Archaeologists have found what they call “clear evidence” that a fire at the recently discovered 1,000-year-old Viking castle Vallø Borgring near Køge was deliberately set.
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| The Vallø Borgring is a recent discovery [Credit: Danskebjerge/Copenhagen Post] |
“All indications are that there has been a fire set at the gates of the castle,” archaeologist Jens Ulriksen, who is leading the excavation of the fortress, told DR Nyheder. “The outer posts of the east gate are completely charred, and there are signs of burning on the inside.”
A brutal king
The castle probably belonged Harald Bluetooth, who was king of Denmark in the late 900s. History records that Bluetooth drove his army too hard, which ended with a riot in which the king was killed.
“Our theory right now is that other powerful men in the country attacked the castle and set fire to the gates,” said Ulriksen.
He also believes that the fortress in Køge may be the last structure commissioned by Bluetooth before he died, because the castle seems to have been only halfway completed.
The archaeologists hope that the police investigator will bring in tools like dogs to help sniff out bones in the earth to help unearth more evidence.
Case for St Mary Mead’s finest?
Miss Marple tended to specialise in such cases (‘Nemesis’ and ‘Sleeping Murder’ spring to mind), but it is unknown whether she can be persuaded to come out of retirement.
Source: Copenhagen Post [July 01, 2016]