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Danish archaeologists uncover ringed Viking fortress for first time in 60 years

The fortress was a genuine military facility and was probably the scene of fighting as well.

viking1 Søren Sindbæk and Nanna Holm at the excavation site Danish Castle Centre Danish Castle Centre

ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN DENMARK have uncovered a previously unknown Viking fortress which they say could be an important piece in the country’s historical jigsaw puzzle.

Traces of a circular fortress were discovered as well as embankments in a field in Vallo. The fortress is similar to the famous “Trelleborg” fortress built by King Harald Bluetooth around the year 980 AD.

“This is the first time for more than 60 years that a new Viking ringed fortress has been discovered in Denmark,” explained Nanna Holm, archaeologist and curator at the Danish Castle Centre.

The fortress was discovered after new, precise laser measurements of the landscape.

© Danish Castle Centre © Danish Castle Centre

These measurements showed that an almost imperceptible mound in the field had a clear circular outline. An expert was called in from the UK and a technique that enables you to identify pits or embankments without destroying them was used.

“The technique gave us a surprisingly detailed image of the fortress in no more than a few days,” commented another one of the archaeologists on the site, Soren Sindbaek.

viking2

“So we knew exactly where to dig the excavation trenches with a view to learning as much as possible about the fortress.”

The fortress was a genuine military facility and was probably the scene of fighting as well, according to archaeologists who have been studying it.

Read: Multiple human remains found outside Trinity College>

Read: Heritage Ireland: The lonely Kilkenny cave that witnessed a massacre of 1,000 people>

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    Mute Asha
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    Jul 25th 2018, 6:19 AM

    It’s appalling that we don’t have sufficient mental health services for our children. Look at the absolute state of our mental health buildings that are centuries old, imagine adding the fear of them into the mix. Our government need to address this issue because unfortunately the numbers will continue to rise year on year.

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    Mute Louise Ní Riain
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    Jul 25th 2018, 6:23 AM

    Adult services arent much better. This country will never change

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    Mute Nuala Mc Namara
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    Jul 25th 2018, 7:55 AM

    The Mental Health Commission state they have highlighted they “have CONSISTENTLY HIGHLIGHTED these issues in ANNUAL Reports since 2012 so why didn’t these issues received URGENT attention in 2012,2013,2014,2015,2016&2017?Why is only 6% of Health budget spent on Mental Health services?

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    Mute Craig Barry
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:05 AM

    Our government pledged 18m last budget for mental health services and within months retracted 12m ..shame on them

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    Mute Jay Coleman
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    Jul 25th 2018, 11:50 AM

    @Craig Barry: hell in 2016 Harris promised 35 million and it was reduced to 15million later on. It’s shocking but FG don’t care about the vulnerable in this country. Neither did Fianna Fáil by the way. The first cuts in the recession were to Special needs and mentally ill adults

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    Mute Gail Weston
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    Jul 25th 2018, 10:25 AM

    With direct experience in respect of my own teen, the devastating frustration and pain that this grave failing is causing to kids, adults, families is nothing short of a national shame. Words cannot do justice to the hurt caused. It is state neglect of some of the most vulnerable in our society. Time to fix it Minister Simon Harris. #CALL FOR REFORM #CAMHS #YOUNG PEOPLE #MENTAL HEALTH

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    Mute Paul Santry
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    Jul 25th 2018, 11:47 AM

    @Gail Weston: I feel your pain. My young teen started self harming at the start of March and wanted to end his life. On one of his appointment’s in Pieta House I was advised to bring him to A&E and that he would more than likely be kept in and given MED’s, when I said I’m not leaving my child in hospital to be given MED’s when nobody seems to know what his issues are. I was told my only other option was to take him home and watch him 24/7 so that’s what I did with no help or services, just told to bring him to A&E if I couldn’t cope. 5 mount’s down the road and nothing has changed, its heartbreaking.

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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Jul 25th 2018, 12:05 PM

    I heard the case of a mother with two young kids and a troubled young teenage yound man who is threatening to kill all in the house. there is no place for him. she was told. she is terrified.

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    Mute KerryBlueMike
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    Jul 25th 2018, 8:52 AM

    Yet again a cry for more resources for public services. Yet again no call for increased income tax if we want to pay for these resources. If we want better than what we have now we will have to pay more than what we are paying now.

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