Publications
Outland exploitation and resource colonisation in early Medieval Scandinavia
New archaeological evidence reveals that the exploitation of marginal zones, or outlands, played a central and dynamic role in early medieval Scandinavian societies, predating and extending beyond the Viking Age. Contrary to traditional views, resource extraction—such as iron and furs—in forests, wetlands, and mountainous regions was not merely supplementary but a core economic strategy shaping settlement patterns, social organization, and long-distance trade networks. This study challenges the notion that outland activities were peripheral, demonstrating their significance in economic intensification and regional interaction from at least the 4th–7th centuries. The findings are supported by advanced analytical methods and expanded datasets, offering a reinterpretation of marginal zones as integral to the emergence of complex socio-economic systems in early medieval Scandinavia.
Finding Sliesthorp?
A previously unknown Viking Age settlement, discovered at Füsing in Northern Germany, is believed to be the elusive Sliesthorp, a power center of early Danish kings. This site, thriving from around 700 to the end of the 10th century, likely served as a seasonal garrison and naval base within the defensive system of the Danevirke, offering strategic significance due to its proximity to Hedeby/Schleswig. The study, based on archaeological finds and building features, suggests that Füsing's high-status estate center functioned as an assembly place, providing new insights into Viking Age governance and military organization in this disputed border region.
Identification of materials used for earthwork construction: the semi-circular fortification rampart of Hedeby, Northern Germany
Researchers developed a novel method to classify and identify materials used in earthwork construction, addressing the challenges posed by minimally invasive coring techniques. The study focused on the semi-circular fortification rampart of Hedeby, an early medieval Viking settlement and UNESCO World Heritage Site. By analyzing physicochemical properties—such as grain size distribution, weight percentages, loss on ignition, magnetic susceptibility, and element concentrations—of 139 samples from three cores, the team applied statistical methods like principal component analysis and cluster analysis to distinguish material clusters. The findings revealed that the rampart was constructed using a mix of soil horizons, cultural deposits, and Pleistocene materials in varying proportions along its length. This method significantly enhances the objectivity and efficiency of geoarchaeological investigations, particularly for large-scale earthworks where complete excavation is impractical.
Timeline
A detailed timeline of significant events from the 8th to 9th centuries sheds light on the political, military, and economic dynamics of Viking-era Scandinavia. Key milestones include the construction of defensive structures like the Kanhave Canal (726) and Nordvollen in Danevirke (737), as well as pivotal moments such as the destruction of Reric (808) and the beginning of Danish coinage minting in Hedeby (c. 825). The timeline also highlights Viking raids, including the attack on the Isle of Portland (c. 789) and the plundering of Lindisfarne (793), alongside broader geopolitical shifts, such as Charlemagne's defense efforts against Vikings (800) and Archbishop Ebo's mission to Denmark (822-823). This chronology provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the complex interactions between Scandinavian societies, Viking expansion, and early medieval Europe.
Classification of buried soils, cultural, and colluvial deposits in the Viking town Hedeby
A novel approach combining fine-scale sampling, multimethod geoarchaeological analysis, and multivariate statistics successfully classified 13 distinct classes of buried soils, cultural, colluvial, fluvial, and fluvioglacial sediments in the Viking town Hedeby. This classification enabled a detailed differentiation between natural and cultural deposits, revealing spatial patterns that suggest waste disposal in the Hedeby-brook valley and metallurgic activities north of it. The study highlights the potential of this method for coring-based research at tightly managed heritage sites and surveys to identify excavation targets, with adaptable variables based on local conditions.
Muldfjælsplovens tidlige historie – Fra yngre romersk jernalder til middelalder
Recent archaeological discoveries have challenged the long-held belief that the mouldboard plough was introduced to Denmark during the Medieval period (c. AD 1000-1200). Contrary to previous assumptions, evidence suggests that this implement was already in use during the Late Roman Iron Age (c. AD 200-400), predating its association with the open-field cultivation system by approximately 700-800 years. The study, based on well-preserved ploughing traces and wooden components from sites like Tating-Haferacker and Danevirke, indicates that the mouldboard plough was part of an earlier agricultural revolution, influencing settlement structures and land use long before the Medieval era. This finding reshapes our understanding of technological adoption in Denmark, suggesting a more gradual integration of advanced cultivation techniques rather than a sudden Medieval innovation.
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