Archaeologists in Denmark announced in September 2024 that they have worked for months to excavate over 50 skeletons. The Viking graves at Asum, located east of Odense, came to light during Energinet’s renovations on the country’s electrical grid. The artifacts buried with the Vikings confirm that Vikings traveled extensively. The site, itself, confirms the importance of Asum as a central settlement of Odense. Perhaps, the most important aspect of the discovery is the condition of the skeletons.
“The graves in Åsum are so well-preserved that it may be possible, for the first time, to conduct special aDNA analyses on most of the skeletons—meaning DNA analyses on ancient material,” says Sarah Croix, Sarah Croix, associate professor and PhD from the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at Aarhus University, in a press release.
Archaeologist and museum curator Michael Borre Lundø from the Museum Odense says that the chalk soil content and the time the area spent under water helped to preserve the bones. The “extremely well-preserved” remains could allow archeologists to discover family ties amongst those interred. The skeletal remains could also reveal nutrition, types of diseases the Vikings may have had, and where the people came from before they ended up in Asum.
Upper Class Graves
Lundo says the graves were likely for those of the upper class. One in particular contained a woman buried in a wagon.
“She was given a beautiful glass bead necklace, an iron key, a knife with a silver-threaded handle, and, most notably, a small shard of glass that may have served as an amulet,” says Lundo. “At the foot of the wagon, there was a finely decorated wooden chest, the contents of which we still do not know.”
Viking International Trade
In a separate grave, archaeologists found a fine bronze three-lobed brooch. They also found an iron knife, and a small piece of rock crystal. The decease wore a red glass bead on a cord around the neck.
“Rock crystal does not occur naturally in Denmark and was likely imported from Norway,” says Lundo. There are other items that indicate the Vikings’ involvement with international trade.
The Viking graves site has an area of about 2,000 square meters (21,530 square feet). It dates from the 9th and 10th centuries and includes 5 cremation graves.
Sources: https://www.vice.com/en/article/50-skeletons-from-the-viking-age-unearthed-in-denmark/
https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-find-50-well-preserved-viking-skeletons-denmark-1968628
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/01/science/viking-burials-denmark-scli-intl/index.html
