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VIKING

After 1,000 years, ‘forgotten’ Danish Viking fortress opens

The historic discovery two years ago of a fifth Viking ring fortress was celebrated in grand style on Monday.

Published: 31 May 2016 10:16 CEST
After 1,000 years, ‘forgotten’ Danish Viking fortress opens
The 'forgotten' Viking fortress is one of five in Denmark. Photo: Mathias Løvgreen Bojesen/Scanpix
After lying forgotten for over 1,000 years, archaeologists uncovered a circular Viking fortress just west of the Zealand town of Køge in a find that shook up popular knowledge of the Viking Age. 
 
Researchers had long assumed that the four previously discovered Viking fortresses were all that remained in Denmark and the September 2014 find was the first of its kind in 60 years. 
 
 
On Monday, Queen Margrethe officially unveiled the fortress, dubbed Borgring. It opens to the general public on Wednesday, June 1st and is expected to draw upwards of 30,000 visitors per year. 
 
The 'forgotten' Viking fortress was opened by Queen Margrethe on Monday. Photo: Mathias Løvgreen Bojesen/Scanpix
The 'forgotten' Viking fortress was opened by Queen Margrethe on Monday. Photo: Mathias Løvgreen Bojesen/Scanpix
 
Archaeologist Jens Ulriksen said it was the culmination of nearly two years of excitement to present the find to the queen. 
 
“It is rare that as an archaeologist you are able to be part of such a major and exciting excavation project like Borgring. And since there hasn’t been large-scale digging at the other ring fortresses since the 1960s, this project can really provide new and crucial knowledge of the enigmatic fortresses and the Viking Age,” he told news agency Ritzau. 
 
Borgring opens to the public on Wednesday. Photo: Mathias Løvgreen Bojesen/Scanpix
Borgring opens to the public on Wednesday. Photo: Mathias Løvgreen Bojesen/Scanpix
 
The newly-unveiled Borgring joins the four previously-discovered ring fortresses in Denmark: Aggersborg and Fyrkat in northern Jutland, Trelleborg in western Zealand and Nonnebakken near Odense. 
 
All date back to over a thousand years ago when Harald Bluetooth ruled as king from 958 until his death in 985 or 986.
 
A 3D reconstruction of Borgring created by Archaeological IT at Aarhus University can be seen here:
 

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VIKINGS

Danish treasure discovery could yield new knowledge of pre-Viking people

An amateur archeologist has found 22 gold objects with sixth century symbols that could yield new details about pre-Viking peoples in Denmark, the museum that will house the treasure said on Monday.

Published: 6 September 2021 16:53 CEST
Danish treasure discovery could yield new knowledge of pre-Viking people
An unrelated illustration photo from an earlier discovery showing Saxon, Ottonian, Danish and Byzantine coins. STEFAN SAUER / DPA / AFP

Some of the objects have runic motifs and inscriptions which may refer to the rulers of the time, but also recall Norse mythology, Mads Ravn, director of research at the Vejle museums in western Denmark, told AFP.

“It is the symbols on the items that makes them unique, more than the quantity found,” according to Ravn, who said the treasure weighed about one kilogram.

One piece even refers to the Roman emperor Constantine from the early 4th century, said Ravn.

“The find consists of a lot of gold items, including a medallion the size of a saucer,” Ravn added.

According to initial examinations, the treasure could have been buried as an offering to the gods at a chaotic time when the climate in northern Europe dramatically turned colder after a volcanic eruption in Iceland in 536 sent ash clouds into the sky.

“They have many symbols, some of which have not been seen before, which will enable us to enlarge our knowledge of the people of this period,” he said.

The treasure was found near Jelling in southwestern Denmark, which historians say became a cradle for kings of the Viking-age which lasted between the 8th and 12th centuries.

The treasure will be on display at the museum in Vejle from February 2022

The amateur archeologist using a metal detector found the treasure about six months ago but the news was only disclosed now.

READ ALSO: DNA analysis reunites Viking relatives in Denmark after 1,000 years 

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