Remarkably Preserved: 50 Exceptional Viking Skeletons Unearthed in Denmark

In Odense, Denmark, archaeologists at the city museum have made an unusual discovery. Indeed, the excavations carried out by Michael Borre Lundø, a specialist in Danish medieval history, brought to light fifty Viking skeletons in an exceptional state of conservation.

A discovery that calls for others

Asked by Reutersthe expert in the medieval period was delighted with such a discovery which is truly an event in the archaeological community.

“Usually when we excavate Viking graves, we're lucky if we come across a tooth alongside the artifacts buried with the body. But here we have fully preserved skeletons. They are exceptional. They are so well preserved. There are five fingers, five toes. This opens the way to new possibilities for discovery” rejoiced the researcher at the microphone of the American press agency.

The reason for such conservation was partly explained by Lundø. Indeed, according to him, we should particularly thank high water levels as well as a particular soil which prevented the decomposition of the bodies.

Peasant vikings

Based on the artifacts found alongside the perfectly preserved bodies, archaeologists estimated that the Vikings discovered in Odense were part of a peasant community.

However, particular attention was paid to the remains of a Viking woman. Indeed, thanks to the ornaments and objects with which she had been buried, they were able to deduce that she was a high-ranking woman. This is the only real disparity that has been found by archaeologists.

Among the objects found in the Viking burial site, researchers from the Odense Museum were able to uncover knives, glass beads and brooches.

When were they buried?

This is inevitably one of the questions that requires the most precise answer possible. At present, archaeologists have not yet been able to answer it. However, they were able to make an estimate as to a range during which these Vikings could have been buried.

Indeed, thanks to the objects found in the funerary site, it could be estimated that the objects dated, roughly, between the year 850 and 970. To refine their estimates, the researchers who began the excavations six months, collected soil samples in order to determine, thanks to the presence of pollen or not, the season in which the Vikings were buried.

Source : Reuters