Fyrkat Viking Ringfort
Fyrkat near Hobro
Viking Age (c.980 CE)·Danish Viking Age·🇩🇰 North Jutland, Mariagerfjord, near Hobro, Denmark
West Lothian Archaeological Trust (Jim Knowles, Frank Scott and John Wells) · CC BY-SA 4.0
About
About Fyrkat Viking Ringfort
Viking ringfort 120 m diameter near Hobro, North Jutland, contemporary with Trelleborg (Harald Bluetooth), with identical four-gate geometry and 16 houses plus a cemetery of 30 graves including wagon burial. UNESCO ring fortresses 2023. Excavated by Olsen 1950, reconstruction. Dendro c.980 same timber as others.
Why it mattersViking ringfort 120 m diameter near Hobro, North Jutland, contemporary with Trelleborg (Harald Bluetooth), with identical four-gate geometry and 16 houses plus a cemetery of 30 graves including wagon burial. UNESCO ring fortresses 2023. Excavated by Olsen 1950, reconstruction. Dendro c.980 same timb
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function as fortress vs administrative centre
Theories
- 01Fyrkat as control of Lindfjord–Kattegat portage
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.980 CE
- Period
- Viking Age (c.980 CE)
- Culture
- Danish Viking Age
- Purpose
- Royal ring fortress controlling Jutland crossing
- Excavation
- Excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
56.6230° N · 9.7740° E · 12 m · 3 mapped features
Circular Bank
rampart120 m ring with four gates
56.6230° N · 9.7740° EHouse Quadrants
houses16 longhouses inside
56.6228° N · 9.7735° EViking Cemetery
cemeteryBurials with grave goods outside north-west
56.6235° N · 9.7730° E
Gallery