77 1 190

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Acta Archaeologica
SECTION A
Mounds with Preserved Oak Coffins Dendrochronologically Investigated
List with Ke-Numbers of identification
1. Kong Arrildshj
2. Borum Eshj
3. Lille Dragshj
4. Fladshj
5. Guldhj
6. Hsby
7. Jels
8. Maasbll
9. Margarethenberg
10. Muldhj at Muldbjerg
11. Mllehj
12. Nybl
13. Nragerhj
14. Rnhj
15. Sortehj
16. Store Kongehj
17. Storehj at Barde
18. Storhj at Egtved
19. Snder nlev (sb. 20)
20. Terkelsbl
21. Trindhj
22. Ungstrup
Addendum 23. Skrydstrup
Ke 2243
Ke-no. not yet
available
Ke 2878
Ke 3920
Ke 3820
Ke 2361
Ke 3443
Ke 2266
Ke 2186
Ke 4740
Ke 2994
Ke 3022
Ke 2909
Ke 3030
Ke 3870
Ke 3832
Ke 4620
Ke 4357
Ke 3028
Ke 2940
Ke 3817
Ke 2004
Ke 3527
1. KONG ARRILDSHJ, Kirchspiel

Harrislee, Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg.
LA Grabhgel 32; Ke 2243 Harrislee; NNU A

6513 Harrislee (Catras 0017); WM 030326 (TSAP
2030); Kln Harrislee, 0990150; Hamburg Harrislee,
Baumsarg a+b+c 00463010. - Sources: Rschmann
1963:300-304; Aner & Kersten 1978:49-52;
Schwabedissen 1983:277-279; Jensen 1998:162-163.
Discovery and subsequent treatment
During an archaeological investigation in 1941 an oak
coffin was discovered in the centre of the mound. The
Cf. Aner & Kersten 1973ff. = AK in the contribution by K.
Randsborg (ed. note).
lower part was well preserved, whereas the lid was

present as several fragments, some of which lay inside
the coffin, others outside to both sides. According
to the excavator this was because the lid had been
broken up and thrown out of the way when the grave
was plundered. There is no information on whether
bark and sapwood were preserved on the coffin.
After excavation, the coffin was taken to the museum
at Gottorp Castle where it was given the museum
number K.S. B 147a.
State of preservation today
The lower part is preserved completely intact.
Conversely, the lid is much damaged and comprises
one large piece incorporating the two coffin gables
and the lowermost part of the two longitudinal edges,
in addition to a quantity of loose pieces of wood. The
coffin corresponds fully to the description given in
Aner & Kersten (1978) and its identity is certain.
There are, in all, seven loose pieces of wood (one
of which comprises three fragments that can be fitted together to form one piece), which the excavator
interprets as fragments of the coffin lid. Pieces 1 and
2 resemble the two fragments of wood which, on the
excavation plan (Aner & Kersten 1978:50 fig. 57), lie
immediately north of the coffin, whereas piece 3 (itself
comprising three fragments) is presumably one of the
pieces shown inside the coffin. The final pieces could
be from the long plank which, on the excavation plan,
lies just south of the coffin, but this identification is
not certain. There are several holes in piece 3; these
are unlikely to be knotholes as assumed by Aner &
Kersten (1978:50), but are more probably man-made.
In the excavation report for the mound (reproduced in Rschmann 1963) it is said of the loose
pieces of wood that Es handelte sich demnach bei
den Bohlen nicht um die Reste eines zweites Deckels,
der auf dem Rand der Steinpackung zum Schutze des
Sargdeckels niedergelegt war, sondern wahrscheinlich
um Teile des Sargdeckels, die bei einem Einbruch in
den Sarg aus dem Deckel herausgeschlagen und zur
Seite geworfen wurden. An investigation of the treering sequences in the wood fragments shows, how-
Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins
191
Fig. 8. 1. Kong Arrildshj. Photo of the cross-section of two of the pieces of wood, which on excavation were assumed to be parts of the coffin
lid (piece 1 uppermost, piece 2 lowermost). The dendrochronological analyses show that they originate from the same tree as the coffin itself.
As the photographs show, the distance from the earliest tree ring on the samples to the pith of the tree is so short (on analysis estimated at c. 8
cm and c. 10 cm respectively) that they cannot originate from the coffin lid, which (with the exception of the two gables) comprises the outer
part of the tree trunk. These must, therefore, be planks made from other parts of the trunk. Photo: Jrgen Kraglund, Skalk.
Fig. 9. 1. Kong Arrildshj. Photo of the heavily eroded foot end of the coffin lid. The light round spot is a round dowel inserted in the place
where a core sample was taken from the wood. As is apparent, this sample must comprise some of the last tree rings on the tree trunk; perhaps
it was on this sample that the measurement comprising the last 16 preserved tree rings was carried out. Photo: Kjeld Christensen.
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Acta Archaeologica
ever, that most of them cannot be from the coffin lid.

This is certainly true of the two largest pieces (1 and
2), which were sawn through for the purposes of dendrochronological analysis. On the exposed surface, it
can be seen that the distance to the pith is so short
that these pieces cannot be from the lid, which (apart
from at the gables) consists solely of the outer part of
the tree trunk, far from the pith (Fig. 8). Pieces 4 and 5
appear to be radially cleaved and, therefore, also cannot be from the outer part of a large tree trunk. Pieces
1, 2, 4 and 5 probably originate from loose planks
laid on top of the coffin lid in order to strengthen it.
This could have been necessary as the thickness of
the lid, as far as can be ascertained from the heavily
decayed wood, is significantly less than that of the
base. Furthermore, the tree-ring data show that pieces
1 and 2 originate from the same tree as that from
which the coffin was made (cf. below). The last three
loose pieces of wood no. 3 are significantly thinner
than the others and appear, on the basis of the treering sequences, to originate from the outer part of a
large tree trunk; it seems therefore likely that these
are pieces of the coffin lid.
The outer surface of the lower part of the coffin
is very smooth and was presumably shaped, whereas
the lid is so degraded that it is not possible to see any
traces of working. There appears not to be sapwood
preserved on the coffin.
A core sample was previously taken from the gable at the foot end of the lid (Fig. 9).
Dendrochronological investigations
The coffin from Kong Arrildshj is the best-preserved
oak coffin in the museum at Gottorp Castle. It forms
part of the museums exhibition and sawing through
the coffin in order to produce a surface on which tree
rings could be measured was, therefore, out of the
question.
The first attempt at dating the coffin by dendrochronology must have taken place already in the
1960s, as there is a report from 1967 of a relative
dendrochronological date for the coffin, carried out
by W. v. Jazewitsch (letter from H. Schwabedissen
20th November 1967, NNU A 5533C, 1967, 1, cf.
Schwabedissen 1983:277-279). There are, however,
no tree-ring measurements or other information available concerning this investigation and the resulting
date. A radiocarbon date was subsequently obtained

(Aner & Kersten 1978:52). How the material for this
date was taken is unknown.
In the next dendrochronological investigation
some years later, a measuring surface was apparently
first prepared (by paring) on the lower gable (foot
end) of the coffin base. This was on the surface which
faces upwards towards the lid and is, therefore, hidden when the lid is placed on the coffin. This surface
is, however, very uneven and was not very suitable
for measuring tree rings. Accordingly, a better surface
was prepared on the edge of the gable. This was used
first in the German investigations and also later in the
Danish studies.
In the Danish investigations, 306 tree rings were
measured (WM 2030A13). The first (i.e. earliest) tree
ring lies less than 1 cm from the pith. All the tree
rings are heartwood. In addition to the measured tree
rings, a further partially preserved ring was counted
towards both the pith and towards the bark. Perhaps
a few more tree rings are preserved towards the bark
close to the first abandoned measuring surface but
here, too, there appears only to be heartwood.
In the German tree-ring dataset (Kln 0990150,
D 2096, WM 2030AT; Hamburg 00463010), a total
of 316 tree rings was measured, all heartwood. A further ring incompletely preserved and therefore not
measured must be presumed to be preserved in the
direction of the bark. When compared to the Danish data is was clear that there were errors in either
the Danish or the German tree-ring curves; a control
measurement revealed that the German dataset lacked
a tree ring around year 80. When this ring was inserted, the German data comprised 317 tree rings. The
German and the Danish tree-ring data then showed
good agreement for the years they had in common,
but the Danish dataset had a further five years towards the pith, whereas the German dataset had a
further 16 years towards the bark. The five missing
years towards the pith were presumably omitted from
the German measurements, as tree rings near the pith
are often irregular.
The 16 years out towards the bark could not have
been measured on the measuring surface on the gable
of the coffin base here there are no further tree rings
than those measured during the Danish investigation.
Where on the coffin these 16 years were measured

is, accordingly, unknown; perhaps they are from the
core sample previously taken from the coffin lid (Fig.
9), but information concerning the use to which this
core sample was put is not available. Information
from Germany (letter from the Hamburg laboratory
5th May 2004) mentions yet another tree-ring dataset for Baumsarg Harrislee (Hamburg 0046302A),
comprising 75 tree rings, all heartwood. On a print
of the actual measurements this is, however, referred
to as Harrislee Grabung 1958, Nr. 8 and is, therefore, unlikely to represent tree-ring data from measurements on the coffin from 1. Kong Arrildshj. The
latter mound was excavated in 1941 and neither
Rschmann (1963) nor Aner & Kersten (1978) mention later excavations in or by the mound. Neither
does dataset Hamburg 0046302A resemble the sets
of data from Kong Arrildshj or from any of the other
oak coffins.
The Danish measurements (WM 2030A13) have
been combined with those from the Cologne laboratory (Kln 0990150) to give a final mean curve for the
coffin comprising 322 tree rings (WM 2030A13T); the
data from the Hamburg laboratorys measurements
(Hamburg 00463010) were received so late that it was
not possible to incorporate them into the mean curve.
The earliest tree ring on the curve lies less than 1 cm
from the pith; all the tree rings are heartwood. Further to this a partially preserved tree ring was counted
both towards the pith and towards the bark.
In an overview of the German dendrochronological dates for oak coffins (NNU A 5533C, 1983:20) it
is stated of this coffin that max. 15-20 Kernholzringe
fehlen!. In the Danish investigation, it was not possible to establish how far the last preserved tree ring
lies from the sapwood boundary, and this is the background for the date given below.
As mentioned above, tree-ring measurements were
also carried out on two loose pieces of wood found beside the coffin (Fig. 8). On piece 1, 192 tree rings were
measured, all heartwood (WM 2030C12); the earliest
tree ring lies about 10 cm from the pith. On piece 2,
237 tree rings were measured, all heartwood (WM
2030B1); the earliest tree ring lies about 8 cm from
the pith. The two datasets match each other closely (t
= 13.6). On comparison with the mean curve for the
coffin itself (WM 2030A13T), similarly high synchronisation values are obtained (WM 2030B1: t = 17.4;
193
WM 2030C12: t = 16.4). These values are so high that

there can be no doubt that the loose pieces are from
the same tree as the coffin itself and no other aspects
of the wood fragments contradict this being the case.
Dating
The mean curve for the coffin is included in the master
curve for all the oak coffins, where it covers the period
1703-1382 BC. Further to this, there is an extra tree
ring towards both the pith and the bark, and the total
tree-ring sequence therefore covers the period 17041381 BC. As it is uncertain how far the last preserved
tree ring lies from the sapwood boundary, the trees
final growth year can only be fixed with certainty to
after about 1349 BC 12/+20 years (1361-1329 BC).
As the coffin has preserved the natural rounding of
the tree trunk it is, however, likely that only a small
number of tree rings are missing up to the transition
between heartwood and sapwood, such that the actual
last growth year does not lie far from the theoretically
earliest possible final growth year.
The date has not previously been published.
2. BORUM ESHJ, Borum sogn,

