A Viking tomb uncovered in Denmark is offering an intriguing insight into the Nordic warrior race, hinting at the extent of their maritime travels.
First discovered in 2012, the 'death house' contains the graves of two men and a woman, which experts believe date back as far as 950 AD.
Archaeologists say that from markings on the graves, two of the bodies were of a high-born couple who may have travelled as far afield as Afghanistan.
Engineers uncovered the graves during construction work on a new highway in Haarup, on what was once a Viking burial ground.
Rare Viking 'Death House' unearthed: Couple buried 1,000 years ago with foreign coins reveal how Norse nobles travelled the world
The dødehuse or 'Death House' was a type of specialised Viking tomb
It was first uncovered in 2012 during construction of a new Highway
Experts say that a couple buried at the site were of high status
Artefacts buried with them may originate from modern day Afghanistan
By Ryan O'Hare for MailOnline
1 July 2016
A Viking tomb uncovered in Denmark is offering an intriguing insight into the Nordic warrior race, hinting at the extent of their maritime travels.
First discovered in 2012, the 'death house' contains the graves of two men and a woman, which experts believe date back as far as 950 AD.
Archaeologists say that from markings on the graves, two of the bodies were of a high-born couple who may have travelled as far afield as Afghanistan.
Archaeologists first uncovered the 'Death House' tomb in Denmark in 2012. They say that from markings on the graves, two of the bodies were of a high-born couple who may have travelled far and wide. Pictured is a reconstruction of the woman found in the main chamber, who is believed to have been of high status
Engineers uncovered the graves during construction work on a new highway in Haarup, on what was once a Viking burial ground.
But experts identified the tomb where they lay as a 'dødehuse', a type of specialised tomb which translates to 'Death House'.
The tomb measures 13 feet by 43 feet and contained three bodies.
Analysis indicates that it was built more than 1,000 years ago, with a man and woman buried in the main chamber and the body of another man in a separate chamber, believed to have been added later.
Coins found with the couple indicate they may have led a very international lifestyle, with the coins believed to come from modern day Afghanistan
Experts believe that ceramics found in the tomb originated in Asia, highlighting the extent to which Vikings travelled
According to ScienceNordic, objects unearthed around the bodies of the man and woman show they received burial rites reserved for people of high status.
The woman's body was buried in a wagon with keys, symbols of great power and status, while the man was buried with a battle axe.
Kirsten Nelleman Nielsen, an archaeologist at the Saxo Institute at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, said: 'It's a very large axe and would have been a formidable weapon.
Engineers uncovered a dødehuse containing three graves in 2012, during construction of a new highway in Haarup in Denmark
Researchers believe artefacts uncovered in the tomb may be from central Asia, which could have been obtained through trade with settlers in the region, or through raids in the lands around the Caspian Sea (Pictured is a replica of a Viking ship at sea)
People across Europe feared this type of axe, which at the time was known as the Dane Axe - something like the 'machine gun' of the Viking Age.'
But most intriguing are coins and a clay vessel found in the Dead House.
Experts say that the clay pot and silver coins are reminiscent of those from South and Central Asia, hinting at how well travelled these Vikings were.
'It wouldn't surprise me that the idea came from [outside Scandinavia].
WHAT WAS IN THE DEATH HOUSE?
The dødehuse, or 'Death House', was a type of tomb used by the Vikings to bury their dead.
Engineers uncovered a dødehuse containing three graves in 2012, during construction of a new highway in Haarup in Denmark.
The main chamber contained the remains of a man and woman - believed to be of high status - while a third body of a man was found in an adjoining chamber.
Archaeologists at the site said the battle axe (pictured) was the 'machine gun' of its day and was a symbol of power and status among Vikings
Engineers uncovered the graves during construction work on a new highway in Haarup, on what was once a Viking burial ground (pictured)
But experts identified the tomb where they lay as a 'dødehuse', a type of specialised tomb which translates to 'death house'
The tomb measures 13 feet by 43 feet and contained three bodies
'We've also found Baltic ceramics in the form of a clay vessel and silver coins from what is today Afghanistan, so the residents must have been quite international,' said Nielsen.
Researchers believe the artefacts may be from central Asia, which could have been obtained through trade with settlers in the region, or through raids in the lands around the Caspian Sea.
While the remnants of Viking conquest are clear in Britain and northern Europe, evidence suggests they travelled far further afield - reaching North America, a region the Vikings called Vinland.
The reason for their expansion - including trading, raiding and creating new settlements - remains a matter of some debate, but experts believe it may have been driven by a need for food, opening new trade routes into the Islamic lands and even a need for women to counter their selectivity for male children.
