Archaeologists reveal rich insights into Viking life with new burial site findings

Independent features that archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery at a Viking-era burial site in Denmark, unearthing a wealth of artifacts and well-preserved skeletons that promise to reshape our understanding of this fascinating period.

A large excavation in Denmark has revealed 50 remarkably well-preserved skeletons, which researchers believe will provide valuable insights into the lives of the Nordic people renowned for their seafaring ventures during the Middle Ages.

Located near Odense, Denmark's third-largest city, the skeletons were preserved due to high water levels and favorable soil conditions that prevented decomposition, according to Michael Borre Lundoe, the excavation leader from Museum Odense. 

“Typically, when we excavate Viking graves, we might find just a couple of teeth alongside the grave goods. Here, however, we have fully intact skeletons,” Lundoe explained. “The preservation is incredible—complete fingers and toes are visible, which opens up exciting new possibilities for research and discoveries,” he added. 

During the six-month excavation, rare artifacts such as knives, glass pearls, and brooches from the years 850 to 970 were also discovered. Lundoe noted that these grave goods suggest most individuals belonged to a small farming community, though one woman of higher status was interred with a silver-decorated knife and a piece of glass, which was considered rare in the Viking Age. 

Archaeologists collected soil samples to analyze pollen, aiming to determine the season of burial and the types of textiles worn. An X-ray of a soil block revealed an oval brooch, a distinctive piece of Viking Age jewelry linked to women’s clothing, encased in wood and human remains. 

Additionally, on the back of another brooch adorned with period-specific designs, mineralized fragments of woven textiles provided insight into the clothing styles of the Viking Age. Most skeletons have been removed from their graves and are currently housed in cardboard boxes at the museum to dry before examination and final cleaning.

By Naila Huseynova