Framlev herred, rhus amt.
Sb. 12. NNU A 5950 Borum Eshj (Catras 6047);
WM 030326 (TSAP 2049); Kln Borum Eshj B
1396, 0990220 (grave A); Borum Eshj Grab B 1404,
0990010 (grave B). - Sources: Boye 1896:49-64;
Jensen 1998:83-101.
During excavation by the owner in 1871 an oak coffin
(C) was found in the eastern part of the mound and
during an archaeological excavation in 1875 a further
two coffins were found, one (A) placed centrally in the
mound, the other (B) some metres to the east of it.
Both the lower part and lid of coffin A were preserved. The coffin had been carefully debarked and
the tool marks showed that it must have been shaped
while the wood was still green (Boye 1896:53). No
information is given on whether sapwood was preserved. The coffin is kept at the National Museum
(museum no. B 1396).
Coffin B had, similarly, both lower part and
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Acta Archaeologica
lid preserved. The coffin had been debarked (Boye

1896:56), but no information is given on whether
there was sapwood preserved. The coffin is kept at
the National Museum (museum no. B 1404).
Coffin C was well preserved when it was found
but was broken up by the workmen. According to
Boye (1896:51), all the artefacts recovered were with
the exception of the very damaged coffin sent over
to the Museum for Nordic Antiquities (now the National Museum). However, a report by A. Simesen,
a member of the board of the Historical-Antiquarian
Society in rhus, states that some smaller fragments
of the wooden coffin were sent over to the museum,
i.e. to the National Museum (quote from the National
Museums artefact register, museum no. B 679-701).
These fragments appear not to have been preserved.
Coffins A and B are preserved to more-or-less the
same extent as when excavated and there is no doubt
as to their identity. Remains of sapwood are preserved
in one place on the outer surface of coffin A, whereas
this does not appear to be the case on coffin B (see,
however, below).
Dendrochronological investigation
Coffin A: In the German investigations a sample
was taken for measurement from one end of the
coffin lid and this sample was re-used in the Danish
investigations (D 6307). Furthermore, a sample has
now been taken for tree-ring measurement from a
place on the lid where sapwood was still preserved
(D 6309; a small sample of the sapwood from here is
stored under number LP 825).
On both samples, the tree rings were measured
along two radii; the data were combined to produce a mean curve comprising 109 tree rings (NNU
60470029). The earliest tree ring lies about 10-12 cm
from the pith. The outermost 11-12 tree rings are sapwood; no bark ring was demonstrated.
The German dataset (Kln 0990220), which comprises 89 tree rings, shows good agreement with the
Danish data. The measurements cover the period
1362-1374 BC, as also shown on the first received list
of German dates, which also states that the sequence
extends up to the transition between heartwood and
sapwood (NNU A 5533C, 1983:20). Summaries of
the German investigations received subsequently

give, however, divergent information concerning the
number of tree rings measured and the preserved
sapwood, possibly due to a mix-up with the measurements from coffin B. Accordingly, a combined curve
has not been calculated for the Danish and German
datasets for coffin A. Similarly, German information
concerning calculation of the trees last growth year
has been ignored.
Coffin B: In the German investigations, a sample
was taken for measurement from one end of the lid
(D 2080); this sample was re-used in the Danish investigations (D 6308).
The tree rings on this sample were measured along
two radii, and the data combined to produce a mean
curve comprising 117 tree rings (NNU 60470019).
The curves show great similarity to the German data
(Kln 0990010, NNU 6047001T), which comprises
106 tree rings. The two measurements have therefore
been combined to produce a mean curve comprising 117 tree rings (NNU 60470018); this was used as
the final curve for coffin B. The earliest tree ring lies
about 3 cm from the pith. All the tree rings are heartwood. After the last tree ring there are a couple of
millimetres of very compacted wood of a pale colour
that could be sapwood. As the edge of the sample also
largely follows the same tree ring over a distance of
about 20 cm it is likely that the last tree ring lies close
to the sapwood boundary.
In the overview of the German investigations, a
further measurement on coffin B from Borum Eshj
is shown (B 1404 (Deckel?)). Close examination
reveals, however, that this represents tree-ring data
from the inner coffin from 10. Muldhj. The latter
coffin was, for a period of years, on loan from the
National Museum to Moesgrd Museum in rhus,
where it was exhibited together with artefacts from
Borum Eshj. Accordingly, during the German investigations, it was assumed to be a coffin from Borum
Eshj (the Borum Eshj coffins themselves were exhibited at the National Museum at the time), cf. 10.
Muldhj for further details.
Dating
Coffin A: The coffins mean curve is included in the
master curve for all the oak coffins, where it covers
the period 1467-1359 BC. As part of the sapwood is

preserved, the trees last growth year can be established
as about 1348 BC 10/+18 years (1358-1330 BC).
Coffin B: The coffins mean curve is included
in the master curve for all the oak coffins, where it
covers the period 1481-1365 BC. As the last tree ring
presumably lies close to the sapwood boundary, the
trees last growth year can be fixed at about 1344 BC
11/+18 years (1353-1326 BC).
The dates have been published previously by
Christensen & Jensen (1991) and by Christensen
(1998). The felling date for coffin A was given, respectively, as c. 1353 BC (1991) and c. 1351 BC (1998),
and for coffin B as c. 1345 BC (1991, 1998). The differences from the dates given here are due partly to
the use of different sapwood estimates, partly to the
fact that, in the case of coffin A, the investigation of
sapwood was first completed in 1992.
3. LILLE DRAGSHJ, Hjrup sogn,

Hviding herred, Tnder amt.
Sb. 52; Ke 2878 Arnum; NNU A 5953 Lille Dragshj
(Catras 5010); WM 030326 (TSAP 2050); Kln Lille
Dragshj, 0990080. - Sources: Anonymous 1861:2628; Boye 1896:114-115; Aner & Kersten 1981:6-7;
Jensen 1998:54-57.
During digging in 1859, an oak coffin was found in
the northeastern part of the mound. This was exposed
and opened in 1860. Both the lower part and lid were
well preserved. The bark was preserved on the outer
surface, while at the ends there were still tool marks
from shaping (Boye 1896:112). The coffin was sent to
King Frederik VII, who gifted it to the Museum for
Nordic Antiquities (now the National Museum) where
it is still kept (museum no. 19463).
Both the lower part and the lid are well preserved
and there is no doubt as to its identity. Sapwood is
preserved in several places.
In the German investigations two clearly related
samples were taken for measurement from the
195
lower part of the coffin (D 2084). There is, however,

only one set of German data (Kln 0990080, NNU
5010001T). The samples were re-used in the Danish
investigations.
The tree rings on the samples were measured
along two radii. These have been combined to give
a mean curve comprising 133 rings (NNU 50100019).
Towards the pith, a further nine deformed rings were
counted. From the earliest of these there is less than 1
cm to the pith. All the tree rings are heartwood, sapwood is not preserved on the samples but their naturally, rounded-off edge presumably follows more-orless the heartwood-sapwood transition. On the coffin
itself, sapwood is preserved about 1.2 m from where
the samples were taken. The sapwood here comprises
13 very broad tree rings and the bark ring appears to
be preserved, a conclusion supported by the fact that
there was bark on the coffin when it was found. Judging from the surface of the coffin, no more than 15-20
tree rings, at most, can be missing between the last
measured tree ring and the bark ring.
A comparison of the Danish (NNU 50100019) and
the German (Kln 0990080, NNU 5010001T) treering data reveals that the Danish dataset includes one
extra tree ring around ring 35. A control measurement suggests that a ring was overlooked during the
German investigations. The Danish mean curve will
therefore be used as the final curve for the coffin from
now on.
Dating
The coffins mean curve is included in the master
curve for all the oak coffins where it covers the
period 1522-1390 BC. Further to this, nine deformed
tree rings were counted in towards the pith and the
total tree-ring series covers the period 1531-1390 BC.
With the addition of the further 13 counted sapwood
rings and taking account of the estimated maximum
distance between the last tree-ring and the bark ring,
the trees last growth year can be established as c.
1375-1370 BC.
The date has been published by Christensen &
Jensen (1991) and by Christensen (1998). The felling
dated given were, respectively, c. 1370 BC (1991) and
c. 1373 BC (1998). The difference from the date presented here is due to the fact that the date given in
1991 was arrived at using the highest estimate for the
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Acta Archaeologica
number of sapwood rings; in 1998 the average of the

highest and the lowest estimate was used. Now, however, it is given as the interval between the highest
and the lowest estimated number of sapwood rings.
4. FLADSHJ, Fvling sogn, Malt

herred, Ribe amt.
Sb. 97; Ke 3920 Tobl; NNU A 7182 Fladshj (Catras

7016); WM 030326 (TSAP 2052). Sources: Boye
1896:98-100; Thrane 1962:113-122; Aner & Kersten
1986:66; Jensen 1998:58-59.
During digging in the mound in 1861 a centrally
placed oak coffin was located. The lower part was
completely preserved whereas only a few fragments
of the lid were found. The outer surface of the coffin

had been debarked and has many axe marks of
which several are frayed, as if the wood was green
when it was worked (Boye 1896:99).
The coffin was submitted to the Museum for Nordic Antiquities (now the National Museum) where it
is still kept (museum no. 19642). In 1883, a piece of
the coffin was found in Kiel it had been stolen during its transport to Copenhagen. This was sent to the
National Museum and fitted in at one end of the coffin (Thrane 1962:116).
The lower part of the coffin is well preserved and
there is no doubt as to its identity. The remains of the
lid appear not to have survived. Sapwood does not
appear to be preserved.
Fig. 10. 4. Fladshj. Cross-section of the sawn-off dendro sample. Photo: The National Museum.