The man buried in the main chamber of the tomb was laid to rest with a large battle axe (pictured) a symbol of power
First discovered in 2012, the 'death house' contains the graves of two men and a woman, which experts believe date back as far as 950 AD.
Archaeologists say that from markings on the graves, two of the bodies were of a high-born couple who may have travelled as far afield as Afghanistan.
Engineers uncovered the graves during construction work on a new highway in Haarup, on what was once a Viking burial ground.
Rare Viking 'Death House' unearthed: Couple buried 1,000 years ago with foreign coins reveal how Norse nobles travelled the world
The dødehuse or 'Death House' was a type of specialised Viking tomb
It was first uncovered in 2012 during construction of a new Highway
Experts say that a couple buried at the site were of high status
Artefacts buried with them may originate from modern day Afghanistan
By Ryan O'Hare for MailOnline
1 July 2016
A Viking tomb uncovered in Denmark is offering an intriguing insight into the Nordic warrior race, hinting at the extent of their maritime travels.
First discovered in 2012, the 'death house' contains the graves of two men and a woman, which experts believe date back as far as 950 AD.
Archaeologists say that from markings on the graves, two of the bodies were of a high-born couple who may have travelled as far afield as Afghanistan.
Archaeologists first uncovered the 'Death House' tomb in Denmark in 2012. They say that from markings on the graves, two of the bodies were of a high-born couple who may have travelled far and wide. Pictured is a reconstruction of the woman found in the main chamber, who is believed to have been of high status
Engineers uncovered the graves during construction work on a new highway in Haarup, on what was once a Viking burial ground.
But experts identified the tomb where they lay as a 'dødehuse', a type of specialised tomb which translates to 'Death House'.
The tomb measures 13 feet by 43 feet and contained three bodies.
Analysis indicates that it was built more than 1,000 years ago, with a man and woman buried in the main chamber and the body of another man in a separate chamber, believed to have been added later.
Coins found with the couple indicate they may have led a very international lifestyle, with the coins believed to come from modern day Afghanistan
Experts believe that ceramics found in the tomb originated in Asia, highlighting the extent to which Vikings travelled
According to ScienceNordic, objects unearthed around the bodies of the man and woman show they received burial rites reserved for people of high status.
The woman's body was buried in a wagon with keys, symbols of great power and status, while the man was buried with a battle axe.
Kirsten Nelleman Nielsen, an archaeologist at the Saxo Institute at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, said: 'It's a very large axe and would have been a formidable weapon.
Engineers uncovered a dødehuse containing three graves in 2012, during construction of a new highway in Haarup in Denmark
Researchers believe artefacts uncovered in the tomb may be from central Asia, which could have been obtained through trade with settlers in the region, or through raids in the lands around the Caspian Sea (Pictured is a replica of a Viking ship at sea)
People across Europe feared this type of axe, which at the time was known as the Dane Axe - something like the 'machine gun' of the Viking Age.'
But most intriguing are coins and a clay vessel found in the Dead House.
Experts say that the clay pot and silver coins are reminiscent of those from South and Central Asia, hinting at how well travelled these Vikings were.
'It wouldn't surprise me that the idea came from [outside Scandinavia].
WHAT WAS IN THE DEATH HOUSE?
The dødehuse, or 'Death House', was a type of tomb used by the Vikings to bury their dead.
Engineers uncovered a dødehuse containing three graves in 2012, during construction of a new highway in Haarup in Denmark.
The main chamber contained the remains of a man and woman - believed to be of high status - while a third body of a man was found in an adjoining chamber.
Archaeologists at the site said the battle axe (pictured) was the 'machine gun' of its day and was a symbol of power and status among Vikings
Engineers uncovered the graves during construction work on a new highway in Haarup, on what was once a Viking burial ground (pictured)
But experts identified the tomb where they lay as a 'dødehuse', a type of specialised tomb which translates to 'death house'
The tomb measures 13 feet by 43 feet and contained three bodies
'We've also found Baltic ceramics in the form of a clay vessel and silver coins from what is today Afghanistan, so the residents must have been quite international,' said Nielsen.
Researchers believe the artefacts may be from central Asia, which could have been obtained through trade with settlers in the region, or through raids in the lands around the Caspian Sea.
While the remnants of Viking conquest are clear in Britain and northern Europe, evidence suggests they travelled far further afield - reaching North America, a region the Vikings called Vinland.
The reason for their expansion - including trading, raiding and creating new settlements - remains a matter of some debate, but experts believe it may have been driven by a need for food, opening new trade routes into the Islamic lands and even a need for women to counter their selectivity for male children.
The man buried in the main chamber of the tomb was laid to rest with a large battle axe (pictured) a symbol of power