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

You May Be Interested In:JESSE WATTERS: Biden wanted ‘full credit’ for the port strike suspension


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

“It is truly unusual to find so many well-preserved skeletons at once, like those discovered in Åsum,” museum curator Michael Borre Lundø said in a statement. 

“This discovery offers extraordinary opportunities to perform a wide range of scientific analyses, which can reveal more about the general health, diet, and origins of those buried. The analyses might even reveal whether the buried vikings were related, which would be particularly significant, as this has never been examined in similar graves.”

1,000-YEAR-OLD VIKING TREASURE FOUND HIDDEN IN DIRT: ‘UNIQUE FIND’

The skeletons were found in the Danish village of Åsum not far from Odense, Denmark, over the past six months and were buried with artifacts from outside the country, proving that they traveled internationally for trade, according to the museum. 

Fifty “exceptionally well-preserved” Viking skeletons have been unearthed in Denmark by archaeologists from the Museum Odense, west of Copenhagen, along with five cremated graves.  (Reuters/Tom Little)

“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,” Sarah Croix, associate professor and PhD from the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at Aarhus University, said in a statement.

 “It will be incredibly exciting to learn where these people came from and whether the same families were buried here across multiple generations.”

High water levels and good soil conditions kept the skeletons from decomposing, Lundø said. 

Viking brooch

A conservator at Museum Odense displays a brooch found in a Viking-age burial site. (Reuters/Tom Little)

“Normally when we excavate Viking graves, we’d be lucky if there were two teeth left in the grave besides the grave goods,” he explained, “but here we have the skeletons fully preserved. The skeletons are so amazing. They are so well preserved. There are five fingers, five toes. And that opens up a whole new set of possibilities for discoveries.” 

Some of the skeletons were buried with items such as knives, brooches, glass pearls and even a wagon. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The woman was buried in the wagon she likely traveled in,” Lundø said. 

“We must imagine that she was buried with her finest clothes and belongings. 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. At the foot of the wagon, there was a finely decorated wooden chest, the contents of which we still do not know.”

Excavation site

A drone view shows archaeologists working on excavations in the Viking-age burial site found in the village of Aasum, Denmark, September 25, 2024.  (Reuters/Tom Little)

Another grave next to the woman’s contained a bronze three-lobed brooch, a red glass, an iron knife, and a small piece of rock crystal, which  Lundø noted isn’t natural to Denmark. He said it was likely imported from Norway. 

EXPERTS STUNNED AFTER CORPSE OF MEDIEVAL CATHOLIC SAINT IS UNCOVERED, FOUND IN REMARKABLE CONDITION

“Several items from the many graves in Åsum indicate that the buried Vikings were connected to international trade networks that developed during the Viking Age,” he said. 

skeletal remains

An archaeologist excavates skeletons in a pit at the Viking-age burial site in the village of Aasum, Denmark. (Reuters/Tom Little)

The excavation took place in preparation for renovating an electrical grid. 

While those graves were for high status individuals, the majority of skeletons belonged to a community of farmers, the museum said. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The burial ground covers around 2,000 square meters east of Odense and is believed to be from the 9th and 10th centuries. 

Reuters contributed to this report. 

share Paylaş facebook pinterest whatsapp x print

Similar Content

Tunnel to Towers 5K draws more than 40K to 'honor' America's fallen heroes: 'A beautiful thing'
Tunnel to Towers 5K draws more than 40K to ‘honor’ America’s fallen heroes: ‘A beautiful thing’
Harris tells NABJ she expects to 'earn' the Black vote this November
Harris tells NABJ she expects to ‘earn’ the Black vote this November
UK PM Keir Starmer in hot water for accepting freebies, insists he’s done nothing wrong
UK PM Keir Starmer in hot water for accepting freebies, insists he’s done nothing wrong
Harris-Trump showdown: New poll indicates who has edge in battle for crucial electoral vote
Harris-Trump showdown: New poll indicates who has edge in battle for crucial electoral vote
Lizzo slams 'Ozempic allegations' after weight loss transformation
Lizzo slams ‘Ozempic allegations’ after weight loss transformation
Maine lobster fisherman reveals why the crustaceans she catches taste 'sweeter,' 'better'
Maine lobster fisherman reveals why the crustaceans she catches taste ‘sweeter,’ ‘better’
Pulse Of The Blogosphere | © 2024 | News