The coffin was not measured during the German
investigation. In the Danish investigations, one gable
on the lower part was sawn through and the tree rings
were measured along two radii on the sawn-off sample
(D 7132). The measurements have been combined to
produce a mean curve of 182 rings (NNU 70160019).
The earliest tree ring lies 12-13 cm from the pith; all
the tree rings are heartwood. There does not appear
to be sapwood preserved anywhere on the coffin,
but its outer surface is naturally rounded off (Fig.
10). As a consequence, it can be assumed that the
last preserved tree ring lies close to the heartwoodsapwood transition.
Dating
curve for all the oak coffins and covers the period
from 1584-1403 BC. As it is likely that the last tree
ring lies close to the sapwood boundary, the trees last
growth year can be established as c. 1376 BC 11/+29
years (1387-1357 BC).
The date has previously been published by
Christensen (1998). The felling date was given
then as after c. 1377 BC. The divergence from
the date given here is due partly to a new assessment of the distance from the last preserved tree
ring to the sapwood boundary, partly to the use
of different sapwood estimates.
5. GULDHJ, Vamdrup sogn, Anst

herred, Ribe amt.
Sb. 5; Ke 3820 Vester-Vamdrup; NNU A 5951 Guld
hj (Catras 6048); W 239, WM 030326 (TSAP 2053);
Kln Vamdrup, 099027M (outer coffin grave A; identical with Hamburg 00460031); Museum Vamdrup
Guldhj I Grab C, 099028M (inner coffin grave A,
identical with Hamburg 00470037); Guldhj B 5085,
0990130 (coffin B); Guldhj Grab C, B 5085A ,
0990120 (coffin C); Hamburg Guldhj, 00460031,
00460032, 00450033, 00460034, 00460035 (all
outer coffin grave A), 00460037 (allegedly coffin
C, in reality presumably inner coffin from grave
A). - Sources: Boye 1896:70-80, 156-157; Aner &
Kersten 1986:29-33; Jensen 1998:129-141.
197

Three oak coffins were discovered during the archaeological investigation of 1891:
Grave A, located a little to the southeast of the
centre of the earliest mound, comprised an outer and
an inner coffin. Both the lower part and the lid of the
outer coffin were preserved; the bark was still intact
on the trunk. The coffin was closed off at both ends
with vertically placed sheets of wood. Both the lower
part and the lid of the inner coffin were also preserved; the outer surface had been carefully debarked
and the tool marks revealed that the coffin had been
worked while the wood was still green.
Grave B comprised an oak coffin located 2.5 m to
the north-northwest of grave A. The lower part was
very damaged, as parts of both ends had rotted away,
whereas the lid was well preserved. The outer surface
had been carefully debarked.
Grave C comprised an oak coffin located to the
north of grave B. Both the lower part and the lid were
well preserved. The outer surface had been carefully
debarked.
The excavation was carried out by the Museum
for Nordic Antiquities (now the National Museum),
who handed over coffin A to the newly established archaeological collection at Koldinghus (museum nos.:
inner coffin O 1887, outer coffin O 1888). From here,
it was on loan for a number of years to the Konge
Museum at Vamdrup (established in 1973). It is not
known when the loan period began, but the coffin
was returned to the Koldinghus Museum in 1984 (information kindly provided by museum curator Vivi
Jensen, Koldinghus). The other coffins from Guldhj
are kept at the National Museum (coffin B: museum
no. B5085B, coffin C: museum no. B5085A).
Both the outer and inner coffins from grave A are
preserved. The outer coffin is split into several long
fragments. On the inner coffin, remains of sapwood
are preserved in places. The outer coffin has not been
examined for possible remains of sapwood.
The lid of coffin B appears to be preserved to moreor-less the same extent as on excavation. The base, on
the other hand, is more damaged. As a consequence,
the two rectangular holes which, according to Boye
(1896:76-77), were cut at each end of the base outside
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Acta Archaeologica
the gables, can no longer be seen as the wood here

has disappeared. Conversely, the two holes within the
coffin are preserved. They are found one at each end
of the coffin and not (as described by Boye 1896:77)
both at the root end of the trunk. Remains of sapwood
are preserved on the lid. It should be noted that the
photograph reproduced as Fig. 16 (p. 137) in Jensen et
al. (1995) does not, as stated, show the base of coffin B
but the much better preserved lid of this coffin.
Coffin C is apparently preserved to the same degree as it was on excavation. Remains of sapwood are
preserved both on the lower part and on the lid.
There is no doubt as to the coffins identity.
First of all, it should be mentioned that the German
investigations of the inner and outer coffin from grave
A must have been carried out in two operations; this
was clearly apparent from the two measuring radii
that had been prepared on the sample prior to the
start of the Danish investigations. Originally, the
National Museum received measurements of coffins
B and C from the laboratory in Cologne; these
measurements must have been taken at the National
Museum in Copenhagen where the coffins have been
kept since excavation. In contrast, there were no data
from Cologne that could be linked with grave A, even
though it is clear (cf. immediately below) that the
coffins from this grave were also measured by the
Cologne laboratory. Later, the author received further
data from the laboratory in Hamburg, which must be
from one of the coffins in grave A, as well as copies of
two of the datasets from the laboratory in Cologne.
The coffins from grave A belong to the Museum at
Koldinghus but were as stated above on loan for a
number of years to the Konge Museum in Vamdrup
and it is here that the first German investigations (the
Cologne laboratory measurements) must have taken
place. The coffins at the Konge Museum are actually listed in a overview of the oak coffins which
were included in the German investigations (NNU
A 5533C, 1983:20). Here they are, however, stated
to be from 16. Store Kongehj, which lies near Vamdrup. In addition to a coffin from 16. Store Kongehj
Grab A, which is said to be in Schleswig (the real
16. Store Kongehj coffin), the summary also includes
a coffin from 16. Store Kongehj Grab B, which is

stated to be at Kongeaa-Museum, Vamdrup. In reality, only one (double) oak coffin is preserved from
16. Store Kongehj, as the three other coffins found
during excavation of the mound were so decayed that
they could not be preserved (Boye 1896:82-87; Jensen
1998:68-74). The coffins at the Konge Museum in
Vamdrup (Guldhj grave A) must, therefore, originally have been investigated in the belief that they were
the coffins from 16. Store Kongehj grave A. Just like
Guldhj grave A, this also consists of an inner and
an outer coffin. The fact that these measurements are
from the coffins from Guldhj grave A is confirmed
by comparison with the Danish data from these coffins.
Later, when the coffins from Guldhj grave A were
returned to Koldinghus Museum, they must have
been investigated again (the Hamburg laboratory
data). This was presumably because, in the meantime,
their correct provenance had been acknowledged.
This is apparent from a letter from Burghart Schmidt
to Vivi Jensen dated 28th February 1989 (NNU A
5951:24) in which mention is made of a 68-year sequence of tree-ring data relating to a Guldhj coffin
at Koldinghus. This dataset presumably corresponds
to the Hamburg laboratorys measurements 00460037,
similarly covering 68 years which, via a comparison
with the Danish measurements (sample D 6313, 72 tree
rings, cf. below), can be seen to have been carried out
on the inner coffin from grave A.
Coffin A, outer coffin: In the German investigations dendro samples were sawn off from several
fragments; three of these samples were re-used in the
Danish investigation. Several radii were measured
on sample D 6314. These were combined to produce a mean curve comprising 300 tree rings (NNU
60480049). The earliest tree ring lies 20-30 cm from
the pith. All the tree rings are heartwood; no investigation has been carried out to ascertain whether there
is sapwood preserved on other fragments of the coffin. The German measurements show this to be the
case (cf. below). Another piece from the outer coffin, which had been sawn through during the German
investigations (D 6315), has also been measured but
does not contain more tree rings than the first sample.
A third piece, in which the tree rings were preserved
almost all the way into the pith, was marked Guldhj
A, Outer coffin (D 6316). The piece had been sawn

through previously and has now been measured again.
The measurements show that the piece must come
from the inner coffin and, as there were no more tree
rings than on the other samples from this coffin, the
data were not used.
Five tree-ring datasets were received from Germany which must have been obtained from measurement
of the outer coffin from grave A (Hamburg 00460031
(= Kln 099028M), 00460032, 00460033, 00460034,
00460035). All the datasets show some similarities to
the Danish mean curve for the outer coffin (NNU
60480049), best Hamburg 00460031, worst Hamburg
00460034, which is termed by the Germans as partly
uncertain. On visual comparison of the curves it is,
however, clear that there must be several measurement errors (missing or duplicate tree rings) in the
German curves. For this reason these data have not
been used. Two of the datasets (Hamburg 00460033,
Hamburg 00460035), however, comprise 13 and five
sapwood rings respectively. In the Danish investigations only heartwood was found on the investigated
samples, but several other fragments from the coffin were not examined for the possible presence of
sapwood. From the two German datasets, it is now
apparent that the last tree ring on the Danish mean
curve must lie very close to the sapwood boundary,
as the first sapwood rings on the German measurements correspond to year 299 (Hamburg 00460035)
and year 302 (Hamburg 00460033), respectively, on
the Danish curve, which comprises 300 years.
Coffin A, inner coffin: In the German investigations a dendro sample was sawn off from the lower
part; this was re-used in the Danish investigations (D
6313). Further to this, a sample was also taken from
the lid in a place where sapwood was preserved (D
6312). Similarly, a piece of well-preserved sapwood
was broken off (Pd 23321). The tree rings on these
samples were measured along several radii; these
have been combined to produce a mean curve of 147
tree rings (NNU 60480039). The earliest tree ring lies
c. 3 cm from the pith. The last 14-15 tree rings are
sapwood. The five datasets, which include sapwood,
end in years 143-147. It is therefore likely that the last
measured tree ring is close to the bark ring (cf. below
under coffin C).
A dataset was received from Germany, which is
stated to have been produced from measurements
199
on coffin C from Guldhj at the museum in Vamdrup (Mu. Vamdrup, Gulthoij I, Gr. C, Hamburg
00460037 = Kln 099028M). Coffin C has, however,
never been at the museum in Vamdrup, but is kept
at the National Museum. Visual comparison with the
Danish data for the inner coffin from grave A and
coffin C (which were made from the same tree (cf.
below) and therefore show great similarity) reveals
that the German data with great probability originate
from measurements carried out on one of these coffins even though several measuring errors can also be
detected here. The German measurements are said
to have been carried out in Vamdrup. Accordingly,
these measurements must be from the inner coffin
of grave A. This conclusion is supported by the letter from Burghart Schmidt to Vivi Jensen mentioned
above.
Coffin B: In the German investigations, a sample
was sawn off from the lid (D 2081); this was re-used in
the Danish investigations (D 6420). The tree rings in
the sample were measured along several radii and the
datasets were combined to give a mean curve (NNU
60480029). This curve shows good agreement with
the German measurements (Kln 0990130, NNU
6048002T) and the two curves have therefore been
combined to produce a mean curve comprising 127
tree rings (NNU 60480028). The earliest tree ring
lies less than 0.5 cm from the pith. The last 2-4 tree
rings are sapwood. Measurements were also made
of 16 tree rings on a loose piece of sapwood but the
measurements do not match with the mean curve or
the other samples. The tree rings on a small sample
comprising both heartwood and sapwood (archived
in LP 824) were so deformed that no further information could be gained. About 15 sapwood rings were
counted on the coffin itself, of which the last probably
lies close to the bark ring. If it is assumed that the tree
had 15 sapwood rings when it was felled, the bark
ring lies c. 12 (11-13) years after the last tree ring on
the mean curve.
Coffin C: In the German investigations, a dendro
sample was sawn off from the lower part of the coffin
(D 2082); this was re-used in the Danish investigations (D 6317). Two radii were measured on the sample, comprising in all 112 tree rings - all heartwood.
Further to this, several loose pieces of sapwood, allegedly from coffin C, have also now been investi-
200
Acta Archaeologica
gated (D 6318, Hg 27187). The tree ring data from

