Denmark's Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen has announced its annual Top 10 list of archaeological discoveries for 2024, showcasing significant finds from various regions across the country. This year's discoveries include rare burial and housing types from the Late Stone Age, shedding light on early agricultural practices and societal structures.
The list, compiled through the efforts of professional archaeologists and dedicated volunteers using metal detectors, reflects the diverse historical narratives emerging from Denmark's soil. The findings provide crucial insights into the lives, rituals, and material culture of past populations.
Key discoveries include:
A Late Stone Age settlement from around 2400 BC in Zealand (ROMU, Roskilde Museum).
Uncommon deposits of elite weaponry and war equipment at the noble residences near Løsning Søndermark (VejleMuseerne).
A collection of 500,000 discarded items revealing the unknown history of Copenhagen (Copenhagen Museum).
Denmark's oldest rune inscription, offering a glimpse into early written communication (Museum Odense).
A longhouse with preserved building timber from the early Iron Age, marking a significant construction technique (Museum Midtjylland).
A newly discovered Lærkenfeldt grave in Horsens, featuring an impressive Iron Age belt (Museum Horsens).
The Egedalfund, a rare Bronze Age find (ROMU, Roskilde Museum).
Viking remains found in Åsum (Museum Odense).
The Vange treasure, consisting of small coins of great value (Vendsyssel Historical Museum).
An East Jutland princely lineage revealed at Højlund Boes, demonstrating the impact of plowing on buried cultural heritage (Museum Skanderborg).
Among the oldest finds are unusual burial and housing forms, alongside Zealand's largest grain discovery from the Late Stone Age near Ølstykke. The list also features significant Iron Age and Viking Age artifacts, including a well-preserved longhouse excavated near Vildbjerg and a burial site near Alken, which yielded exquisite Roman silver cups.
Notably, a knife inscribed with the unique rune “Lille Sværd” was found at a burial site east of Odense, while rare Roman bronze coins were discovered southwest of Frederikshavn. A rich weapon grave with an ornate belt and Roman glass was also uncovered near Gedved, Horsens.
Exceptional deposits of elite weaponry from noble residences were excavated near Løsning, and remarkably well-preserved human skeletons were found at a Viking burial site in Åsum, east of Odense. The most recent find comes from Amaliegade in Copenhagen, where excavations for a new headquarters revealed extensive and uniquely preserved material from the 18th century, providing an unprecedented look into daily life 300 years ago.