In a village in central Denmark, archeologists have made a significant discovery that could provide valuable insights into the Viking era. The excavation revealed a burial ground containing around 50 exceptionally well-preserved skeletons, a rarity in such archaeological finds.
The skeletons, found in a village near Odense, Denmark, were remarkably intact due to the favorable soil chemistry, particularly chalk and high water levels in the area. This discovery was made during a routine survey conducted ahead of power line renovation work.
Experts are excited about the potential of this discovery, as it opens up new avenues for scientific research. DNA analyses are planned to determine relationships among the individuals buried at the site and to explore aspects of Viking social structures such as kinship and migration patterns.
The burial ground, spanning 2,000 square meters, contains the remains of men, women, and children, along with a few cremated bodies. Artifacts found at the site, including brooches, necklace beads, knives, and even a piece of glass possibly used as an amulet, offer clues about the time period.
Based on the design of the brooches, experts estimate that the burials took place between 850 and 900 A.D. The presence of artifacts from distant regions like Gotland and evidence of trade routes suggest extensive Viking trade networks during the 10th century.
One intriguing burial features a woman laid to rest in a wagon, indicating a potentially higher social status. The artifacts unearthed, along with the skeletons, are being carefully analyzed and preserved at Museum Odense.
Archaeologists hope that further examination of the site and its contents will shed light on the lives of the people buried there, their interactions, and the broader historical context of the Viking Age.
