Horse and Rider in the Late Viking Age

In 2017 an exceptionally rich equestrian burial from the 10th century was discovered at Fregerslev near Skanderborg, Denmark. The burial contained a high-status horseman, buried with valuable grave goods. At the initial discovery, parts of the bridle and harness for several horses were excavated. Many further precious metal objects are indicated by means of metal detector surveys in the tomb chamber. This volume seeks to place the burial in a wider context. First of all, the preliminary results from the excavation of the Fregerslev burial are embraced. The finds and scientific results demonstrate what a remarkable burial this once was. Moreover, the description of the excavation methods and documentation procedures, the sampling strategies, and the following conservation and preservation of the finds, gives an idea of the many new scientific approaches, which may be useful when dealing with a decomposed grave in the future. Secondly the volume aims to explore the social, political, cultural and religious background of equestrian burial in a variety of countries, including Slovenia, Scotland, Sweden and Iceland. Was the burial from Fregerslev and others like it, an expression of a new powerful elite? New religious symbolism? New funerary rituals? New cultural impulses and changing values?

Anne Pedersen is Senior Researcher at the National Museum of Denmark. Merethe Schifter Bagge is Curator at Museum Skanderborg.