Hedeby and the Danevirke

Hedeby and the Danevirke are outstanding testimonies of the Viking Age (8th-11th century AD). The trading post of Hedeby and the ramparts of the Danevirke secured the borderland between Scandinavia and mainland Europe at the narrowest point between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, the land neck of Schleswig. This special location enabled intensive trade and exchange between the regions.

Hedeby was connected to the Danevirke, which served as a border fortification and was extended again and again by Danish kings over centuries. Hedeby flourished in this border region and developed into the central trade and transport hub in northern Europe. Hedeby is now a prime example of an early urban trading centre. The exceptionally well-preserved archaeological material serves science as a source for many important findings from the Viking Age.

"Hedeby and the Danevirke"

"Photo: Tom Körber © State Archaeology Department of Schleswig-Holstein"

Project Videos

Introduction

The videos concerning the Vikings were produced in Hedeby and the Danevirke by Danish and international students from German schools. They addressed two important aspects of the lives and actions of the Vikings between the end of the 8th and middle of the 11th century, namely the topics: borders - cross borders as well as that of trade. Through archaeological investigations, assisted by experts, the students found visible legacies of the Vikings and worked them out for their videos with a specific emphasis pointed to Hedeby and the Danevirke as a World Heritage Site.

Trade

Name of students: Setayesh Salehi, Gemeinschaftsschule Ossenmoorpark, Norderstedt/ Louisa Marie Kjeldsen Orye, EUC Syd, Sønderborg

The Vikings developed a prosperous trade hub at Hedeby's shore. With up to 2000 inhabitants, Hedeby was the largest settlement in the entire region during the Viking Age and signals the beginning of urbanisation in Northern Europe. Many of the inhabitants of Haithabu helped to unload and reload vessels from distant countries, as well as ox carts transporting goods that had arrived from the North Sea via the nearby river Treene by land. They traded goods and sold crafted products. The defensive structures at the Danevirke offered protection from external threats.

Archaeology

Name of students: Lotta Schlüter and Laurits Radzio, EUC Syd, Sønderborg

Hedeby's treasures mainly lie in the untouched site between the shore and the half-wall which is part of the Danevirke. Only 5% has been excavated, but there are enough well preserved wooden structures, treasures and everyday utensils, such as pottery, metal tools, combs, weapons, pearls and jewellery. These all fill the museum at Hedeby and allow a vivid reconstruction of the life of the Vikings there, making it one of the most prolific archaeological sites from the Viking Age. The excellent preservation of many of the artefacts is due to the special composition of the soil with a high salt content. Also, the wall at Danevirke has been only partly excavated showing several layers of earthen ramparts dating back to the 7th century.

Borders

Name of students: Chanida Yochai, Gemeinschaftsschule Ossenmoorpark, Norderstedt/ Clara Nielsen, EUC Syd, Sønderborg

The Danevirke is situated around 30 km between North Sea and the river Treene and the Baltic Sea with the fjord Schlei. Several times in history, this narrow passage has helped the people in the north protect their territory against threats from the south. At the same time it united traders by the landmark and offered protection to the important Ox Road, the trackway connecting the Jutland peninsula and continental Europe.

TEACHING MATERIAL

Hedeby – Teaching Material for School Classes

Author: Dr. Jörg Heinke

Pernille Dige Toft, 2g (11. Klasse) 17 years old, Jakob Askær Holm Knudsen, 2g (11. Klasse) 18 years old

Information Desk

Here one will find further content related information in the form of links, downloads, picture galleries and videos. These materials are freely available for use within lesson.*

* Any use, re-use or alteration of the documents and media available here, for any other purposes, is prohibited and it requires the permission of the respective copyright owner.