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An extraordinary Viking burying ground with the almost - complete skeletons of roughly 50 hoi polloi has been unearthed in Denmark during preparations to put down electrical cables .
The discoveries were made near the village of Åsum on the island of Funen over the preceding six month by archaeologist from Museum Odense , according to astatement .
One of the roughly 50 Viking graves excavated at Åsum. Archaeologists think the burial ground dates from the 900s, when most people in Denmark still worshipped the Old Norse gods.
Finding any man continue from theViking Age(A.D. 793 to 1066 ) is rare , in part because Scandinavian soils are acid and do n’t preserve bones well . So finding 50 burials from this time is exceptional .
" It is really strange to discover so many well - preserved skeletons at the same meter as those found in Åsum,“Michael Borre Lundø , an archaeologist who exploit on the slam and a Museum Odense conservator , said in the statement . " This breakthrough offers extraordinary opportunities to do a wide range of scientific analysis , which can reveal more about the universal health , diet , and descent of those buried . "
" The analyses might even disclose whether the buried vikings were concern , which would be particularly significant , as this has never been analyse in standardised graves , " he added .
The Viking burial ground near Åsum was discovered earlier this year during preparations for laying electrical cables beside the village.(Image credit: Museum Odense)
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Viking graves
The Viking Age graves near Åsum particular date to the 900s , perhaps to when the Danish king Gorm " the Old " and queen Thyra ruled from the nearby Jutland town ofJelling . Historians disagree on where Gorm rein , but it is generally accepted that the key island of Funen was part of his kingdom . The unexampled finds show the importance of the area at the clock time , according to the archaeologists .
Gorm and Thyra were the parents ofHarald Bluetooth , who became king after Gorm pop off in around 958 , and for whom the wireless networking measure is named . Harald exact to have convert the Danes to Christianity . But the Old Norse gods — such asThor , Odin and Freyr — were hero-worship in the Viking kingdom rule by Gorm and Thyra .
Wealthy dead
Many of the citizenry buried at Åsum were wealthy , their serious goods indicate . One grave , for example , features a cleaning lady bury in the distinctive cradle - like bottom of a Viking police van .
" The woman was immerse in the coaster wagon she likely travel in , " Borre Lundø said . " She was dedicate a beautiful trash pearl necklace , an atomic number 26 key , a knife with a silver - threaded hold and , most notably , a small shard of glass that may have served as an amulet . "
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Many of the graves at the Viking burial ground near Åsum were of people with a high status in society that was reflected in their grave goods, such as this bronze ornament.(Image credit: Museum Odense)
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The tomb also contained a finely decorate wooden thorax , the contents of which are still strange , he tell .
Another grave at the site contained this intricate three-lobed buckle for a dress, made from bronze.
Another grave accent turn back a three - lob buckle made from bronze , as well as a red glass bead , hung around the at peace ’s neck opening ; an smoothing iron knife ; and a small slice of rock ‘n’ roll crystal .
" Rock watch glass does not occur naturally in Denmark and was likely imported from Norway , " Borre Lundø said . " Several items from the many graves in Åsum suggest that the buried Vikings were connected to international craft networks that developed during the Viking Age . "
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