Rare Viking-Age Clothing Fragments Found in a Danish Grave

A Viking Age grave near Varde in southwestern Denmark has yielded an unusually fragile archaeological discovery: small pieces of clothing that survived for about 1,300 years. The remnants were found at the Skonager archaeological site, where excavations in 2024 uncovered a cemetery containing burials of people of different ages. Graves at the site included objects such as iron knives and glass beads. The textile fragments came from a burial containing two oval brooches, jewelry strongly associated with women’s clothing during the Viking Age. According to Archaeology West Jutland, traces of fabric remained attached to both the front and back of the brooches. The metal appears to have helped preserve the material. As the brooches corroded, they released salts that protected portions of the textiles from disappearing completely. Their location on the jewelry could also help researchers work out whether the pieces belonged to separate layers of clothing and how the garments may have been worn. Textile specialist Lise Ræder Knudsen has been recruited to examine the fragments. Her work will include studying the techniques used to weave the material and looking for evidence of a pattern. Researchers also plan to use radiocarbon dating to estimate the textiles’ age. Ulla Mannering and Charlotte Rimstad of the National Museum of Denmark will analyze the samples for any surviving pigment. Archaeological evidence for Viking Age dyes and colors is limited, although surviving finds indicate that both dyed fabrics and naturally colored wool were used in Scandinavian textile production. One of the brooches shows evidence of repair. That raises the possibility that it was a family heirloom and may have been older than the fabric found with it, though the age of the jewelry and textiles will require further investigation. Surviving Viking Age clothing is exceptionally rare. The National Museum of Denmark says most physical evidence consists of small textile pieces preserved by chance. The Skonager fragments could therefore provide a valuable glimpse into a clothing tradition otherwise known mainly through written accounts, figurines and tapestries. In Denmark, the Viking Age is generally dated from about 800 to 1050 C.E. Clothing from the period was commonly made from wool and flax, with oval brooches used by elite women to secure dress straps.