Dozens of ‘exceptionally well-preserved’ Viking skeletons unearthed in Denmark: ‘Truly Unusual’

Fifty “exceptionally well-preserved” Viking skeletons have been unearthed in Denmark by archaeologists from the Museum Odense, west of Copenhagen, together with 5 cremated graves. 

“It is really uncommon to seek out so many well-preserved skeletons directly, like these found in Åsum,” museum curator Michael Borre Lundø stated in a press release. “This discovery gives extraordinary alternatives to carry out a variety of scientific analyses, which might reveal extra concerning the basic well being, eating regimen, and origins of these buried. The analyses may even reveal whether or not the buried vikings have been associated, which might be notably important, as this has by no means been examined in comparable graves.”

The skeletons have been discovered within the Danish village of Åsum not removed from Odense, Denmark, over the previous six months and have been buried with artifacts from exterior the nation, proving that they traveled internationally for commerce, in accordance with the museum. 

“The graves in Åsum are so well-preserved that it might be potential, for the primary time, to conduct particular aDNA analyses on many of the skeletons—that means DNA analyses on historic materials,” Sarah Croix, affiliate professor and PhD from the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at Aarhus University, stated in a press release. “It will probably be extremely thrilling to study the place these folks got here from and whether or not the identical households have been buried right here throughout a number of generations.”

High water ranges and good soil situations stored the skeletons from decomposing, Lundø stated. 

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“Normally once we excavate Viking graves, we might be fortunate if there have been two enamel left within the grave moreover the grave items,” he defined, “however right here we now have the skeletons totally preserved. The skeletons are so wonderful. They are so nicely preserved. There are 5 fingers, 5 toes. And that opens up an entire new set of potentialities for discoveries.” 

Some of the skeletons have been buried with objects comparable to knives, brooches, glass pearls and even a wagon. 

“The girl was buried within the wagon she doubtless traveled in,” Lundø stated. “We should think about that she was buried along with her best garments and belongings. She was given an attractive glass bead necklace, an iron key, a knife with a silver-threaded deal with, and, most notably, a small shard of glass which will have served as an amulet. At the foot of the wagon, there was a finely adorned wood chest, the contents of which we nonetheless have no idea.”

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Another grave subsequent to the girl’s contained a bronze three-lobed brooch, a purple glass, an iron knife, and a small piece of rock crystal, which  Lundø famous isn’t pure to Denmark. He stated it was doubtless imported from Norway. 

“Several objects from the numerous graves in Åsum point out that the buried Vikings have been related to worldwide commerce networks that developed through the Viking Age,” he stated. 

The excavation happened in preparation for renovating {an electrical} grid. 

While these graves have been for top standing people, the vast majority of skeletons belonged to a group of farmers, the museum stated. 

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The burial floor covers round 2,000 sq. meters east of Odense and is believed to be from the ninth and tenth centuries. 

Reuters contributed to this report.