DNA spotlight
Danish Viking Clan
Beginning in the 8th century, the Danes began a long era of well-organized raids across the coasts and rivers of Europe. Large areas outside Scandinavia were settled by the Danes including what became know as the Danelaw in England, the Netherlands, northern France and Ireland. Two Viking warriors from the same clan separated for more than 1000 years and have finally been reunited at the Danish National Museum in Copenhagen.
Danelaw was established as an area ruled by Vikings and extended across much of England. A group of fairly young Viking warriors was found here buried in a mass grave near the church where they had been killed by orders from King Aethelred II, King of the English. The warrior hilighted here was in his 20s and died from injuries to his head. He had sustained 8 to 10 hits to the head and several stab wounds to the spine.
Galgedil is a large burial ground dating from the early Viking period located on the Danish island of Funen as shown here. The Viking hilighted at this burial site near Otterup was in his 50s and lived in Denmark. He had battle wounds on his skeleton indicating he was an active warrior.
This is an actual photo of the two warriors who have now been reunited back in their homeland of Denmark. An exhibition will be open in Copenhagen from 2021 until 2024. It is not fully clear how exactly these two men were related. it is speculated they were half-brothers, or possibly a grandfather and grandson due to the potential age difference in carbon dating.
Sample: Danish Viking Clan St. Brice Massacre Oxford
- Sample ID: VK144
- Year: 1002 AD
- Sex: Male
- Location: 51.7558,-1.2605
Sample: Danish Viking Clan Galgedil Funen Denmark
- Sample ID: VK279
- Year: 925 AD
- Sex: Male
- Location: 55.5250,10.3839