Vikingstone AD 753

Viking Ship (rigged for attack)

That means the sail is reefed, the yard is stored, the mast down, and the oars are out. No rowing benches have been found on any of the old ships, but sea chests have. Often heavily strapped with iron bands and usually pad-locked, they were apparently used as rowing benches as well. They were raised, to keep the contents dry, and with storage space very limited aboard these craft, the chests served double duty.

Picture of the Gokstad Viking attack craft on display in the Oslo Viking Museum