Danevirke
Danevirke — Danewerk · Danevirke Rampart · Danewerk · Danvirke Danevirke System
Migration → Viking Age → Medieval 500–1160 (Godfred 808 → Valdemar I brick)·Danish Iron Age → Viking Age (Danevirke Danish border wall, Godfred–Bluetooth)·🇩🇪 Schleswig-Holstein, Schleswig-Flensburg District, Danevirke earthwork 7 km west of Schleswig town (Hedeby–Schleswig isthmus between North Sea Treene and Baltic Schlei), Germany
About
About Danevirke
Danevirke (Danewerk) — Iron Age → Viking Age linear fortification (5th–12th c, 30 km wall system between North Sea Treene marsh and Baltic Schlei fjord) 7 km west Schleswig town, Schleswig isthmus Hedeby–Haithabu gateway. Excavated H. Hellmuth Andersen: Phase 0 500 CE turf wall, 737? Main wall 12 m wide 6 m high with Wattle phasage, 968 Harald Bluetooth stone-reinforced 14 m Hedeby–Kovirke, Thyraburg, Valdemar I 1160 brick Danevirke (Valdemarsmuren). Hedeby emporium behind wall. UNESCO 1553 (2018) Archaeological Border Complex Hedeby–Danevirke. King Godfred 737, 808 chronicle. Gate Schlei–Treene bar to Frankish–Abodrite. Medieval Danish ‘Great Wall’ 30 km.
Why it mattersScandinavia's ‘Great Wall’ 30 km 14 m — Godfred 808 to Valdemar 1160 protecting Hedeby UNESCO 1553
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01500 CE Phase 0 — Danish kingdom?
Theories
- 01Danevirke as Danish kingdom border from Godfred
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.500 CE turf Phase 0; 737 Main Wall 12 m Gdfr; 968 Bluetooth stone 14 m; 1160 Valdemarsmuren brick
- Period
- Migration → Viking Age → Medieval 500–1160 (Godfred 808 → Valdemar I brick)
- Culture
- Danish Iron Age → Viking Age (Danevirke Danish border wall, Godfred–Bluetooth)
- Builders
- Danish kings (Godfred 808, Harald Bluetooth 968, Valdemar I 1160 Great)
- Purpose
- Schleswig isthmus 30 km barrier 14 m high closing North Sea–Schlei gap protecting Hedeby
- Abandoned
- 12th–19th c maintained to 1864 German war; UNESCO 2018
- Rediscovered
- 1850s Slesvig war trenches; Andersen 1960s Hedeby–Danevirke
- Excavation
- Excavated
500 CE
Turf Phase 0 Danevirke Schleswig
737–808 CE
Godfred Main Wall 12 m 14 km Hedeby gate
968–1160 CE
Bluetooth 14 m stone + Valdemar brick 400 m
On the ground
Structures & features
54.4700° N · 9.3800° E · 20 m · 3 mapped features
Main Wall 14 m Hedeby Section
wall14 m high 12 m wide Main Wall Hedeby 737 Godfred 968 Bluetooth stone
54.4710° N · 9.3800° EValdemarsmuren Brick Wall 1160
wall1160 Valdemar I brick Danevirke 3 m high 400 m surviving near Hedeby
54.4720° N · 9.3900° EKovirke Cross Wall
wallKovirke 6 km cross wall with Outer Schlei gate Thyraburg Hedeby protection
54.4680° N · 9.3500° E
Gallery