three of these pieces show good relative agreement,
while a fourth dataset is so different that it must come
from another tree. A comparison with the tree-ring
curves from other oak coffins reveals great similarity between this latter piece and the coffin from 17.
Storehj at Barde which, during the tree-ring investigations, was at the National Museums conservation
department together with the coffins from Guldhj.
Sapwood from the 17. Storehj coffin was also found
as contamination in coffins A and C from 21. Trindhj. In order to obtain measurements for sapwood,
which definitely originates from coffin C, a few pieces
of sapwood were broken off the coffin itself (D 6319,
Hg 27188). The tree-ring measurements from three
of the pieces show a good match with the measurements for the three loose pieces of sapwood which
must, therefore, be from Coffin C.
The tree-ring measurements from the heartwood
cannot be matched with those from the sapwood as
there is virtually no overlap between the two datasets.
All the measurements from coffin C can, however,
be matched with the mean curve for the inner coffin
from grave A and therefore it has been possible to
combine them to produce a mean curve for coffin C
(NNU 60480019). This curve matches well with the
German curve for the coffin (Kln 0990120, NNU
6048001T). All the measurements from coffin C have
therefore been combined to produce a mean curve of
124 tree rings (NNU 60480018). The earliest tree ring
lies c. 2 cm from the pith. The last 13-16 tree rings are
sapwood. Five of the sapwood datasets end at year
124, one at year 123. After year 124 there are possi-
ble preserved bark remains associated with one of the

sequences. It is therefore likely that the last preserved
tree ring (year 124) is the bark ring.
Comparison of the mean curves for the inner coffin from grave A and for coffin C results in very high
correlation values (t = 17.94) and the curves show very
great visual similarity (Fig. 11); the average tree-ring
width for the two coffins is almost the same and the
number of sapwood rings is virtually identical. It can
therefore be assumed that the two coffins were made
from the same tree. The coffin from grave A (which
includes the earliest tree rings and is broader than
coffin C) was made from the lower part and coffin C
from the upper part of the trunk.
The mean curves for the inner coffin from grave A
and for coffin C have been combined to give a common mean curve of 147 tree rings (NNU 60480059).
The earliest tree ring lies c. 3 cm from the pith. The
last 13-16 tree rings are sapwood. As already mentioned, the mean curves for the two coffins ends in
the same year (year 147). The curves include measurements from 11 pieces of sapwood; six of these end
in year 147, the remainder end 1-4 years prior to this.
There were possible preserved bark remains after
year 147 on one of the samples from coffin C. It can
therefore be presumed that the last tree ring on the
coffins, year 147, represents the bark ring.
Dating
Coffins A and C: The mean curve for the inner
coffin from grave A and for coffin C, which were
made from the same tree trunk, are included in the
master curve for all the oak coffins where it covers the
Figure 11. 5. Guldhj Comparison of the tree-ring curves for the inner coffin from 5. Guldhj grave A and the coffin from 5. Guldhj grave C
in synchronous position (the open tree ring symbols to the far right denote that these tree rings are only partially preserved). The horizontal
scale shows the number of tree rings in the direction from the pith to the bark. The vertical scale (logarithmic) shows the width of the tree
rings. The curves match so well, both with regard to the absolute width of the tree rings and the fluctuations from year to year, that it can be
assumed that the two coffins were made from the same tree trunk.

period 1535-1389 BC. As the last tree ring is probably
the bark ring, the trees last growth year was probably
1389 BC. The mean curve for the outer coffin from
grave A is also included in the master curve for all the
oak coffins, where it covers the period 1711-1412 BC.
The curve only comprises heartwood but comparison
with the German measurements, which include c. 13
sapwood rings, shows that the latest tree ring on the
curve must be identical with or very close to the last
heartwood ring. From a dendrochronological point
of view, the trees last growth year can therefore be
determined as c. 1377 BC 13/+22 years (1390-1355
BC). From an archaeological point of view, the tree
for the outer coffin must have been felled at the same
time as the tree for the inner coffin, the last growth
year of which is 1389 BC.
Coffin B: The mean curve for the coffin is included in the master curve for all the oak coffins, where it
covers the period 1527-1401 BC. A further c. 12 sapwood rings were counted on the coffin, of which the
last lies close to the bark ring. The trees last growth
year must therefore be c. 1389 BC. Accordingly, coffin B is probably contemporaneous with the other
coffins from Guldhj.
The dates have previously been published by
Christensen & Jensen (1991) and by Christensen
(1998). In 1991, the date for coffins B and C was given
as c. 1381 BC, whereas coffin A was undated. At that
time the measurements had not been carried out on
the sapwood samples from coffins B and C and the
situation concerning coffin A (was it a coffin from
Guldhj?, cf. above) had not been clarified. The felling dates given in 1998 are the same as the last growth
years given above.
6. HSBY, Kirchspiel Hsby, Kreis

Schleswig-Flensburg.
LA Grabhgel 21; Ke 2361 Hsby; NNU A 6516

Hsby (Catras 0017); WM 030326 (TSAP 2031); Kln
Hsby, 099005A, 0990180, 099031M (identical with
Hamburg 00460030, cf. below, however); Hamburg
Hsby a+b 00461010; Hsby Untertheil 00460030
(identical with Kln 099031M, cf. below, however).
- Sources: Aner & Kersten 1978:123-124; Jensen
1998:163.
201

During an archaeological excavation in 1966 a
centrally located oak coffin burial was discovered.
The lower part of the coffin was well preserved
but there were only a few fragments of the lid. No
information is given on whether the outer surface had
been shaped or still had sapwood and bark preserved.
The coffin is kept at the museum at Gottorp Castle
(museum no. K.S.B. 114a).
Four large pieces of wood (1-4) are preserved from
the coffin and three samples (A-C) were sawn off for
measurement during the German investigations. The
tree-ring data confirm that the samples originate from
the same tree. The identity of the coffin is secure.
Two of the large pieces (1 & 2) and one of the
sawn off samples (A) match relative to each other and
together they make up one half of the coffin. A foursided hole, cut into one end, shows that this is the
base of the coffin (cf. Aner & Kersten 1978:124). This
appears to have been almost completely preserved as
both gables and the edges of the sides are intact. Its
greatest length is c. 2.97 m (Aner & Kersten 1978:124:
2.90 m). At one gable end of piece 2 there are four
recent holes, bored alongside each other a few centimetres apart and only a few (max. 6) centimetres
deep. The function of these holes is unknown perhaps material has been removed for radiocarbon dating (cf. below).
The two remaining large pieces of wood (3 & 4)
fit with the edges of the lower part of the coffin and
must therefore be part of the coffin lid. Piece 3 is c.
2.85 m long and is preserved in almost the full length
of the coffin. Piece 4 is only 1.04 m long and has part
of a gable preserved at one end. Samples B and C
must derive from the lid and are, similarly, parts of
the gables.
Piece 4 has recently been sawn through at both
ends. Neither sample B nor sample C fit with these
sawn surfaces and the sawn-off pieces are therefore
missing. One, or probably two, pieces of wood from
which samples B and C were sawn are also missing.
The absent pieces of wood are possibly samples taken
for tree-ring measurement during the German investigations. They could, however, be samples that were
taken for radiocarbon dating, as the coffin has actu-
202
Acta Archaeologica
ally been radiocarbon dated twice (Aner & Kersten

1978:124).
The outer surface of the coffin lacks traces of
shaping. On the face of it, the surfaces appear very
knotty, but on closer examination it seems likely
that some areas of the surface are more degraded than
others. The surface of the prominent areas lies moreor-less at the same level and is possibly close to the
sapwood boundary. The sapwood itself appears not
to be preserved.
In the German investigations, three samples (A-C)
were taken for measuring; these were re-used in the
Danish investigations. There are also three German
tree-ring datasets called Hsby (Kln 0990180 =
NNU D 2099), Hsby a + b (presumably a mean
of two datasets for which the actual raw data are not
available) and Hsby, Unterteil (Kln 099031M =
Hamburg 00460030; the Hamburg data comprise
196 tree rings, whereas the Cologne dataset only
has 195 rings because the last tree ring from the
Hamburg dataset is missing here). A further dataset
(Kln 09905A), which is just referred to as Kontrolle
E, must also be from the coffin from Hsby as it
shows great similarity to the data from this coffin.
A comparison of the curves reveals, however, that
Kontrolle E contains several obvious measuring
errors. For this reason no further use will be made
of it.
In the Danish investigations, the tree rings on
each of the three samples were measured along one
radius and the three radii were combined to produce
a mean curve of 269 tree rings (WM 2031ABC). A
further partially preserved tree ring was counted towards the bark. The earliest tree ring lies c. 1 cm from
the pith. All the tree rings are heartwood. Sapwood
is not visible on the coffin. The last preserved tree
ring is present on sample A. The edges of this sample
does not follow a particular tree ring but is somewhat
eroded. Accordingly, it is unknown how long the last
preserved tree ring lies from the sapwood boundary.
The Danish mean curve shows good agreement
with the three useable German datasets (cf. above).
The German datasets comprise in all 268 tree rings as
they begin in the same years as the Danish sequences
but end a year earlier.
An overview of the German tree-ring data had

the following entry under the heading Splint: c.
25 Kernholzringe fehlen!, i.e. in addition to the tree
rings measured, about 25 heartwood rings are missing
in the growth direction (NNU A 5533C, 1983:29).
As the samples from the coffin do not appear to include more than those rings measured it is difficult to
understand the basis for this assumption. As a consequence it will be ignored (perhaps it is just an error such that instead it should have read that c. 25
Splintholzringe (sapwood rings) were missing; this
would correspond roughly to the actual situation).
Dating
curve for all the oak coffins, where it covers the period
1695-1427 BC. Further to this is a tree ring counted in
the direction of the bark. The total tree-ring sequence
therefore covers the period 1695-1426 BC. As it is
not known how far the last preserved tree ring lies
from the sapwood boundary, the trees last growth
year can only be established with certainty to after
1397 BC 9/+18 years (1406-1377 BC). As the coffin
has retained the natural rounding of the tree trunk it
is, however, likely that only a small number of tree
rings are missing up to the sapwood boundary, such
that the true last growth year does not lie far from the
theoretically earliest possible last growth year.
The date has not been previously published.
7. JELS, Jels sogn, Gram herred,

