Archaeologists Uncover Hundreds of Iron Age Weapons, Rare Armor

Archaeologists in Denmark were astonished to uncover a massive cache of Iron Age weapons in Denmark at an “infrastructure sight” in the town of Hedensted, Ancient Origins reported.

The find included over 100 weapons which date back more than 1,500 years. Researchers unearthed a total of 119 lances and spears along with eight swords and five smaller knives. Three arrowheads along with a single axe, bugle, and bridle were also found. The find which most excited researchers was a particularly rare set of chainmail armor. There have only been a handful of chainmail sets from this period discovered in Scandinavia. Also found under the home were bronze “oath rings,” which served as symbols of power in the Iron Age.

Experts believe that the person who inhabited the home buried the weapons during a post-war period in a symbolic gesture meant to indicate that the community was finally at peace. “The character of the deposits suggests the weapons are remnants of ceremonies or sacrificial acts linked to a chieftain's residence. This is not the remains of a weapons workshop, barracks, or similar activities,” the archaeolgical team explained in a press release.

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"From the very first surveys, we knew this was going to be extraordinary, but the excavation has exceeded all our expectations,” Elias Witte Thomasen, the archaeolgist who led the dig, explained in the press release. “The sheer number of weapons is astonishing, but what fascinates me most is the glimpse they provide into the societal structure and daily life of the Iron Age. We suddenly feel very close to the people who lived here 1,500 years ago.”

The site was a “significant” settlement, Witte said, explaining that he and his team uncovered a trove of other items, such as pottery and jewelry, which shed light on the daily lives of Iron Age denizens. Denmark’s Vejle Museums plans to publish extensive information on each of the discoveries in the near future. The museum will also be putting the physical discoveries on display early next year.