Archaeologists from Museum Odense have uncovered a remarkable Viking burial site in the Danish village of Åsum, east of Odense, revealing more than 50 exceptionally well-preserved skeletons. Alongside the skeletons, five cremation graves were also found, further enhancing the archaeological significance of the site.

A skeleton from excavation in Åsum. Credit: Museum Odense

Michael Borre Lundø, archaeologist and curator at Museum Odense, said, “It is truly unusual to find so many well-preserved skeletons at once, like those discovered in Åsum. This discovery offers extraordinary opportunities to perform a wide range of scientific analyses, which can reveal more about the general health, diet, and origins of those buried.” Lundø further explained that these analyses might even uncover whether the buried individuals were related, a question that has never been explored in similar Viking graves.

The burial ground, which spans approximately 2,000 square meters, dates back to the 9th and 10th centuries, a period when Gorm and Thyra ruled in Jelling. It is one of the largest Viking burial sites discovered on the island of Funen.

According to Sarah Croix, ᴀssociate professor at Aarhus University, the skeletons are so well-preserved that for the first time, it may be possible to conduct ancient DNA (aDNA) analyses. “It will be incredibly exciting to learn where these people came from and whether the same families were buried here across multiple generations,” she remarked.

Several of the graves provide evidence of high-status individuals, with artifacts indicating that the Vikings buried in Åsum had connections to far-reaching trade networks. Credit: Museum Odense

Several of the graves provide evidence of high-status individuals, with artifacts indicating that the Vikings buried in Åsum had connections to far-reaching trade networks. One of the most notable discoveries is the grave of a woman, believed to be of noble standing, who was buried in a wagon, possibly the one she traveled in during her life. Her grave goods included a glᴀss bead necklace, an iron key, a knife with a handle wrapped in silver thread, and a small shard of glᴀss that may have served as an amulet. At the foot of her grave was a finely decorated wooden chest, the contents of which remain a mystery.

Other significant items found in the graves include a bronze three-lobed brooch, a single red glᴀss bead, and a piece of rock crystal. The presence of rock crystal, which is not native to Denmark and likely originated from Norway, underscores the extensive trade connections Vikings maintained.

“Several objects from the many graves in Åsum show that the buried Vikings were connected to international trade networks that developed during the Viking Age,” said Lundø. These items, combined with the sheer scale of the burial ground, suggest that Åsum was an important settlement during this period, possibly playing a central role in the development of what would later become the city of Odense.

The excavation took place as part of preparations for Energinet’s work on upgrading the local electrical grid. The well-preserved state of the skeletons, thanks to favorable soil conditions and high water levels, is allowing researchers to extract DNA samples, which could reveal previously unknown aspects of Viking ancestry and kinship.

Lundø noted that the preservation of the skeletons is exceptional, stating, “Normally when we excavate Viking graves, we’d be lucky if there were two teeth left in the grave besides the grave goods, but here we have the skeletons fully preserved. This opens up a whole new set of possibilities for discoveries.”

Museum Odense