Danevirke - Archaeological Record

Archaeological Record

Archaeological excavations in 1969–75 established, with the help of dendrochronology, that the main structure of the Danevirke had been built in three phases between AD 737 and 968. It is, therefore, contemporary with Offa's Dyke, another great defensive structure of the late 8th century.

Recent investigations suggest that Danevirke was not only and not primarily built for military purposes. The archeologist Henning Hellmuth Andersen found that in an early stage the main "wall" consisted of a ditch between two low embankments. The historian argued that the Kograben (Danish: Kovirke) south of the main wall consists of an embankment accompanied by a ditch on its northern side, which would have been counterproductive for a Danish fortification. So the main wall, in its earliest stage, and the Kograben rather would have been shipping canals. The shortcut between Baltic Sea and North Sea via Schlei in the east and Treene and Eider in the west was understood previously, but historians believed that boats had been moved on rollers between the Schlei and Treene. See Portage.

An excavation in 2009–10 stonewall near Dannevirke Museum west of the town of Schleswig Dannevirke so far only port (Kalegat or Viglesport) was found, where Hærvejen crosses the rampart.