Viking woman’s clothes preserved by her jewellery for 1,300 years
Archaeologists in Denmark have discovered rare 1,300-year-old textile fragments from a Viking woman's grave, preserved by the metallic salts from her bronze and silver brooches. This find provides a unique opportunity to study ancient sewing techniques and fashion in an environment where cloth usually decomposes.
Why it matters
This discovery offers a rare, tangible link to Viking Age daily life and material culture, providing insights that are typically lost to time due to soil acidity.
Danish archaeologists have unearthed rare textile remains from a Viking woman's grave near Varde, in the heart of Western Jutland. During excavations at the Skonager site (ARV 661), a team of archaeologists discovered a Viking Age burial in which fragments of clothing survived against all odds. This discovery gives a rare glimpse into Viking dress from around 1,300 years ago. The fragments of wool and linen were still preserved, thanks to the two brooches that once fastened the clothing of the Viking woman.
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