1,500-year-old Iron Age weapons sacrifice discovered in Denmark

Archaeologists from the Vejle Museums have uncovered an extraordinary collection of Iron Age weaponry and artifacts during excavations near Hedensted, Denmark. The finds were made at Løsning Søndermark during the expansion of the E45 motorway.

1,500-year-old Iron Age weapons sacrifice discovered in DenmarkSword and other weapons. Credit: Vejle Museums

The discovery includes nearly 200 weapons and items that would have equipped a small army. The arsenal comprises 119 lances and spears, eight swords, five knives, three arrowheads, one axe, a horse bridle, and a rare chainmail shirt—one of only 14 ever found in Denmark and the first recovered from a settlement rather than a burial site. Other notable artifacts include fragments of two bronze “oath rings,” symbols of power and influence in the Nordic Iron Age.

Elias Witte Thomasen, an archaeologist from the Vejle Museums who led the excavation, said: “From the very first surveys, we knew this was going to be extraordinary, but the excavation has exceeded all our expectations. The sheer number of weapons is astonishing, but what fascinates me most is the glimpse they provide into the societal structure and daily life of the Iron Age. We suddenly feel very close to the people who lived here 1,500 years ago.”

The artifacts were deliberately buried within two houses in the settlement. One deposit was made during the construction of a house, with weapons packed around its load-bearing posts, while the other was made during a house’s demolition, with weapons placed in the empty postholes. These practices suggest the offerings were part of ceremonial or sacrificial rituals linked to the residence of a powerful chieftain rather than items from a workshop or barracks.

1,500-year-old Iron Age weapons sacrifice discovered in DenmarkA Vejle Museums archaeologist excavates metal weapons. Credit: Vejle Museums

Archaeologists believe the weapons were likely spoils of war, as such practices of collecting and sacrificing war booty were common during the South Scandinavian Iron Age. However, further analysis will determine whether the items were locally produced or acquired from defeated enemies.

The discovery of the chainmail, an expensive and labor-intensive piece of armor, underscores the chieftain’s elite status. Such a garment was typically reserved for high-ranking warriors or leaders, and its sacrifice would have been a significant display of wealth and power.

In addition to its practical significance, the chainmail and other items bear symbolic value. The bronze oath rings, for instance, resemble depictions on gold bracteates, such as those from the nearby Vindelev Hoard, which feature figures holding rings as symbols of authority.

1,500-year-old Iron Age weapons sacrifice discovered in DenmarkThe bronze oath rings (right) resemble depictions on gold bracteates, such as those from the nearby Vindelev Hoard (left), which feature figures holding rings as symbols of authority. Credit: Vejle Museums

Unlike most Iron Age weapons caches, typically found in bogs or funerary contexts, this discovery provides a rare glimpse into life within a settlement. The site’s unique nature adds valuable context to the understanding of social and military structures in Denmark during the waning days of the Roman Empire.

The excavation leader Thomasen remarked on this broader significance: “The finds allow us to connect the dots between daily life, warfare, and ritual practices. This site is a key to understanding the resilience and influence of Iron Age societies on the northern edge of the Roman Empire.”

Further analysis of the items, including their origins and production methods, is underway. This research is expected to enhance understanding of the warriors, their leaders, and the intricate social networks of the Iron Age.

More information: Vejle Museums

Related Posts

Ancient Greco-Roman sculptures were scented, study reveals

Ancient Greco-Roman sculptures were scented, study reveals

Scholars have known for centuries that the ancient Greek and Roman statues, far from being the immaculate white marble figures put on view in museums today, were…

2,000-year-old large wooden houses uncovered in Zhejiang, revealing secrets of the Yue Kingdom

2,000-year-old large wooden houses uncovered in Zhejiang, revealing secrets of the Yue Kingdom

Archaeologists in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, have unearthed a well-preserved ancient settlement dating back 2,500 years, belonging to the Yue State of the early Warring States period (475-221…

Mikveh ritual bath discovered in Ostia Antica, Italy

Mikveh ritual bath discovered in Ostia Antica, Italy

Archaeologists in Ostia Antica, the ancient port city near Rome, have made an amazing discovery—a Mikveh, a Jewish ritual bath, from the late 4th or early 5th…

First burials: evidence of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sharing culture 110,000 years ago

First burials: evidence of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sharing culture 110,000 years ago

A recent discovery in Tinshemet Cave, central Israel, is changing the way we look at early human interactions. Archaeologists have found human burials from the Middle Paleolithic…

Teeth from burial pit in Mongolia trace Han soldiers in the Xiongnu war

Teeth from burial pit in Mongolia trace Han soldiers in the Xiongnu war

New information on a mᴀss burial found at the Bayanbulag site in Mongolia, which is thought to hold the remains of Han warriors who participated in the…

Mystery of the Arnish Moor Man: Belongings of 18th-Century Suspected Murder Victim on Display

Mystery of the Arnish Moor Man: Belongings of 18th-Century Suspected Murder Victim on Display

A new exhibition showing the personal items of a mystery 18th-century man, known as the Arnish Moor Man, has opened at the Kinloch Historical Society on the…