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A fifth Viking Age ring fortress in Denmark was only confirmed in 2016. This relatively late recognition of Borgring was due to it being more or less invisible in the present-day landscape. Questions of how the fortress was positioned in the original Viking Age landscape, and how post-Viking age landscape changes concealed the fortress so effectively, were addressed by a large-scale borehole survey supplemented by detailed sedimentary and stratigraphic data from archaeological profiles. The borehole and profile data were used to model the changing shape and nature of the landscape. The reconstruction revealed the geomorphology, wetlands, deep channels and streams which were otherwise unidentifiable and aided the archaeological interpretations. This approach shows how data-based reconstructions are important in the understanding archaeological sites and that sometimes, not everything is quite as it seems.
Another important question asked of the investigations at Borgring was whether the location of the fortress close to the Køge stream meant that it was possible to navigate ships upstream from the coast. The modern Køge stream is narrow and undulating in a relatively large valley which is mostly wetlands and frequently flooded. The sediments and stratigraphy from a series of borehole transects across the valley and downstream were documented to ascertain whether this was also the case 1000 years ago. The borehole records together with 14C dates showed where and when the valley was infilled with peat and lake sediments. A further detailed investigation of a trench immediately in front of the fortress which showed the position of the stream in the valley during the Viking age. The investigation showed that during the Viking period the stream had much the same size and course as that of the modern day and that navigation with vessels any larger than dinghies would not be possible.

EAA 2023: Abstract

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