Aggersborg

Aggersborg () is largest of the old circular castles Danish Vikings, and one of the greatest archeological sites of Denmark. It is close to Aggersund, on the northern part of the Limfjord. It was included/understood in a circular rampart, itself surrounded by a ditch. Four main roads connected the center of the castle to the external circle. These roads were dug under the external rampart, leaving the intact circular structure.

The circular castle had an internal diameter of 240 meters. The ditch was with 8 meters apart from the rampart, and had an approximate depth of 1,3 meter. The wall had a height estimated at 4 meters. The rampart was built of ground and grass, was reinforced and plated with oak, and formed the base of a parapet. Smaller streets were in the four great sections of the fortress.

Modern Aggersborg is a rebuilding dating from the Nineties. It is however lower than the original fortress.

Characteristics

The archeologists estimate that the fortress could contain a garrison of 5.000 men, placed in 48 long houses. 12 of these houses were in each quadrant, all placed according to a North-South or west-east axis. There does not remain any vestige of these houses, but of the evidence of site of their walls were found. It is thought that the style of these houses were similar to him Coffre of Cammin, a Reliquaire in the shape of house, or with that of the tomb stones in England.

The houses had roofs and walls convex, similar to the shape of a boat and made 32,5 meters length for 8,5 meters broad. They were made up of a long hall of approximately 19 meters length, and of a series of small parts. It was estimated that to build only one house of Aggersborg 66 rather broad oaks were needed. The whole structure of the fortress, including the houses, passes to have consumed 5.000 trees during its construction.

A big number of archaeological lucky finds were made on the site, including many luxury articles coming from imports (such as for example of the crystal pearls of mountain and the pieces of flasks out of glass). A ring of damaged gold arm was also discovered on the site (a counterpart is besides visible with the museum of Aggersborg).

Aggersborg was also easily accessible by boat, knowing that the two ends of the Limfjord were opened with the navigation at the time where the fortress was built. It was advanced that the boats were to be transferred onto the ground after Løgstørgrunde.

Aggersborg was also strategically placed on one of the three old crossroads of the Hærvejen ( military road ). The two other crossroads were for one in the north of Farstrup, and for the other close to Lindholm Høje (Ålborg).

No conclusive data exists with knowing if Aggersborg were a fortified town controlling trade route or if its principal function were to be a place of drive, of connection with the raids in England carried out by Sven Ier of Denmark.

Comparison with the other circular castles

Dating of the site

The dating of the structure appeared delicate, knowing that on this same archeological site one found a Germanic village dating from the iron age. The circular castle seems to be built in the neighborhoods of 980, during (S) the reign (S) of Harald Ier of Denmark, called to the blue tooth and/or Sven Ier of Denmark, said bores fourchue. Five of the six circular castles of historical Denmark are contemporary of this time. The structure was completed into 1 or 2 years, and was used for one rather short period, between 5 and 20 years.


Panorama of the site of Aggersborg

See too

References

  • The Danish Forest and Natural Agency
  • Ole Malchau: Vikinger/Ringborge
  • Information plates located near Aggersborg
  • Bremdals lokalhistorie
  • Salmonsens konversationsleksikon, Projekt Runeberg
  • Arkæologi.dk

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