Haderslev amt.
Sb. 83; Ke 3443 Hennekesdam; NNU A 6514 Jels

(Catras 5040); WM 030326 (TSAP 2054); WM 2172
(TSAP 5803) was originally thought to originate
from the oak coffin from Addendum 23. Skrydstrup
but is from the Jels coffin; Kln Haderslev, 0990100.
- Sources: Broholm 1938:1-20; Aner & Kersten
1984:38-39; Jensen 1998:148-150.
During an archaeological excavation in 1935, a
centrally located oak coffin burial was discovered.
Both the lower part and the lid were preserved; the lid
was, however, substantially damaged in the middle.

On the lower part there were still significant parts
of the sapwood intact on the heartwood (Broholm
1938:9). The coffin is kept at the museum in Haderslev
(museum no. 5515).
Both the lower part and the lid are preserved and
there is no doubt as to the identity. Sapwood is still
preserved in a few places, especially on the lower
part.
During the German investigations a sample was sawn
off which was later glued back on to the coffin again
(D 2097). In the Danish investigations it was planned
to re-use the German sample but the coffin had been
so brilliantly restored that it was not possible to see
where it had been sawn through. Therefore, in the
first instance a loose piece of the lid, only comprising
heartwood (D 5999), was taken back to the lab, along
with some loose pieces of sapwood (D 7197), for the
tree rings to be measured. Later, the lid was sawn
through and a new sample taken in a place where the
sapwood was attached (D 7133).
The tree rings on the two large samples were measured along two radii, supplemented by several measurements on the loose sapwood. All the measurements
were combined to produce a mean curve comprising
320 tree rings (NNU 50400019). The curve shows
good agreement with the German tree ring data (Kln
0990100, NNU 5040001T), which does, however,
only comprise 293 tree rings. The mean curves from
the two investigations have therefore been combined
to produce a common mean curve of 320 tree rings
(NNU 50400018). The earliest tree ring lies 2-3 cm
from the pith. The last c. 18 (16-19) tree rings are sapwood. The very last tree ring is very probably the bark
ring. The eight measurements that have been carried
out of the sapwood each end in virtually the same year
(two sequences end in year 317, two in year 318, one in
year 319 and three in year 320) and small, presumably
attached, bark remains can be seen along the edge of
the sample immediately after tree ring 320.
Dating
curve for all the oak coffins and covers the period
203
1667-1348 BC. As the last tree ring is presumably the

bark ring, the trees last growth year is probably 1348
BC.
The date has previously been published by Christensen (1998) under the name of Hennekesdam, Jels.
The felling date given there is the same as the last
growth year given here.
Addendum
In July 2006, the Dendrochronological WM Laboratory received two samples of wood, each labelled
25377, from Haderslev Museum. According the museums information these are from the Addendum 23.
Skrydstrup coffin. Dendrochronological investigation of the two samples (1: WM W58030A9, 2: WM
W58030B9) shows, however, that they are definitely
from the Jels coffin.
8. MAASBLL, Kirchspiel Maasbll,

Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg.
LA Grabhgel 7; Ke 2266 Maasbll; WM 030326
(TSAP 2032); Hamburg Flensburg, Baumsarg
0046021A; Toppehj, Bollerslev 00460038; Kln
Baumsarg in Flensburg, 0990190 (almost identical
with Hamburg 0046021A, cf. below); Bollerslev
(Toppehj) 099029M (identical with Hamburg
00460038). - Sources: Sauermann 1903:2; Sauermann
1906:1-2; Rschmann 1963:403; Aner & Kersten
1978:69; Jensen 1998:79.
During an archaeological excavation in 1883 an oak
coffin was discovered in the southeastern side of the
burial mound (Rschmann 1963:403. Aner & Kersten
(1978:69) and Jensen (1998:79) state that the excavation
took place in 1875. According to Rschmann, however,
this was an earlier excavation carried out by the
owner of the mound, whereas the excavation in 1883
was carried out by Flensburger Altertumsverein).
There is no description of the appearance and state of
preservation of the coffin. Judging from photographs
taken during the excavation, only the lower part was
preserved (Rschmann 1963:403; Aner & Kersten
1978:68 & Tafel 117), such as is also recorded in
the Flensburg Museum catalogue, cf. below. At the
204
Acta Archaeologica
museum in Flensburg there is a file card with a rough

sketch of the (lower part of the) coffin, where it is stated
that it is c. 2.87 m long (similarly also Rschmann
1963:403).
After discovery, the coffin appears to have been
taken to the new museum in Flensburg (established
in 1876, but first opened to the public in 1903, information kindly provided by Museum Director Ulrich Schulte-Wlwer), where it was given the number
P.V. 201 (it has unfortunately not proved possible to
discover the significance of P.V.). In the museums
printed catalogue from 1903 and 1906, the following
is included among the exhibited artefacts: Untere
Hlfte eines Baumsarges aus Maasbll, Kr. Flensburg;
die obere Hlfte war total zerstrt und in die untere
hineingestrzt (Sauermann 1903:2; Sauermann
1906:1-2). Rschmann (1963:403) and Aner & Kersten (1978:69) state that the coffin still exists in Flensburg, but this is not the case. The only trace of the
coffin there is at Flensburg Museum is the file card
mentioned above. On this card there is a stamp from
Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseum vor Vorund Frhgeschichte at Gottorp Castle (i.e. a post-war
stamp) and at Flensburg Museum it is presumed that
the coffin was transferred there after World War II
(information kindly provided by Ulrich Schulte-Wlwer). At the Gottorp Museum, however, it was denied
that the coffin was kept there and the museum staff
were of the opinion that the stamp did not prove that
the coffin had been transferred. They were not, however, able to give another explanation for why there
is the Gottorp Museum stamp on the file card from
Flensburg Museum.
At the Gottorp Museum there is, however, a coffin that was presumed to be that from UI 22. Toppehj at Bolderslev. This, however, cannot be the
case as demonstrated in the section dealing with the
latter coffin. This coffin is equipped with a wooden
board and a typed label bearing the text Baumsarg
aus dem Museum Flensburg. Its length is about 2.85
m, whereas the Maasbll coffin was, according to the
file card, 2.87 m long. On the coffins left side edge
(seen from the well-preserved gable end) a step
can be seen in the height of the edge; this can be
recognised on the (unfortunately somewhat blurred)
photograph of the Maasbll coffin (Aner & Kersten
1978, Tafel 117). Similarly, other details apparent on
the photographed coffin gable also appear to be recognisable on the coffin in question. Seen against this
background it is, therefore, likely that the former
UI 22. Toppehj coffin is, in reality, the coffin from
Maasbll. And there are actually no other possibilities. The only well-preserved oak coffins which have
been brought into the museums in Denmark and Schleswig and later have gone missing are the coffin from
UI 22. Toppehj, which cannot correspond to that
described here, and the more than 4 m long coffin
from UI 23. Tvillingehj, which also is excluded, and
- finally - the coffin from Maasbll. We can, therefore,
establish that Gottorp Museums Baumsarg aus dem
Museum Flensburg must be the disappeared coffin
from Maasbll.
State of preservation
The lower part of the coffin is preserved together with
two sawn-off dendro samples, which fit well with one
of the gables. The lower part is c. 2.85 m long; the
internal length of the coffin cavity is c. 2.4 m and
the width is c. 0.55 m (0.53-0.57 m). The combined
thickness of the two gables is, accordingly, c. 0.45 m.
At the end of the coffin, where the samples were sawn
off for measurement, the gable is well preserved,
whereas at the opposite end the greater part of the
gable is missing. Here, however, the relatively freshlooking cleavage faces could suggest that the missing
part of the gable fell off relatively recently.
The outer surface of the coffin shows no traces of
having been worked. A few slightly protruding areas
are apparent where a greater number of tree rings
could possibly be preserved than on the measured
samples. Presumably, these are places where a stone
from the enclosing stone packing has pressed directly
on the coffin and thereby shielded the wood against
decay. There does not appear to be sapwood preserved anywhere on the coffin.
In the German investigations, two dendro samples
were sawn off from the well-preserved gable. These
samples, A and B, were re-used in the Danish
investigations. Sample B lacked the outermost piece,
which was preserved on the gable itself. The piece
was found at Gottorp Museum but was labelled as
belonging to a coffin from 9. Margarethenberg by

