In Denmark, archaeologists have found a burial site with 50 well-preserved Viking skeletons
Most of the Vikings found were farmers
Odense Museum/Facebook
During the excavation of a large Viking burial in Denmark, archaeologists discovered 50 skeletons in good condition. Scientists hope that their further study will help shed light on the lives of the Nordic people, who are best known for their sea voyages.
All the remains were found within the last six months in a 2,000 square meter cemetery2, informs CBC News. Scientists believe that it was used during the 9th and 10th centuries.
The “huge burial” is located on the southern outskirts of the village of Osum, on the island of Funen (Denmark).
Finding such a large number of well-preserved skeletons was “really unusual,” said archaeologist and head of the Odense Museum, Michael Borre Lunde.
The researcher believes that the high water level in the area and favorable soil conditions prevented the remains of the Vikings from decaying, thanks to which they were preserved in good condition.
“It is truly unusual to find so many well-preserved skeletons at once. Such a find provides extraordinary opportunities for conducting a wide range of natural science analyses, which can tell us more about the general state of health of the buried people, their diet and their origins.
Perhaps the analysis will show whether the Vikings found in the graves were related to each other (by family ties – ed.– said he.
Odense Museum/Facebook
Odense Museum/Facebook
Rare artefacts such as knives, glass beads and brooches dated between 850 and 970 AD were found alongside the remains. writes Reuters.
On opinion archaeologists, several skeletons in the burial had a high social status, given the items with which they were buried.
Although the artifacts indicate that most of the people were part of a small farming community, one woman was buried with a silver-decorated knife and a piece of glass, a rarity in the Viking Age.
A small shard of glass may have been used as an amulet.
With the help of an X-ray image of the earth’s layer, scientists discovered a brooch – a symbolic decoration of the Viking era. On the reverse side of the jewelry were mineralized fragments of fabric, which can tell researchers about the type of clothing worn at the time.
Most of the skeletons were removed from the burial ground and transferred to the museum, where they will await the next stage of research.
Earlier in Norway, a farmer accidentally came across a unique one viking swordwhich at first wanted to throw away. Scientists have established that the weapon was created in the period from 900 to 1050, that is, in the Viking era or the early Middle Ages.
