Viking reach depended on self-sufficient crews

Viking voyages formed a wide-ranging maritime network without infrastructure on the Phoenician scale. Archaeological work in places such as Shetland suggests a recognizable dry-dock form, although the known example may be a mature version of a longer evolution. Simpler or earlier facilities may survive at other coastal points without yet being recognized. The limited shore network placed a premium on ships and crews able to sustain themselves while moving into poorly known waters. Their geographic reach did not depend on a dense support system.