Archaeologists in Denmark have uncovered more than 50 skeletons during an excavation in central Aarhus, offering new insight into the city’s earliest Christian past. The discovery comes from work led by Moesgaard Museum at a historic burial ground once located on the edge of the medieval town.
The excavation is taking place in St. Oluf’s Street (Sankt Olufs Gade), close to what were once the defensive ramparts of Aros, the Viking settlement that grew into modern Aarhus. Researchers believe some of the burials may be as much as 900 years old, dating them to the 12th century, when Christianity was becoming firmly rooted in the region.
Written accounts record that St. Oluf’s Church, which once stood beside the cemetery, collapsed on Shrove Sunday in 1548 after an easterly storm undermined the choir. The remaining structure was later demolished when the city chose not to reinforce the coastal site. While the church disappeared centuries ago, its cemetery remained in use until 1813.
According to Moesgaard archaeologist Mads Ravn, the find marks an important window into Aarhus’s transition from Viking-age traditions to medieval Christian practices. “The cemetery marks the tangible entry of Christianity into the city at the end of the Viking Age and the beginning of the Middle Ages – a transition that is clearly reflected in the burial customs,” says Ravn. “The rare skeletons give us a unique opportunity to learn more about the lives, illnesses and beliefs of the first Aarhusians – and about the role of Christian cultural heritage in the development of the city.”
Burials to Undergo Further Study
Archaeologists excavate in Sct. Olufs Gade – photo courtesy Mosegard Museum
The bones and a small number of associated objects are now being transferred to Moesgaard’s Department of Natural Sciences and Conservation for analysis. Researchers will carry out C14 dating to determine the precise age of each burial.
The excavation was prompted by municipal infrastructure work to install new underground waste containers—an increasingly common source of archaeological discoveries in European city centres where medieval remains lie just below modern streets.
St. Oluf’s Church was named for Olav Haraldsson, the Viking chieftain who became king of Norway in 1015 and played a central role in spreading Christianity across Scandinavia. His cult grew rapidly after his death, making churches dedicated to him common in medieval northern Europe.
Top Image: Skeletons found in Sct. Olufs Gade – photo courtesy Moesgaard Museum
Archaeologists in Denmark have uncovered more than 50 skeletons during an excavation in central Aarhus, offering new insight into the city’s earliest Christian past. The discovery comes from work led by Moesgaard Museum at a historic burial ground once located on the edge of the medieval town.
The excavation is taking place in St. Oluf’s Street (Sankt Olufs Gade), close to what were once the defensive ramparts of Aros, the Viking settlement that grew into modern Aarhus. Researchers believe some of the burials may be as much as 900 years old, dating them to the 12th century, when Christianity was becoming firmly rooted in the region.
Written accounts record that St. Oluf’s Church, which once stood beside the cemetery, collapsed on Shrove Sunday in 1548 after an easterly storm undermined the choir. The remaining structure was later demolished when the city chose not to reinforce the coastal site. While the church disappeared centuries ago, its cemetery remained in use until 1813.
According to Moesgaard archaeologist Mads Ravn, the find marks an important window into Aarhus’s transition from Viking-age traditions to medieval Christian practices. “The cemetery marks the tangible entry of Christianity into the city at the end of the Viking Age and the beginning of the Middle Ages – a transition that is clearly reflected in the burial customs,” says Ravn. “The rare skeletons give us a unique opportunity to learn more about the lives, illnesses and beliefs of the first Aarhusians – and about the role of Christian cultural heritage in the development of the city.”
Burials to Undergo Further Study
The bones and a small number of associated objects are now being transferred to Moesgaard’s Department of Natural Sciences and Conservation for analysis. Researchers will carry out C14 dating to determine the precise age of each burial.
The excavation was prompted by municipal infrastructure work to install new underground waste containers—an increasingly common source of archaeological discoveries in European city centres where medieval remains lie just below modern streets.
St. Oluf’s Church was named for Olav Haraldsson, the Viking chieftain who became king of Norway in 1015 and played a central role in spreading Christianity across Scandinavia. His cult grew rapidly after his death, making churches dedicated to him common in medieval northern Europe.
Top Image: Skeletons found in Sct. Olufs Gade – photo courtesy Moesgaard Museum
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