‘The coldest case of all’

A devastating fire that ravaged the Viking-age ring fortress Borgring, Denmark, has been reconstructed through a groundbreaking collaboration between archaeologists and forensic investigators. The study applied modern forensic fire investigation techniques, adhering to Daubert standard criteria, to analyze traces of the blaze uncovered during excavations. This novel approach not only revised the understanding of the fortress's structure and the fire's development but also set a precedent for integrating forensic methods in archaeological research. Conversely, archaeological techniques demonstrated significant potential in modern fire scene analysis, highlighting their dual applicability.

Ljungkvist, E., Thomsen, B., Sindbæk, S. M., Christensen, J., Holm, N., Schultz, M. K., & Ulriksen, J. (2021). ‘The coldest case of all’. Danish Journal of Archaeology, 10. https://doi.org/10.7146/dja.v10i0.121916