Flensborg (cf. this coffin). It fits, however, directly
with sample B and with the gable itself. Similarly, the
tree-ring data show that these samples are from the
same coffin (the German measurements Hamburg
0046021A and Kln 0990190 were from this piece).
On sample A, the tree rings have been measured
along three radii and on both pieces of sample B along
two radii. The datasets were combined to produce a
mean curve for each of the samples. The two curves
match well apart from the first five years. They have
102 tree rings (WM 2032AB1) in that the first five tree
rings have been omitted. In addition to the measured
tree rings, a partially preserved tree ring was counted
both towards the bark and towards the pith. The earliest tree ring lies c. 10 cm from the pith. All the tree
rings are heartwood and it is not possible to determine how far the last preserved tree ring lies from the
sapwood boundary.
One of the datasets from the Hamburg laboratory (00460038 = Kln 099029M) comprises 98 tree
rings, of which the last according to an overview
of the coffins included in the German investigations
(NNU A 5533C, 1983:20) is said to be close to the
sapwood boundary. The German data matches well
with the Danish curve (WM 2032AB1) and the two
datasets have therefore been combined to produce
a mean curve of 103 years (WM 2032AB1T), as the
German dataset had one tree ring more towards the
pith than the Danish. The earliest tree ring lies c. 10
cm from the pith. All the tree rings are heartwood.
The assumption that the last tree ring lies close to
the sapwood boundary could not be confirmed in the
Danish investigations; this is the basis for the date
given below. The other dataset from the Hamburg
laboratory (0046021A) comprises 105 tree rings, of
which the last is only partially preserved. This is virtually identical with dataset 0990190 from Cologne,
from which the incomplete tree ring has, however,
been omitted. There are, however, differences in the
widths recorded for the individual tree rings, including an obvious error in the Hamburg measurements,
which could suggest that this dataset is secondary
relative to that from Cologne. The latter matches well
with the mean curve WM 2032AB1T, although it has
three more tree rings towards the pith, and two less
towards the bark, than the mean curve. The Cologne
205
dataset has not been included in the mean curve as

it was not received until after the analysis work had
been completed. For the same reason, the three extra tree rings towards the pith have not been included in tables and figures.
Dating
The coffins mean curve is included in the master curve
for all the oak coffins, where it covers the period 14731371 BC. Further to this, five tree rings towards the
pith and one towards the bark are preserved and the
total tree-ring sequence therefore covers the period
1478-1370 BC. As it is not known how far the last
preserved tree ring is from the sapwood boundary,
the trees last growth year can only be established
with certainty to after c. 1347 BC 10/+17 years (13571330 BC). As the coffin has retained the tree trunks
natural rounded form, it is, however, likely that only
a limited number of tree rings are missing up to the
heartwood/sapwood transition, such that the actual
last growth year does not lie far from the theoretically
earliest possible last growth year.
9. MARGARETHENBERG, Stadt
Flensburg, Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg.
LA Grabhgel 1; Ke 2186 Flensburg; WM 030326

(TSAP 2033). - Sources: Kersten & Hingst 1958;
Rschmann 1959:111-113; Rschmann 1963:185-188;
Aner & Kersten 1978:6-8; Jensen 1998:163.
During an archaeological excavation in 1958, six
oak coffin burials were discovered, but only three of
them (graves 1, 4 and 4a) appeared to contain the
preserved remains of the coffins. In the others the
wood had completely decayed. The finds from the
excavation are kept at the museum at Gottorp Castle,
but Aner & Kersten (1978) do not state the extent to
which the preserved coffins were taken back to the
museum. Today, there is apparently only one piece
of wood at Gottorp Museum which originates from
Margarethenberg and there is no clear information
concerning which of the graves it belongs to (cf.
below).
206
Acta Archaeologica

At the start of the Danish investigations, there were
two wood samples at the Gottorp Museum presumed
to come from either one or two of the coffins from
Margarethenberg. One of these proved, however,
to be from the so-called UI 22. Toppehj coffin
and will therefore not be mentioned further here
(see under the UI 22. Toppehj coffin for details).
The other piece must be presumed to come from
Margarethenberg.
The piece of wood is c. 190 cm long and up to c.
45 cm wide and one of the coffin gables (c. 22 cm
wide) is partially preserved. A rectangular hole has
been cut from about 10 cm away from the inner face
of the gable, which makes it seem probable that the
piece represents part of the coffin base.
There are several labels on the piece, which have
been attached in connection with the dendrochronological investigations, as well as one presumably older
and very decayed loose label with the text: Flensburg (KrGrabhgel 1 / Grab 4b / Baumsarg (/
= new line, = illegible). The label makes it seem
likely that the piece is from Margarethenberg, which
has the number 1 in the German Landesaufnahme.
In the excavation report for the burial mound (Kersten & Hingst 1958) no mention is, however, made
of a grave 4b (further to graves 1-3), only graves 4
and 4a, which correspond respectively to Grab D
and Grab E in Aner & Kersten (1978:7). The fact
that a German tree-ring study has been carried out on
the sample from Baumsarg Flensburg, Grabhgel 1,
Grab E is mentioned in a letter from the Hamburg
laboratory dated 5th May 2004. On several photographs from the excavation of this grave a rectangular
hole can be seen at one end of the coffin base; this
can be recognised on the piece of wood in question
(one of these photographs is reproduced in Aner &
Kersten 1978, Tafel 87a; it is said here to have been
taken from the north, but this does not correspond
to the direction given on the drawing of the coffin in
the same publication; on the excavation plan (Aner &
Kersten 1978:8) the hole appears to have been filled
with earth (?)). On this basis it is to be presumed that
the preserved piece of wood comes from grave E =
grave 4a.
The gable end of the piece of wood has previously
been sawn through in two places a few centimetres
apart and the intervening slice removed. The slice is

now missing, but the loose gable ends are available.
The slice is unlikely to have been sawn off for the
purpose of measuring the tree rings, as the German
measurements were carried out on the gable ends
where the measuring surfaces can still be seen. It
could, however, have been taken to provide material for radiocarbon dating as, according to Aner &
Kersten (1978:8), the coffin from grave 4a is the only
coffin from Margarethenberg to have been radiocarbon dated.
In the German investigation the sawn-off piece of the
gable was used for the analysis and this sample was
re-used in the Danish study.
The tree rings were measured on the sample
along two radii with the data being combined to
give a mean curve of 74 tree rings (WM 2033B12).
In addition to this, a partially preserved tree ring
was counted towards the bark. The distance from
the earliest tree ring to the pith was about 5-10
cm; all the tree rings are heartwood. No further
tree rings are preserved elsewhere on the sample.
The outer surface of the sample towards the bark
is severely eroded, and it was not possible to determine how far the last tree ring is from the sapwood
boundary.
The German dataset has not been available and no
information has been given concerning the number
of tree rings this comprises and whether it could be
dated.
Dating
curve for all the coffins, where it covers the period
1452-1379 BC. As a partially preserved tree ring has
been counted towards the bark, the total tree-ring
sequence covers the period 1452-1378 BC. Because
sapwood is not preserved and the distance from the
last preserved tree ring to the sapwood boundary
is unknown, the trees last growth year can only be
established with certainty to after c. 1358 BC 9/+17
years (1367-1341 BC).
10. MULDHJ at Muldbjerg, Hover

sogn, Hind herred, Ringkbing amt.
Sb. 59; Ke 4740 Muldbjerg; NNU A 7178 Muldbjerg

(Catras 7026); WM 030326 (TSAP 2055); Kln Borum
Eshj B 1396, 0990221 (outer coffin from Muldhj,
which during the German investigation was thought
to be a coffin from Borum Eshj); Muldbjerg B3332a,
099024A (outer coffin); Borum Eshj B3332a,
0990250, 099025A 099025D (inner coffin from
Muldhj, which during the German investigation was
thought to be a coffin from Borum Eshj; 099025C
- 099025D are, however, wooden fragments from 17.
Storehj at Barde, which were used for restoration
of the inner coffin from Muldhj). - Sources: Boye
1896:30-37; Aner & Kersten 1995:56-59; Jensen
1998:109-115.
During an archaeological excavation in 1883, an oak
coffin burial (A) was discovered, located centrally
in the northern of the two mounds making up
Muldhj, together with two stone heaps (B, C), which
presumably also each once contained an oak coffin
(Boye 1896:35-36, 156; Jensen 1998:113). Grave A
comprised an inner coffin of which both the lower
part and the lid were well-preserved, enclosed within
an outer coffin that was also well preserved. The latter
was formed from rather more than half of a large
oak trunk. The outer coffin was partially debarked
by chopping or chiselling with a narrow-edged
tool. The inner coffin was debarked; tool marks
inside the coffin suggested that the wood was green
when the inner coffin was made (Boye 1896:31-32).
Both the inner and the outer coffin were sent to the
National Museum where they still reside (museum no.
B 3332a). From some time in the 1970s the precise
date does not appear to have been recorded and
until December 1989, the inner coffin was on loan to
Moesgrd Museum in rhus.
Both the lid and the lower part of the inner coffin are
well preserved with sapwood preserved in places. The
outer coffin is similarly well preserved although the
sample sawn off for dendrochronological analysis has
disappeared. Sapwood has not been seen on the outer
coffin but due to the poor conditions for observation in
207
the museum store the possibility cannot be discounted

that there could be sapwood on parts of the coffins
outer surface, which have not been examined. There
is no doubt about the coffins identity.
First of all, it should be mentioned that the inner
coffin from Muldhj was, as stated above, on loan
to Moesgrd Museum in rhus at the time that
the German investigations were carried out. Here,
it was exhibited together with the artefacts found
during the excavation of 2. Borum Eshj, but not the
preserved coffins from that site, as these were a part
of the National Museums Bronze Age exhibition.
In the German investigations, the Muldhj coffin
was erroneously presumed to be a coffin from 2.
Borum Eshj. The datasets received from Cologne
(Kln 0990250 and Kln 099025A 099025D)
were accordingly labelled Borum Eshj, but with
the addition of B 3332, which is the Muldhj
coffins museum number at the National Museum.
Subsequently, the outer coffin from Muldhj, which
has always been kept at the National Museum, must
also have been examined as, prior to the start of
the Danish investigation, a sample was sawn off for
measuring from one end of this coffin. There are also
two German datasets, of which one (Kln 099024A)
bears the name Muldbjerg B3332a, the other (Kln
0990221) is labelled Borum Eshj B 1396. These
two datasets show a very great degree of similarity to
each other (t = 10.8), and visual comparison reveals
that these must be from measurements of the same
sample. The two datasets do not resemble either the
measurements from the inner coffin from Muldhj or
those from any of the other oak coffins. They must
come from measuring a coffin from which there is
no other dataset. In this respect, the outer coffin from
Muldhj is the only possibility as this coffin is the
only one of the preserved oak coffins, which was not
measured as part of the Danish investigations. The
fact that the German data are from the outer coffin
from Muldhj is confirmed by the fact that the sum
of the widths of the 106 tree rings, which make up
the two datasets, corresponds to the radius of the
sample sawn off the Muldhj outer coffin. The 106
tree rings, when compared with the master curve for
all oak coffins, are found to correspond to the period
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Acta Archaeologica
1501-1396 BC. Taking account of the distance from

