Rare Grave Site Discovery in Denmark Linked to Famous Viking King

Archaeologists from Denmark’s Moesgaard Museum have discovered a rare Viking Age burial site near the village of Lisbjerg, just seven kilometers north of Aarhus.

The site contains evidence of a noble family believed to have served under King Harald Bluetooth in the late 10th century.

30 Graves from the Time of Denmark’s Unification

According to the Archaeology Magazine, the excavation began after construction work led to the exposure of ancient artifacts.

Archaeologists uncovered 30 graves dating to the second half of the 900s CE, a period when Harald Bluetooth unified Denmark and introduced Christianity.

The graves contain a large number of items, including coins, beads, pottery, and a richly decorated casket.

The casket, with gold-thread ornamentation and complex fittings, points to the elite status of those buried there. Human remains, mostly teeth and bones, were also found and are being studied further.

Links to a Viking Noble Manor

The burial site is located close to a known Viking manor, which was excavated in 1989 by the same museum. This manor was surrounded by a fortified wooden fence and covered about two hectares.

It was likely the home of a local nobleman or chieftain.

The connection between the manor and the graves suggests that the people buried here may have belonged to a powerful family that supported Harald Bluetooth.

A Rare and Rich Woman’s Grave

Among the most important finds is a grave believed to belong to a high-status woman.

Inside her burial, archaeologists found a casket with the finest fittings, rivets, and a complex locking mechanism.

X-rays revealed it held personal items such as jewelry, a needle, and scissors—objects rarely found in such good condition in Viking graves.

Only two other such caskets have been found: one in Haldum, about 12 km away, and another in southeastern Germany.

The graves vary in both size and wealth.

Some contain rich objects, while others are simpler, suggesting a mix of social ranks, from nobility to possibly slaves.

In Viking times, Aarhus—then known as Aros—was an important royal center and trade hub.

The manor at Lisbjerg was connected to Aros by a main road, indicating the strategic and political importance of the area.

Museum Display Coming Soon

Although the excavation is finishing, researchers will continue to analyze the wooden objects, human remains, and soil samples to better understand the site and its exact age.

The findings will be displayed at the Moesgaard Museum this summer.