Randlev and Hesselbjerg
[2] Artifacts were found in the vicinity of the Hesselbjerg and Randlev sites as early as 1932 when a local farmer discovered a silver hoard,[4] but serious excavations were not conducted until 1963.
[6] The Hesselbjerg family farm came into the archaeological spotlight in 1962 when Viking-Age bronze jewelry was found in the field by metal detector hobbyists.
This yielded more finds including three small iron amulets gathered in a ring: Thor's hammer, sickle, and a fire striker.
With renewed financial support, excavation resumed in 1997 and by 1999 approximately 2300 square meters were uncovered; the number of graves onsite reached 104.
Cremation graves usually consist of pits in which the burnt skeletal remains are found amidst the remainder of the funeral pyre.
A single pit contained numerous glass and amber beads and an elaborately decorated bronze gilt belt buckle.
Potential explanations for this phenomenon include the idea that many men from Randlev may have died while raiding or trading with other countries, or perhaps simply emigrated to other areas.
[2] Strontium isotope analyses of her bones revealed that, unlike several other women buried in the cemetery, she spent her entire life in Randlev, never traveling outside the immediate area.
[2] Significant finds from the settlement include crescent and ship shaped jewelry decorated with the motif of a clutching beast with four paws.
[3] The discovery of the Viking Age settlement near the town of Randlev was prompted in part by the extensive excavations at Hesselbjerg in the preceding years.
Viking settlements are difficult to locate, as the sites did not leave many traces in the form of potsherds, waste, or the organic material that was used to construct houses and outbuildings.
In 1999, support from the Best Eiler Foundation funded a larger excavation that lead to the discovery of the settlement a few hundred meters from the burial.
[3] Starting with the approximate location of the silver hoard that was found in 1932, the archaeologists from Moesgård were able to survey the surrounding area with metal detectors to search for indications of Viking occupation.
Significant to note is the fact that the burial site would not have been visible from the settlement, despite their close proximity the graves are positioned on the far side of the ridge, hiding them from sight.
[5] The discovery of rivets and foundry waste indicated that there had been some craft specialization at the site, with production taking place perhaps in the pithouses.
[3] Given the proximity to the Romanesque church built in 1100, it is tempting to call these buildings a precursor to the surrounding present-day village of Randlev.
[8] The coins found in the Randlev hoard were determined based on design to have originated specifically from modern-day Uzbekistan, Caucasus, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran.
The silver was not found in the form of intact coins, but rather as “hacksilver”—coins that were cut in order to decrease their value and make exchange transactions more precise.
[6] The later excavations at the western edge of the Randlev settlement, approximately 400 meters from the grave, turned up a fragment that proved to be the missing iron ring from the pin.
The quality of the grave goods and the finds in the settlement, such as the elaborate jewelry and silver coin hoards, indicates that the area was likely one of some wealth.
