Non-destructive 3D prospection at the Viking Age fortress Borgring, Denmark

Søren M. Kristiansen; David Stott; Anders Vest Christiansen; Peter Steen Henriksen; Catherine Jessen; Morten Fischer Mortensen; Jesper Bjergsted Pedersen; Søren Michael Sindbæk; Jens Ulriksen

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103351

Non-destructive 3D prospection at the Viking Age fortress Borgring, Denmark

Søren M. Kristiansen^*, David Stott, Anders Vest Christiansen, Peter Steen Henriksen, Catherine Jessen, Morten Fischer Mortensen, Jesper Bjergsted Pedersen, Søren Michael Sindbæk, Jens Ulriksen

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Non-invasive methods are increasingly important for understanding archaeological sites and their contexts. Larger earth-built constructions are nevertheless still difficult to study without extensive excavations. At the recently discovered Viking-Age ring fortress Borgring in Denmark a suite of non-destructive methods was applied with the aim of understanding how this highly eroded earthen fortress was constructed, and investigating how the construction of such a large monument altered the landscape. The methods were 1) residual relief modelling of airborne laser scanning data, 2) electromagnetic induction (DualEM 421 s) survey combined with coring, and 3) soil magnetic susceptibility measurements all to produce a 3D model of the palaeo-landscape and the fortress. We found that the narrow natural promontory was enlarged to make space for the construction of the fortress’ rampart. The magnetic susceptibility of turfs from the rampart showed that both wetland and upland areas were alternately used for different compartments and explained the segmented anomalies comprising its construction. The combined results revealed a better archaeological understanding of the construction of the rampart, that the modifications of the landscape was somewhat comparative to the contemporary Fyrkat ring fortress site, and that the understanding of the landscape modifications were improved significantly by a multi-method 3D approach.

Original language	English
Article number	103351
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
Volume	42
Number of pages	11
ISSN	2352-409X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103351
Publication status	Published - Apr 2022

Keywords

3D landscape modelling
Electromagnetic induction mapping
Non-destructive methods
Viking-Age
MAGNETIC-SUSCEPTIBILITY
LANDSCAPE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION

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10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103351Licence: CC BY

1-s2.0-S2352409X22000141-mainFinal published version, 17.7 MBLicence: CC BY

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@article{3d9a6126c5c447a9825c04fb5c355610,

title = "Non-destructive 3D prospection at the Viking Age fortress Borgring, Denmark",

abstract = "Non-invasive methods are increasingly important for understanding archaeological sites and their contexts. Larger earth-built constructions are nevertheless still difficult to study without extensive excavations. At the recently discovered Viking-Age ring fortress Borgring in Denmark a suite of non-destructive methods was applied with the aim of understanding how this highly eroded earthen fortress was constructed, and investigating how the construction of such a large monument altered the landscape. The methods were 1) residual relief modelling of airborne laser scanning data, 2) electromagnetic induction (DualEM 421 s) survey combined with coring, and 3) soil magnetic susceptibility measurements all to produce a 3D model of the palaeo-landscape and the fortress. We found that the narrow natural promontory was enlarged to make space for the construction of the fortress{\textquoteright} rampart. The magnetic susceptibility of turfs from the rampart showed that both wetland and upland areas were alternately used for different compartments and explained the segmented anomalies comprising its construction. The combined results revealed a better archaeological understanding of the construction of the rampart, that the modifications of the landscape was somewhat comparative to the contemporary Fyrkat ring fortress site, and that the understanding of the landscape modifications were improved significantly by a multi-method 3D approach.",

keywords = "3D landscape modelling, Electromagnetic induction mapping, Non-destructive methods, Viking-Age, MAGNETIC-SUSCEPTIBILITY, LANDSCAPE, ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION",

author = "Kristiansen, {S{\o}ren M.} and David Stott and Christiansen, {Anders Vest} and Henriksen, {Peter Steen} and Catherine Jessen and Mortensen, {Morten Fischer} and Pedersen, {Jesper Bjergsted} and Sindb{\ae}k, {S{\o}ren Michael} and Jens Ulriksen",

note = "Funding Information: Financial support for this study was provided to Museum Southeast Denmark by the A. P. M{\o}ller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney M{\o}llers Fond til Almene Formaal. We are grateful to Pia Clausen for her contribution to sampling, processing, analyzing and discussion of the soil samples for multi-element geochemistry. Also Esben Schlosser Mauritsen is acknowledged for important contributions to the earliest phase of the project. The authors would like to thank all those involved in the Borgring excavation. We are also grateful to the many contributors to the open source software used in this work. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors",

year = "2022",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103351",

language = "English",

volume = "42",

journal = "Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports",

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Non-destructive 3D prospection at the Viking Age fortress Borgring, Denmark. / Kristiansen, Søren M.; Stott, David; Christiansen, Anders Vest et al.
In: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Vol. 42, 103351, 04.2022.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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T1 - Non-destructive 3D prospection at the Viking Age fortress Borgring, Denmark

AU - Kristiansen, Søren M.

AU - Stott, David

AU - Christiansen, Anders Vest

AU - Henriksen, Peter Steen

AU - Jessen, Catherine

AU - Mortensen, Morten Fischer

AU - Pedersen, Jesper Bjergsted

AU - Sindbæk, Søren Michael

AU - Ulriksen, Jens

N1 - Funding Information: Financial support for this study was provided to Museum Southeast Denmark by the A. P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til Almene Formaal. We are grateful to Pia Clausen for her contribution to sampling, processing, analyzing and discussion of the soil samples for multi-element geochemistry. Also Esben Schlosser Mauritsen is acknowledged for important contributions to the earliest phase of the project. The authors would like to thank all those involved in the Borgring excavation. We are also grateful to the many contributors to the open source software used in this work. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors

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AB - Non-invasive methods are increasingly important for understanding archaeological sites and their contexts. Larger earth-built constructions are nevertheless still difficult to study without extensive excavations. At the recently discovered Viking-Age ring fortress Borgring in Denmark a suite of non-destructive methods was applied with the aim of understanding how this highly eroded earthen fortress was constructed, and investigating how the construction of such a large monument altered the landscape. The methods were 1) residual relief modelling of airborne laser scanning data, 2) electromagnetic induction (DualEM 421 s) survey combined with coring, and 3) soil magnetic susceptibility measurements all to produce a 3D model of the palaeo-landscape and the fortress. We found that the narrow natural promontory was enlarged to make space for the construction of the fortress’ rampart. The magnetic susceptibility of turfs from the rampart showed that both wetland and upland areas were alternately used for different compartments and explained the segmented anomalies comprising its construction. The combined results revealed a better archaeological understanding of the construction of the rampart, that the modifications of the landscape was somewhat comparative to the contemporary Fyrkat ring fortress site, and that the understanding of the landscape modifications were improved significantly by a multi-method 3D approach.

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KW - Electromagnetic induction mapping

KW - Non-destructive methods

KW - Viking-Age

KW - MAGNETIC-SUSCEPTIBILITY

KW - LANDSCAPE

KW - ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION

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DO - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103351

M3 - Journal article

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SN - 2352-409X

VL - 42

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

M1 - 103351

ER -

Non-destructive 3D prospection at the Viking Age fortress Borgring, Denmark

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