oldest known examples of Scandinavian seafaring technology. This vessel, likely used by early Bronze Age people, would have been an essential tool for traveling across the seas, and the study’s authors used it as a benchmark for their simulations.
The Feasibility of Open-Sea Travel
The study’s simulations produced some fascinating results. According to the team’s findings, the ancient people of Denmark and Norway may have indeed been capable of making open-sea voyages across the Skagerrak Strait, the body of water that separates Denmark and southern Norway. The models suggest that the Hjortspring boat could have withstood sea conditions, including waves up to 1 meter high and wind speeds of up to 10 knots.
However, while these voyages were plausible, they would have required a high degree of skill and preparation. Bronze Age sailors would have needed to possess a strong understanding of navigation, weather forecasting, and seamanship. Given the challenges posed by open-water navigation—such as unpredictable weather patterns and the absence of landmarks—such journeys would have been highly dependent on favorable conditions.
Furthermore, the study suggests that these voyages would have been restricted to the warmer summer months, when the weather was calmer and the sea conditions were more predictable. This would have allowed the seafarers to avoid the harsher conditions of the winter months, when storms and rough seas could have made long-distance travel perilous.
A Safer, Slower Route Along the Coastline
Despite the possibility of open-sea voyages, the research team also points out that the longer coastal route between Denmark and Norway would have remained a safer and more practical option, especially for those who were not yet adept at open-sea travel. The coastal route, which involved traveling along the shorelines of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, would have allowed for more frequent stops to resupply and rest. This journey, while safer, would have taken much longer—likely many weeks to complete—and would have required careful planning to ensure that food and fresh water were available at regular intervals.
The coastal route would also have been navigated year-round, with far fewer risks related to sudden storms or unpredictable weather. However, it would have required frequent pauses along the coast, potentially limiting the speed of travel and making it a less efficient means of transportation compared to a direct crossing, assuming favorable weather conditions allowed for such voyages.
A New Tool for Studying Ancient Seafaring
One of the most exciting aspects of this study is the development of the modeling tool itself. The tool is designed to simulate sea voyages based on a vessel’s specific characteristics, such as hull shape and design, as well as environmental conditions like wind, currents, and waves. This innovative approach can be applied not only to Bronze Age vessels but also to other historical and even prehistoric boats. Researchers can now model the capabilities of different types of seafaring craft, from ancient dugout canoes to Viking longships, and determine how they would have navigated various maritime environments.
The tool could also be used to explore seafaring techniques across different time periods and geographical regions. For instance, it could help scientists understand how people in other parts of the world, such as the Polynesians or the ancient Egyptians, were able to traverse vast expanses of open ocean, using similar techniques and technologies. This new simulation tool holds the potential to revolutionize our understanding of ancient seafaring, offering unprecedented insight into how early maritime cultures interacted with their environments.
Regular Crossings: Archaeological Evidence and the Age of Exploration
According to the research team, their simulations suggest that regular open-sea crossings across the Skagerrak could have begun as early as 2300 BCE, supported by archaeological evidence that shows signs of Bronze Age seafaring activity in the region. Over the centuries, as seafaring technology and navigational skills improved, these journeys would have become more common, facilitating trade, migration, and cultural exchange across the northern parts of Europe.
These early maritime expeditions would have been critical to the spread of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices between Denmark and Norway, and possibly beyond. The ability to travel directly across the open sea may have played a pivotal role in shaping the development of these societies, influencing their art, technology, and even their social structures.
Conclusion: Revisiting Ancient Mariners
The study conducted by Boel Bengtsson and her colleagues offers a fascinating new perspective on Bronze Age seafaring, challenging long-held beliefs about the limitations of ancient maritime travel. The possibility that Bronze Age people were able to cross the open sea between Denmark and Norway raises important questions about the level of sophistication and innovation possessed by these ancient societies. Through their new simulation tool, the researchers have opened up new avenues for exploring how ancient mariners navigated vast bodies of water and how these voyages may have shaped the cultural and historical landscapes of northern Europe.
As we continue to unearth the secrets of the past, it’s clear that the ingenuity of ancient people—whether navigating open seas or building civilizations—is far more complex than we have often given them credit for. The ability of these early mariners to travel across the open ocean suggests a level of skill and sophistication that aligns with the bold spirit of exploration that characterized many ancient cultures. This study is just one more piece in the ever-expanding puzzle of human history, offering new insights into the ways in which our ancestors shaped the world they lived in.
Reference: Seafaring and navigation in the Nordic Bronze Age: The application of an ocean voyage tool and boat performance data for comparing direct open water crossings with sheltered coastal routes, PLOS One (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320791. plos.io/4iEg5qV