the earliest measured ring to the trees pith, the felling
date for this tree can be calculated to c. 1365 BC
(cf. below). This year is also the last growth year for
the tree from which the inner coffin from Muldhj
which the outer coffin must be contemporaneous
with was made. It must therefore be considered
proven that the two German datasets result from
measurements of the outer coffin from Muldhj. The
first of these datasets (Kln 0990221), called Borum
Eshj B 1396, was perhaps given this name because
the coffins museum number at the National Museum
(B 3332a) corresponds to the number on the coffin
measured at Moesgrd Museum, which erroneously
was taken to be one of the coffins from 2. Borum
Eshj. The second dataset (Kln 099024A), which
has the correct label Muldbjerg B 3332a, appears to
have been produced (from the same sample) around
two years later. It is possible that the re-measuring
took place because the mix-up with the 2. Borum
Eshj coffin had, in the meantime, been discovered.
Inner coffin: In the German investigations one
end of the lid was sawn off and used for measuring.
After the investigation the sample was glued back on
to the coffin again. In the Danish investigations the
coffin was sawn through again, both through the old
saw marks and also a little further away where there
was well-preserved sapwood. The sample that was
removed shows that the lid was restored following
excavation. The actual coffin wood is only preserved
in the outer half of the sample, whereas in towards
the pith several pieces of wood have been inserted,
some of them such that they are incorrectly oriented
relative to the direction of growth of the coffin wood
(Fig. 12).
The tree rings of the actual coffin wood have been
measured along two radii on both surfaces of the sample, and the data have been combined to produce a
mean curve of 106 tree rings (NNU 70260079). The
distance from the earliest tree ring to the pith is c. 22
cm. The last 15-16 tree rings are sapwood and the
bark ring is presumably preserved as the last tree ring
can be followed along the edge of the sample over a
considerable distance.
In the German investigations, 71 tree rings were
measured (Kln 0990250), allegedly covering the period 1518-1448 BC (NNU A 5533C, 1983:20). The
data match well with the Danish mean curve for the
inner coffin (NNU 70260079; t = 9.3). The two datasets end in the same year, but the German dataset
comprises 35 fewer tree rings towards the pith than
the Danish. As the Danish curve is securely dated to
the period from 1470-1365 BC, the date given by the
German investigation cannot be maintained. In the
German investigations, 25 sapwood rings were found
on the sample (NNU A 5533C, 1983:20), and it is
apparent from overviews of the German datasets received subsequently that the last preserved tree ring is
the bark ring. In the Danish measurement of the same
sample surface sapwood was not found preserved. On
the opposite side of the sample, 15-16 sapwood rings
were found up to the bark ring by measuring three
different radii. The Danish data will be used as the
basis for a calculation of the trees last growth year (cf.
below). As the German data for the outer coffin first
became available after conclusion of the data analysis, no mean curves have been calculated combining
the Danish and the German data.
In the Danish investigations the tree rings of four
of the inserted pieces of wood were also measured (D
7758, D 7759, D 9612, D 9613), and the four datasets
showed such great similarity that the pieces must be
presumed to come from the same tree. They have
111 tree rings (NNU 70260001). The oldest ring lies
2-2.5 cm from the pith; all the rings are heartwood.
This curve is such a poor match for the mean curve
for the actual coffin wood that they must represent
wood from different trees. The mean curve for the
inserted pieces of wood has, therefore, also been compared with the mean curves for all the other oak coffins. It proved to match with the curve for the coffin
from 17. Storehj at Barde (NNU 70200018) so well (t
= 12.51) that it can be assumed that the loose pieces
of wood come from the 17. Storehj coffin. The coffins
from 10. Muldhj and 17. Storehj were excavated at
the same time and by the same archaeologists. It can
be assumed that they were also conserved at the same
time at the National Museum and that the Muldhj
coffin was patched up using some loose pieces from
the 17. Storehj coffin.
In the German investigations, one or more of
the inserted pieces were similarly measured (Kln
099025C, 099025D). Together, the datasets comprise
209
Fig. 12. 10. Muldhj. Photo of sample from one gable of the lid of the inner coffin. The actual lid was made from half a tree trunk, the pith-near
parts of which had, however, apparently decayed away when they were found. The missing wood has been replaced by plaster of Paris (light)
and inlaid pieces of wood, which clearly represent foreign material as the growth direction of the wood on these pieces does not correspond
to the growth direction of the actual coffin wood. Dendrochronological analysis of the inlaid pieces of wood has shown that they originate
from the oak coffin from 17. Storehj at Barde, which lies not far from 10. Muldhj and was excavated at the same time. Photo: The National
Museum.
66 tree rings, all heartwood, and show good agreement with the Danish data (NNU 70260001) without
extending them. As the German data first became
available after the data analysis had been concluded,
no mean curve has been calculated combining the
Danish and the German measurements.
Outer coffin: The coffin was not measured during the Danish investigations as the inner coffin
on which sapwood was preserved could give a
more precise date for the burial. There are, however, as mentioned above, two German datasets (Kln
0990211, 0990024A), which must be from measurements carried out on a sample from the outer coffin.
The sample was sawn off from the edge of the coffin
at the upper end of the tree. The two datasets have
here been combined to produce a mean curve (WM
0990MuY), which comprises 106 tree rings, all heartwood. The distance from the earliest measured ring
to the pith is not given but on the basis of a visual
appraisal of the actual outer coffin it can be estimated

at c. 40 cm. The number of tree rings to which this
corresponds can only be calculated with some uncertainty. The average width of the measured tree rings
is 1.15 mm. Taking a conservative estimate of an average tree ring width of 2 mm, the missing c. 40 cm corresponds to 200 years. The outer surface of the coffin
is naturally rounded and as the information is given
that, on excavation, it was only partially debarked,
it is likely that the sapwood at that time was preserved
in places and that the outer surface now corresponds
more-or-less to the transition between heartwood and
sapwood. The number of tree rings from the pith to
the sapwood boundary has therefore been calculated
as being in excess of 300 years.
Dating
The mean curve for the inner coffin is included in the
master curve for all oak coffins, where it covers the
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Acta Archaeologica
period 1470-1365 BC. The bark ring is very probably

preserved and the trees last growth year is therefore
1365 BC.
The outer coffins mean curve, when compared
with the master curve for all the other oak coffins,
is seen to cover the period 1501-1396 BC. Dendrochronologically, the trees last growth year can be calculated to c. 1365 BC 12/+20 years (1377-1345 BC).
Archaeologically, the outer coffin must be contemporaneous with the inner coffin and the last growth
year for the latter must also apply to the outer coffin:
1365 BC.
The date for the inner coffin has previously been
published by Christensen (1998) under the name
Muldbjerg; the felling date given there is the same as
the last growth year given here. The date for the outer
coffin has not previously been published.
11. MLLEHJ, Uge sogn, Lundtoft

herred, benr amt.
Sb. 18; Ke 2994 Uge; NNU A 6511 Mlhj (Catras 5038); WM 030326 (TSAP 2056); Kln Mlhj,
0990210 (mean curve), 099021A - 099021C (single
radii). - Sources: Schmidt 1849:54; Worsaae 1859:65;
Boye 1896:112; Aner & Kersten 1981:53; Jensen
1998:42.
During digging in the mound in 1842 a well-preserved
oak coffin was discovered (its location in the mound
is not given). Both the lower part and the lid were
preserved. No information is given on whether the
outer surface had been worked or still had bark or
sapwood preserved.
The coffin stood for many years in the vicarage in Uge where the lid was destroyed during
the war in 1848. In 1855, the lower part was sent
to the Museum for Nordic Antiquities (now the
National Museum) where it is still kept (museum
no. 15275) (Boye 1896:112).
The lower part of the coffin is preserved. There is no
doubt as to its identity.
In the German investigations part of the gable at
the top end of the coffin was sawn off and used for
measuring; the sawn-off sample was re-used in the
Danish investigations (D 6310) (Fig. 13). The tree
rings were measured along five radii, of which the
three longest, containing all tree rings that could be
demonstrated, have been combined to produce a
mean curve of 283 tree rings (NNU 50380019).
In the German investigations, three radii were
measured on the sample, of which one (Kln
099021C, NNU 5038002T) when compared with
the Danish mean curve, appears to contain errors.
This has been confirmed by re-measuring the sample
and the German dataset has therefore been excluded. The two other German datasets (Kln 099021A,
NNU 5038001T; Kln 099021B, NNU 5038003T)
are, on the other hand, a good match with the Danish mean curve. The Danish curve and the two correct German datasets have therefore been combined
to produce a final mean curve for the coffin of 283
c. 4 cm from the pith. All the tree rings are heartwood. The samples outer surface is, however, naturally rounded (Fig. 13) and the last measured tree
ring must therefore be assumed to lie close to the
sapwood boundary.
Dating
curve for all the oak coffins where it covers the period
1704-1422 BC. As the last tree ring presumably lies
close to the sapwood boundary, the trees last growth
year can be established as c. 1391 BC 12/+20 years
(1403-1371 BC).
The date for the coffin has previously been published by Christensen & Jensen (1991) and by Christensen (1998) under the name Mlhj. The felling
date was given as c. 1396 BC (1991) and after c. 1391
BC (1998). The deviation from this date given here
is due in part to a new evaluation of the distance
from the latest preserved tree ring to the sapwood
boundary and in part to the use of different sapwood
estimates.
211
Fig. 13. 11. Mllehj. Photo of the measured surface on the investigated sample (D 6310). Five radii, A-E, were measured on the sample; the
locations of these are shown with letters and the number of the last tree ring on each radius is given. Three of the datasets were combined to
produce a mean curve of 283 years. By each of the radii the last year for that curve is given. The approximate coincidence of the final years
on the five radii shows that the edge of the sample must be very close to the boundary between heartwood and sapwood such that the sample
(more-or-less) only lacks the sapwood. If the edge had been shaped or strongly eroded it would be expected that the final year varied greatly
from radius to radius. Photo: The National Museum. 1:5.
12. NYBL, Hjordkr sogn, Rise herred,

benr amt.
Sb. 64; Ke 3022 Nybl; NNU A 6515 Nybl (Catras

5041); WM 030326 (TSAP 2057); Kln Apenrade,
0990070. - Sources: Anonymous 1888; Boye 1896:107108; Aner & Kersten 1981:69; Jensen 1998:127.
When digging in the mound in 1888, a centrally
located oak coffin was discovered. The lower part
was preserved with the exception of one end, whereas
there were only a few fragments preserved of the lid.
In an anonymous report written immediately after
the excavation the information is given that the tree
trunk was raw externally, which probably means

unworked. Boye (1896:107) states that Remains of
the bark still sit on the outer surface of the lower part.
According to Aner & Kersten (1981:69) the bark was
preserved auf einer aussenseite of the lower part.
The coffin is kept at Aabenraa Museum (no museum
number, information kindly supplied by Aabenraa
Museum).

