1,000-Year-Old Viking Toolbox Found at Mysterious Danish Fortress

Live Science ^ | December 2, 2016 07:28am ET | Tom Metcalfe

[BenLurkin]

The cache of iron tools was first located by amateur archaeologists using a metal detector near the eastern gate of the buried fortress at Borgring.

That discovery inspired Holm's archaeological team in August to excavate the eastern gatehouse, where they removed the deposit of earth containing all the tools in one piece — a delicate process that took two days.

The next step was to transport the lump of earth, rust and iron to a local hospital, where it was scanned with computed tomography (CT) equipment usually used by doctors to examine the internal organs of their patients.

The CT scans revealed the precise arrangement of at least 14 iron tools, which have since been excavated from the toolbox deposit for individual X-ray studies and preservation before they are put on display in an exhibition next year, Holm said.

All of the tools are heavily corroded, but much of the original iron remains, and even more tools may be hidden in the rust, according to the researchers. "There are a minimum of 14 tools, but I think there are 16 now, from the new X-rays that we've already done," Holm said.

The contents of the toolbox provide a rare glimpse of working life in the late Viking age, she said.

"They can be used for different crafts," Holm said. "We have some spoon drills for making holes in wood, which could be used for building ships or for building houses."

The iron drawplate has a series of small holes of different sizes that were used to make wires from softer metals, the researchers said. "You pulled the metal through each of the holes to make it smaller and smaller, and thinner and thinner," she explained.

[Paladin2]

Husqvarna

[rktman]

Hmmm. Were they in a Thule container?

[Vermont Lt]

Craftsman? Take them back and get new ones.

[Does so]

Husqvarna

Pronounced: Hoosk-Var-NA.

[Paladin2]

Maybe in Minnie-Sota.