In 2003, we opened the site of Skibstedgård, near the medieval - early modern estate of the same name.



The estate's current owner, Knud Erichsen, gives local history buffs a tour around the extant
structure, which dates to the 1700s. The estate, however, is mentioned in records going back far
into the Middle Ages. The Medieval settlement lies close to the current house.
In our 2003 excavations, we expected to find an earlier "version" of the same estate, dating to the
late Viking Age, at a somewhat further distance from the current house.




As soon as the overburden was removed, postholes, pits and ditches were revealed in the damp soil.
Crew chiefs Mette Roesgaard Hansen (Copenhagen U.), Gisela Matsson (Yale U.), and Tom Brunton
(SUNY Buffalo) begin to tag the features before they dry out and "disappear".,



Tom and Gisela begin to clean the site.



After the site is mapped, students and volunteers begin excavation under the supervision
of Danish archaeologist Louise Haack Olsen, the site excavation director (3rd from left), who
stops to check on Travis Smith (Baylor), Kate Frieman (Yale) and Dana Beehr (Illinois-Urbana).

.
  
Archaeologist Edie Wyndham and Cate Frieman (Yale), Dana Beehr (UI-Urbana), Dustin Smith (Buffalo)
and Jordan Leff (Buffalo) excavate and map features.


The view from the late Viking Age settlement.

The view of the Skibsted fjord would have been unobstructed by the trees at the left, which surround
the current estate. The fjord, in the late Viking Age, was a ledung place, or levy-place for the Danish
navy when called upon by the king. Many small local levy-places existed, but only a few large ones,
where smaller groups would assemble into huge fleets. Skibsted ("place of ships") was one of these
large levy-places, and figures largely in several sagas, in relation to the levy called by Knut the Holy,
in hopes of reconquering England in 1086. When Knut did not appear after callling the levy, the
assembled captains grew restive and abandoned the levy, only to find that the king had been delayed and
arrived late, and furious that the fleet had been disbanded. This lead to disputes between the king and
the north Jutlanders which led to the overthrow and regicide of the monarch by the people of
northern Jutland. Was Skibstedgård somehow releted to the levy-place?

Ceramics like this in situ vessel evenutally date the site to no earlier than AD 1000 and no
later than about AD 1100. Based on our theoretical understanding of settlement history and
dynamics for this time and place this agrees with one of our hypotheses, that some person
in authority made a settlement or outpost by the levy-spot to oversee it. The very narrow
time-frame for the sites existance seems to tie it to this period of contention between
the state and the formerly autonomous region of Thy. But who controlled the site? Full coverage
survey including soil chemistry, reveals no other site anywhere within a 2 km radius of the levy-site,
and ceramics of local type only, with no evidence of an intrusive state 'styles' seen at other regional
state outposts, such as Aggersborg fortress, cause us to interpret this as supporting local control
of the levy site. Given the contentious history between region and state, this provides insight
into who held political dominion in this area.


Danish archaeologist Louise Haack Olsen explains the site to the public during an "open house".



Back at our field house, Helligsølejre, Jessica Brower (Oregon), Brendan O'Connor
(Georgetown '02), and crew chief  Brett Lowry (UW-Milwaukee) wash and sort artifacts.
 

Crew chief and zooarchaeologist Gisela Mattsson (Yale U.) explains to Jessica Brower,
Jennifer Kellas, and Brett Lowry how she can tell the difference between animal species from
diagnostic elements of the teeth and jaw. This domestic pig is representative of a popular type
of farm animal raised in Viking Age Denmark.


After working all day, students hang out in our living room. L-R: Kathy Cuches (SUNY-Buffalo)
Travis Smith (Baylor U.), Ben Breault (SUNY-Buffalo), and Kate Frieman (Yale U.).



Peggy McKendry (Brown U.) shares a moment with Jordan, Kevin and Brendan.




Some of 2003's crew: L to R, back row: Dustin Smith, Jennifer Schaffer, Jill Zinni, Ben Breault,
Kathy Cuches, Katie Biggie, Olivia Miller, Jordan Leff, Tom Brunton, Brett Lowry, Edith Wyndham,
Rebecca Emans, Gisela Mattsson. Front row, L to R: Travis Smith, Alejandra Riguero,
Kate Frieman, Kathleen Letchford, Shahrina Ankhi, Christine Phillips, Wendy Kelly, Jessica Brower,
Jennifer Kellas, Dana Beehr. Missing: Brendan O'Connor, Kevin Wiley Anjuli Duseault, Peggy McKendry
Mette Roesgaard Hansen, Louise Haack Olsen, Tina Thurston (taking the picture!).