Scholars speculate that the word knarr stems from the term for a knurl or gnarl, referencing swirls on ship stems seen on picture stones and the Oseberg ship. Another theory links the name to the sound of creaking boards during rough voyages.
Excavations began at Skuldelev, Denmark in 1962 on wreckage resting in shallow water for centuries. The team determined rocks filled each boat before sinking them purposefully to block passageways from intruders during the 11th century.
A typical knarr measured around 16 meters in length and could carry up to 30 tons of cargo. Adding sails reduced maintenance needs, allowing crews of just six people to manage operations effectively.
The Saga of the Greenlanders and the Saga of Erik the Red describe journeys to lands now called Newfoundland. Knarrs played vital roles transferring food, tools, livestock, and other cargo needed to establish settlements across Iceland, Greenland, and Vinland.
W. Hodding Carter IV reconstructed a knarr based on historic designs in 1997. He sailed it from Greenland to Newfoundland during 1998 with nine crew members aboard.