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Press Contact:
Jeanette Varberg
Moesgård Museum
E-mail: farkjv@hum.au.dk
Tlf. +45 8942 4522 /
+45 2778 2856
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The project is supported by Queen Margrethe II’s Archaeological Foundation and the Augustinus Foundation
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| The Viking fortresses of Trelleborg, Aggersborg, Nonnebakken, and Fyrkat played a decisive part in the battles for power at the end of the 10th century. During the Viking Age, both defence and warfare involved ships, although it is still uncertain whether and how the Danish Viking fortresses were associated with the contemporary royal naval power. “The King’s Fortresses“ project attempts to answer this through archaeological investigations and excavations in the vicinity of the fortresses.
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Rare Viking-era shield found in Denmark (September 17th 2008)
Danish archaeologists from the Kings Fortresses Project have found a well-preserved Viking shield that is dated to the late 900 years, when Harold Bluetooth ruled the country.
Archaeologist Kirsten Christensen says the wooden shield has a diameter of 32 inches. It was found Tuesday during excavations near a Viking-age castle Trelleborg nearby Slagelse, some 60 miles west of Copenhagen.
Christensen said Thursday it is the first time such a shield has been found in Denmark. She said the moist soil in the area is "ideal to preserve wood."
The fir shield is believed to date from the late 10th century and incarved ornaments and traces of paint can reveal detailed and seldom new insight in the shield style of the Viking Age.
The shield may have been from one of the many conflicts that dominated the country in the battle for power in the Danish Viking-era.
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 The Viking Ring Fortresses
The Viking Age, and the tenth century in particular, proves to be a decisive era, characterised by far-reaching changes – not only in present-day Denmark, but in the Nordic countries as a whole. The most obvious archaeological evidence from this time is the ring fortresses of Trelleborg, Nonnebakken, Aggersborg, and Fyrkat – the most exceptional Viking Age structures in Scandinavia. »
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 The Role of the Ring Fortresses in the Struggle for Power
No doubt, a well-organised central power – the King (Harold Bluetooth) – initiated the construction of the ring fortresses as military power centres around 980 AD. The fortresses played a decisive part in the historical event described on the Jelling stone: ‘Harold … won for himself all of Denmark’. As royal forts, they probably served to maintain the King’s control of different parts of the realm, and they must have had a special importance in connection with conflicts inside and outside the country borders. Thus they should be seen as part of the long process of creating the Danish state. »
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The Purpose of the Project
If viewed from the deck of one of the King’s ships, the ring fortresses would open up a number of possible problem areas: What was the relation between the ring fortresses and sailing? Were there one or more harbours near the fortresses? Were shipyards associated with the fortresses or their close surroundings? How did the association with seafaring influence the function and organisation of the fortresses? And last, but not least, which function did the fortresses have in naval warfare and defence? To discuss these questions, it is necessary to resume the archaeological effort concerning the ring fortresses. »
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 A New Image of the Viking Age
Considering their unique character and historical importance, it is surprising that the primary archaeological investigation of the ring fortresses has largely been at a standstill since the 1960s. However, in other areas, intensive research in Denmark during the last 30 years has resulted in a completely new picture of the Viking Age. Due to this development, we now have significant new knowledge, which can be used for reconsidering the function and importance of the fortresses. »
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 Old Finds and New Questions
Already during the early excavations at Trelleborg, the archaeologists found large amounts of iron rivets and rivet-plates with the same form and dimensions as known from numerous contemporary ship finds. Further, ship timber was found in the wetlands surrounding Trelleborg and in the waters off Aggersborg. Even if these finds do not give an unambiguous answer, it seems natural to relate them to the repairs or even the building of ships in the close vicinity of the fortresses. »
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