From the Copenhagen Post, village escavated...

[Chooser of the Slain]

Fascinating glimpse of Viking elite’s lifestyle
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[i]By Christopher Follett
24. januar 2003 Print Article (IE & NS 4+)

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Original seventh century Viking manor house building unearthed west of Copenhagen.


Archaeologists excavating Denmark's most important site - a huge Viking manor house complex on Lake Tissø, west of Copenhagen - are gleaning key information about the life style of the Norse elite over one thousand years ago.

The 2002 dig at the site, located north of the town of Slagelse in west Zealand, Denmark's largest island on which Copenhagen is situated, ended in December with the sensational discovery of the foundations of a manor house building dating back to 500-600 AD - the original building on the site.

"The newly discovered manor house pre-dates the main building on the site by some 500 years," said Lars Jørgensen, leader of the Danish National Museum's Tissø dig. "Post holes indicate that it was 38 metres long and some 8 metres high, and the first such building ever unearthed in Denmark."

"The very size of the building came as a surprise to us, as it is four times bigger than any other manor or farmhouse of that period. Its existence tends to reinforce our theory that the site was used for representational and/or ritual activities by the Viking elite of the time."

Among exciting artefacts from last autumn's dig are a golden hinge and jewellery and other metal items, as well as chunks of white-plastered mud wall.

One theory is that the original manor house probably burned down necessitating its replacement by the already excavated main building nearby.

Archaeologists have had their eyes on Tissø since the discovery there in 1977 of a stunning Viking gold necklace weighing 1.8 kilos - the biggest Viking artefact ever found in Denmark - now on permanent display at the Danish National Museum in Copenhagen. Systematic annual digs began in 1995 at the site on the western shore of Lake Tissø, 60 km from Copenhagen. Here, experts from the Danish National Museum have been unearthing the foundations of what are the largest buildings yet discovered from Denmark's Viking period, dating from 500-1050 AD, along with a substantial treasure trove of high quality artefacts and evidence of workshops, outhouses and adjoining buildings, pit houses and smelting activity.

The site is big - running 1.5 km along Lake Tissø's shore - so far only about one-sixth of the total 500,000 square metre area has been investigated. The main manor, the successor to the building unearthed last autumn, dates back about 1,000 years, being 48 metres long and 12.5 metres across with a floor area of 550 square metres.

The height of the second building, which like its precursor had the typical upturned boat shape of a Viking longhouse, was 12 metres, the outline traceable in both cases from rows of posthole marks.

To the south of the site remains of a Viking bridge over a small river have been unearthed. Tissø's importance is obvious from the wealth of finds, well over 10,000 items, many metal artefacts, many of exquisite quality and execution, Jørgensen said.

"All indications point to the presence of aristocratic people at Tissø. The manor house possibly functioned as a royal estate, but the lack of graves on the site would seem to indicate that it was not a permanent residence as such, more likely function or representational quarters with associated cult activities. The site is quite different from normal Viking settlements - it lacks the buildings and graves of aristocrats associated with permanent settlements of the period," Jørgensen said.

Objects from Ireland, Germany and eastern Scandinavia testify to far-reaching overseas contacts. Sizeable remains of food leftovers in the form of meat bones would indicate that large numbers of people at times attended the manor for banquets while the jewellery discoveries point to the presence of people from the Viking elite, he added.

This impression is strengthened by finds of skeletons of mighty warhorses and slank hunting dogs. Among other unearthed artefacts are arrowheads, sword hilts and riding gear, as well a luxury items such as gold, silver and bronze brooches, ornamental jewellery, imported wares and an abundance of coins. An exquisite carved bone tuning peg for a string instrument - dating back to the 8th century - gives an interesting clue to the entertainment function of the hall.

"The very quality of the jewellery means that we are dealing here with the absolute elite of the Vikings, the sort of people who planned the plundering, military reconnaissance and final colonisation of England and Ireland by the Vikings," Jørgensen said.

The latest theory is that Tissø was only a temporary residence of a king or royalty, used primarily for feasting, hospitality, entertainment and other ritual functions. The place was in all probability connected to Lejre, near Roskilde, 70 km to the southeast, and the possible ancient seat of the Viking kings. In the hall at Tissø, the powerful local Viking lord or king would carry out his important role of lavishly entertaining important guests and rewarding allies for their loyal assistance, at huge ceremonies and feasts as described in the Icelandic saga and Beowulf, the Old English eighth century epic poem which recounts the tale of the early Danish Viking kings.

Supporting the cult place theory is the discovery so far of some 20 Thor's hammer miniatures featuring the hammer-yielding thunder god. Tissø - meaning Tyr's Lake - derives its name from Tyr or Tir - one of the Viking war gods - and weaponry such as swords, lances and axes, of which 50 examples have so far been found in the lake, could have been sacrificial offerings by knights.

Excavations are due to resume in May-June at Tissø for a two-month period.[/i]



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