New Discoveries in Medieval Tombs in Denmark

Danish archaeologists have recently uncovered a significant number of medieval tombs, shedding light on how disease and hardship influenced life in early Christian Denmark.

The Morsgaard Museum in Veder, Denmark, shared the news in a release. Among the findings was a skeleton from St. Olaf’s cemetery, which was active from the 1100s until 1813. This cemetery, named after St. Olaf—an influential Norwegian Viking king known for promoting Christianity in Scandinavia—holds deep historical significance.

The museum noted that these remnants are estimated to be about 900 years old, discovered within a churchyard from the 12th century near the ancient Viking capital of Aros. The unearthing was part of a city initiative aimed at upgrading waste management facilities.

Mads Ravn, who oversees local heritage at the Morsgaard Museum, mentioned that his team has found a total of 77 remarkable ancient tombs. “It’s much more than I expected and it’s very dense,” he remarked about the findings.

Interestingly, Ravn clarified that these graves do not belong to the earliest converts to Christianity in Denmark, as the faith spread mainly during the 9th and 10th centuries. Harald Bluetooth, who completed Denmark’s conversion around 965, is commemorated in the Jelling runestone. By the 12th century, Christianity was firmly established in Aarhus, and this cemetery reflects those deeply rooted Christian beliefs.

Aarhus itself is noteworthy. During the cemetery’s operational period, it primarily serviced the poor, while the affluent were buried in a nearby cathedral, around 500 meters away. “As a result, the skeletons were densely packed, with newer burials often disrupting older ones, leaving some bones partially intact,” Ravn explained.

Although few bodies were interred with grave goods, Ravn highlighted an unusual find in one grave from 1626— a coin placed in the deceased’s mouth. This could point to a widespread local custom, particularly among sailors. It suggests a tradition of securing payment to another party, which traces back to ancient Greece.

The excavations primarily reveal the lives of the less fortunate Christians of Aarhus rather than the well-off. “It opens the door to understanding daily life,” Ravn said, noting that evidence from other graves indicates a challenging existence, with an average life expectancy around 37 years, rife with illnesses.

One poignant discovery involved three children buried atop one another, possibly interconnected by a singular infection or plague. “Further analysis could provide insights into the causes of death and the age and gender of the skeletons,” he added.

The most significant findings appear to be disease-related; common ailments like leprosy, plague, and waterborne diseases were prevalent. Ravn pointed out how such diseases might have contributed to the devastation they caused upon reaching the New World, impacting Native Americans remarkably.

The overarching sentiment from Ravn, reflecting on the evidence collected, left a stark impression: “Life was hard and short.” He noted that many women died during childbirth, and when asked if he would have preferred living in that era, his response was a clear “no.”