New Insights on Denmark's Ancient Hjortspring Boat

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK. A new study of the 2,400-year-old Hjortspring boat, discovered with a cache of weapons on Denmark's island of Als, has revealed significant insights into its origins. Mikael Fauvelle of Lund University and his colleagues radiocarbon dated cording and caulk associated with the boat to the fourth or third century B.C.

They utilized gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to determine that the caulk was likely made from animal fat and pine pitch. The study indicates that there were very few pine forests in Denmark or northern Germany during that time, suggesting that the boat and its crew originated from further east along the Baltic Sea, where pine forests were more prevalent.

In addition, a fingerprint was found on a tar fragment from the vessel, providing a direct connection to one of the ancient boat's users. The research concluded that the invaders who arrived in Als via this boat were likely defeated, leading to the vessel being sunk in a bog by the victors.

This study enhances our understanding of early Scandinavian societies and their maritime technology. The findings were reported in the Public Library of Science and originally published in PLOS One.