Botanical remains from the Viking-Age equestrian burial at FregerslevII

Abstract

In 2012, a trial excavation at Fregerslev, east of Skanderborg, Denmark, revealed an equestrian burial from the late Viking Age. In 2017, the grave was fully excavated as part of a research project. Since the grave is located on on an elevated plateau of Late Glacial loamy tills, resulting in poor preservation of organic material, the grave appeared mostly empty, apart from remains of a horse harness with gilded and silver-laid fittingsand a few larger wood fragments. Was the grave empty indeed? This contribution will present the wealth of informationabout the chamber grave as revealed by samples subjected to phytolith and pollen analysis, two non-pollen palynomorph samples and finds of wood as well as seeds and fruits collected during excavation of block samples by means of stereomicroscopy.