AASUM, Denmark (AP) —
In a remarkable discovery in a village in central Denmark, archaeologists have unearthed a burial site that may provide significant insights into the Viking era. This excavation revealed around 50 skeletons that were “exceptionally well-preserved.”
Archaeologist Michael Borre Lundø, who spearheaded the six-month excavation, expressed his enthusiasm about the find, stating, “This is such an exciting discovery because these skeletons are exceptionally well-preserved. Normally, we’d be fortunate to find just a few teeth in graves, but here we have complete skeletons.”
Thanks to favorable soil conditions—characterized by chalky earth and high water levels—the remains have been remarkably maintained, according to specialists from Museum Odense. The burial ground was located last year during a routine survey carried out in preparation for power line renovation on the outskirts of Aasum, situated 5 kilometers (3 miles) northeast of Odense, Denmark’s third-largest city.
As experts plan to conduct DNA analyses, they are eager to reconstruct comprehensive life histories of the individuals buried there. They aim to explore various aspects of social dynamics during the Viking Age, such as family ties and migration patterns. “This opens a whole new toolbox for scientific discovery,” Borre Lundø explained at the muddy excavation site. “We hope to analyze the DNA from all the skeletons to see if there are any familial connections and to trace their origins.”
During the Viking Age, which spanned from 793 to 1066 A.D., the Norse seafarers known as Vikings engaged in extensive raids, established settlements, conquered territories, and traded across Europe, reaching as far as North America.
Interestingly, the individuals found at Aasum likely did not belong to the warrior class. Borre Lundø speculates that this burial site was part of a “standard settlement,” possibly a farming community located 5 kilometers from a well-known ring fortress in what we now recognize as central Odense.
Covering an area of 2,000 square meters (21,500 square feet), the burial ground contains the remains of men, women, and children, alongside a few cremated bodies. Notably, a woman was interred in a wagon—the upper section of a Viking cart used as a coffin—indicating that she may have held a high status in society.
In addition to the skeletons, archaeologists uncovered a variety of artifacts, including brooches, necklace beads, knives, and a small shard of glass, possibly an amulet. According to Borre Lundø, the design of the brooches suggests that these burials occurred between 850 and 900 A.D. “There are varying levels of burial offerings,” he noted. “Some graves contain no items, while others include brooches and pearl necklaces.”
Many of the discovered artifacts have origins beyond Denmark, highlighting the extensive trade networks that Vikings established during the 10th century. “There’s a lot of trade and commerce happening,” Borre Lundø stated. “We identified one brooch that hails from Gotland, an island off the eastern side of Sweden, and found whetstones for sharpening knives, indicating connections to Norway and Sweden.”
The burial site was uncovered last year, and the excavation phase wrapped up recently in April. The valuable artifacts are now being transported to Museum Odense’s preservation labs for cleaning and detailed analysis.
Conservator Jannie Amsgaard Ebsen expressed high hopes regarding the potential for finding preserved organic materials in the soil, which might cling to brooches or knife handles. “We’re eager to understand the bigger picture. Who were the people living in this area, and how did they interact with one another?” she remarked. “It’s akin to piecing together a jigsaw puzzle—each artifact contributes to the larger narrative.”
