An archaeological excavation in Aarhus, Denmark, recently revealed a notable Viking Age textile production site dating back over 1,000 years. Located in Søften, about 10 kilometers north of Aarhus, this site underscores the sophistication of Viking society.
Experts from the Moesgaard Museum identified the site as a substantial operation spread across 100,000 square meters. The site includes areas for flax processing and over 80 pit houses that served as both workshops and dwellings during the Viking Age. This settlement dates back to the late Iron Age and early Viking Age, between A.D. 600 and 950.
Liv Stidsing Reher-Langberg, the leading archaeologist of the 10-month excavation, stated, “We have a clear focus on textile production, which makes this settlement different from other kinds of settlements of this period.” Numerous artifacts like spindle whorls and loom weights indicate textile activities within the pit houses. Additionally, archaeologists unearthed silver coins, glass beads, and pottery.
The site features separate production and craft zones along with a single residential home. This setup suggests a powerful individual likely oversaw operations and resources. Historically, the area witnessed individuals with metal detectors finding silver coins, which spurred interest in a trial excavation 1½ years ago.
Reher-Langberg noted, “We could see in the trenches that it just keeps on going, with these houses and pit houses and textile production features.” This extensive discovery helps clarify the economic, cultural, and political structure of the Vikings.
Kasper Andersen, a Moesgaard Museum historian, regarded the Søften site as “another piece in the puzzle” of Viking society. During the Viking era, Aarhus, known as Aros, served as a hub for royalty and international trade. Nearby Lisbjerg, discovered last year, likely hosted nobility. Andersen speculates that resources from settlements like Søften fed into a broad international trade network.
“When you have a production site of this scale, it cannot be only because of the local area. It needs to be understood as part of a greater network, a much bigger international perspective,” Andersen remarked.
Reher-Langberg aims to utilize carbon dating and pollen analysis for further insight, specifically regarding the types of textile production at the site. This Viking Age, spanning A.D. 793 to 1066, was a period of Norse raids, colonization, conquest, and trade across Europe, reaching North America.
Andersen concludes, “To have a place like Søften, you need a very well-organized society with a production line, and you also need a market to have the production. The textiles from Søften go into a market that’s much bigger than just the local area,” dispelling stereotypes of Vikings as mere barbaric hordes.
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