"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."
"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.""
More than 50 skeletons were uncovered during an excavation in central Aarhus at a historic burial ground on St. Oluf's Street, near the former ramparts of Aros. Several burials may date to the 12th century, about 900 years old, coinciding with the establishment of Christianity in the region. St. Oluf's Church once stood beside the cemetery, collapsed in 1548 after a storm undermined the choir, and was later demolished; the cemetery remained in use until 1813. Bones and associated objects are being transferred to Moesgaard's Department of Natural Sciences and Conservation for analysis, including C14 dating to determine precise ages.
Read at Medievalists.net
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]