Kings’ Jelling: Monuments with Outstanding Biographies in the Heart of Denmark

Recent excavations at Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church have uncovered significant new structures, including a massive stone ship outline measuring 360 meters and a four-sided wooden palisade enclosing approximately 12.5 hectares, both centered around the Northern Mound burial chamber. These discoveries expand our understanding of the site's historical and archaeological significance as a key location reflecting political and religious transformations in Scandinavia during the late Viking Period. The Jelling Monuments, comprising two burial mounds, two runic stones, and a church, stand as pivotal symbols in Danish history, marking the lineage of King Gorm’s dynasty and the transition from paganism to Christianity. Archaeological investigations, dating back to 1586, have provided insights into this monumental site's rich biography.

Hvass, S. (2015). Kings’ Jelling: Monuments with Outstanding Biographies in the Heart of Denmark. The Lives of Prehistoric Monuments in Iron Age, Roman, and Medieval Europe. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198724605.003.0010