Both the lower part of the coffin and the lid are
preserved and there is not doubt as to its identity. Bark
or sapwood is no longer preserved on the coffin.
212
Acta Archaeologica
In the German investigations, one end of the lower part
was sawn off and used as a dendro sample (D 2098).
The sample was re-used in the Danish investigations
(D 6000).
The tree rings were measured along two radii, and
the data were checked several times by re-measurement. The data have been combined to produce a
earliest ring is estimated to lie 2-3 cm from the pith.
All the tree rings are heartwood.
As mentioned above, both Boye (1896) and Aner
& Kersten (1981) state that there was bark preserved
on the lower part of the coffin. The bark and sapwood
must subsequently have crumbled away as today only
heartwood is preserved. The outer surface is, however, naturally rounded and, together with the information that bark was previously preserved, this justifies
the assumption that the last preserved tree ring lies
close to the sapwood boundary.
The Danish mean curve (NNU 50410019) has
been compared with the German tree-ring data (Kln
0990070, NNU 5041001T). The two curves are a
good match although it is obvious that the German
curve has one tree ring less than the Danish between
years 30 and 40. Checks revealed that the Danish
mean curve is correct. Accordingly, it will be used
from now on.
Dating
curve for all the oak coffins, where it covers the
period 1532-1294 BC. The coffin presumably only
lacks the sapwood and the trees last growth year can
be established as c. 1266 BC 11/+20 years (12771246 BC).
The date has previously been published by Christensen (1998). The felling date was given as after c.
1268 BC. The divergence from the dating given here
is due partly to a new evaluation of the distance from
the latest preserved tree ring to the sapwood boundary, partly to the use of other sapwood estimates.
13. NRAGERHJ, Emmelev sogn,

Hjer herred, Tnder amt.
Sb. 39; Ke 2909 Emmerlev; NNU A 5952 Nragerhj
(Catras 5030); WM 030326 (TSAP 2058). Kln

Nragerhj, 0990090. - Sources: Boye 1896:3, 119120; Aner & Kersten 1981:13; Jensen 1998:45-48.
When digging in the mound in 1856, a centrally
was well preserved, whereas there were only a few
fragments preserved of the lid. The information is
given that The bark [has been] chopped off the outer
surface of the coffin (Boye 1896:119).
After excavation the coffin was sent to the Museum for Nordic Antiquities (now the National Museum) where it was given museum number 15698.
Both the lower part of the coffin and the carefully
assembled fragments of its lid were shortly afterwards
exhibited at the museum ( Jensen 1998:47).
An overview of those oak coffins included in the
German investigations (NNU A 5952:20) states that
the lid of the coffin is at the National Museum (Kopenhagen Inv. Nr. 15698 Deckel), whereas the lower
part is said to be at the museum in Schleswig, i.e. at
Gottorp Castle (Unterteil im Museum Schleswig, F.S.
Nr). This must be the result of a misunderstanding.
As stated above, after the excavation both parts of the
coffin were taken to the National Museum, where the
lower part is still kept, whereas the much damaged
lid appears to have been lost (cf. below). The fact that
part of the Nragerhj coffin is kept at Gottorp Castle
is refuted by that museum. When the Danish investigations started, a sample had already been taken from
the coffin base at the National Museum for dendrochronological analysis and the German data match
very well with those now produced by measuring the
same sample.
The lower part is kept at the National Museum in a
good state of preservation and there are no grounds
to doubt its identity. The lid has been unsuccessfully
searched for in the museums stores and must therefore
be assumed to have been lost. Sapwood does not
appear to be preserved anywhere on the lower part
of the coffin.
In the German investigations, part of the gable at the

foot end of the lower part was sawn through and used
as a sample for measuring (D 2083). The sample was
re-used in the Danish investigations (D 7134).
The tree rings on the sample have been measured
along two radii and the data have been combined to
produce a mean curve (NNU 50300019) comprising164 tree rings. The curve matches well with that
from the German investigations (Kln 0990090, NNU
5030001T), which comprises 162 tree rings. The two
curves have therefore been combined to give a final
earliest tree ring lies c. 5 cm from the pith; all the tree
rings are heartwood. There does not appear to be any
sapwood preserved. However, the last measured tree
ring probably does not lie very far from the sapwood
boundary, but it cannot be determined how far.
Dating
1478-1315 BC. As only heartwood is preserved on the
coffin and it is unknown how far the last preserved
tree ring lies from the sapwood boundary, the trees
last growth year can only be established with certainty
as after c. 1290 BC 11/+19 years (1301-1272 BC). As
the coffin has retained the natural rounded shape of
the tree trunk it is, however, likely that only a small
number of tree rings are missing up to the sapwood
boundary. Accordingly, the actual last growth year
probably does not lie very far from the theoretically
earliest possible last growth year.
The date has previously been published by Christensen (1998), where the felling date was given as after c. 1295 BC. The divergence from the date given
here is due to the use of other sapwood estimates.
14. RNHJ, Hjordkr sogn, Rise

herred, benr amt.
Sb. 67; Ke 3030 rslev; NNU A 7181 Rnhj (Catras

5045); WM 030326 (TSAP 2059). - Sources: Aner &
Kersten 1981:76-78; Jensen 1998:158.
coffin was found approximately in towards the middle
of the mound. Both the lower part and the lid were
213
preserved, but the ends of the coffin had partially

rotted away. There is no information on the degree to
which the outer surface was worked or still had bark
preserved. After the excavation the coffin was sent to
the National Museum, where it is still kept (museum
no. B 13271).
Both the lower part and the lid are still kept at the National Museum. At first, there does not appear to be
sapwood preserved, but a closer examination (cf. below) has revealed that some slightly protruding portions
of the coffin probably include deformed sapwood.
investigations. In the Danish investigations, the
lower part was sawn through and a sample taken for
dendrochronological analysis (D 7131) (Fig. 14). The
tree rings on the sample were measured along a total
of seven radii as it was difficult to determine where the
last tree ring was preserved. Four radii, containing all
the demonstrated tree rings, were combined to give a
earliest tree rings lie 15-16 cm from the pith; all the
rings are heartwood. The coffins naturally rounded
outer surface makes it likely that the last measured
tree ring lies close to the sapwood boundary (Fig. 14).
This is confirmed by the fact that all the measured
radii end within a very short period of time (between
year 163 and year 170).
A number of slightly protruding flakes of wood,
measuring 3-10 cm in length and breadth, can be seen
on the outer surface. These have a smooth surface
and are slightly sunken (cup-shaped) towards their
centre. The coffin had rested on a stone packing and
it is likely that these flakes were produced be pressure from the stones against the wood. Microscopic
investigation of samples from a couple of the flakes
(Pd 23219, Pd 23220), revealed that some consist of
well-preserved, un-deformed heartwood, others of deformed and compacted wood lacking tyloses in the
earlywood vessels and perforated by insect galleries, i.e. very likely sapwood. The occurrence of these
flakes with possible sapwood strengthens the suspicion that the outer surface of the coffin lies close to
the sapwood boundary.
214
Acta Archaeologica
Dating
curve for all the oak coffins, where it covers the
period 1510-1341 BC. As the last measured tree ring
very probably lies close to the sapwood boundary,
the trees last growth year can be established as c.
1319 BC 10/+17 years (1329-1302 BC).
The date has previously been published by Christensen (1998) where the felling date was given as c.
1315 BC. The deviation from the date given here is
due to the use of other sapwood estimates.
15. SORTEHJ, Jernved sogn, Grding

herred, Ribe amt.
Sb. 64; Ke 3870 Plougstrup; NNU A 8078 Sortehj;
WM 020619 (TSAP 2009); Kln Ribe, 0990260,
099026A - 099026F. - Sources: Thrane 1962:113-122;
Aner & Kersten 1986:50-52; Jensen 1997:127-128.
During an archaeological excavation in 1896 a
centrally located oak coffin was discovered. The
lower part was well preserved, whereas the lid was
heavily damaged, especially at the ends. There is no
Fig. 14. 14. Rnhj. Photo of the cross-section of the sawn-off dendro sample. Photo; The National Museum.

information about any possible working of the outer
surface. Thrane (1962:118) states that there were still
remains of bark on the lower part. After excavation,
the coffin was given over to the Antiquarian Collection
in Ribe (museum no. M 2074). At present (2004), the
lower part of the coffin is exhibited at the Museum at
Snderskov while the remains of the lid are stored at
the same museum.
The great proportion of the lower part and a few
remains of the lid are preserved, and there is no
doubt as to the coffins identity. Bark is no longer
visible on the coffin, but on the lower part remains
of sapwood are preserved in places. The sample sawn
off in connection with the German investigations (cf.
below), and the piece of the coffin from which it was
sawn-off, are both presently (2005) missing. After the
German investigations, the sample was returned to the
Antiquarian Collection in Ribe (letter from Burghart
Schmidt to Bodil Busk Laursen 1st October 1978 with
attestation by the latter), but it has not been possible
to relocate it at the museum. On the drawing of the
coffin in the excavation report (published by Thrane
1962:116), the lower part of the coffin comprises half
of a tree trunk. Relative to this, the exhibited coffin
clearly lacks a radial section of the trunk and it must be
from this that the missing dendro sample was taken.
In the German investigations a sample was sawn off,
which cannot be located at present (see above). In
the Danish investigations, therefore, two new samples
were sawn from the lower part; one from the gable
at the top end of the tree, the other about a metre
below this where there was intact attached sapwood.
Further to this, several loose pieces of sapwood were
investigated.
On the sample from the gable, the tree rings were
measured along numerous radii as the wood was decayed in places and difficult to measure. The measurements have been combined to produce a mean
curve comprising 177 tree rings, all heartwood (WM
2009A3-6). Further to these, a partially preserved tree
ring was counted towards both the pith and the bark.
After being sanded, the sample was re-measured and
a new mean curve calculated (WM 2009A789). This
215
curve comprises 176 tree rings, all completely preserved. On the sample with sapwood (Fig. 15), four
radii were measured. These have been combined
to produce a mean curve with 53 tree rings (WM
2009B14), of which the last ten are sapwood. Further
to these, a partially preserved tree ring was counted towards both the pith and the bark. Finally, the tree rings
were measured on nine detached pieces of sapwood.
The data have been combined to produce a mean
curve of 21 tree rings (WM 2009CK), all of sapwood.
Further to these, a partially preserved tree ring was
counted towards both the pith and the bark. The end
dates for the nine sapwood samples are approximately
coincidental, which suggests that the last tree ring is
probably the bark ring or very close to it.
The four mean curves (WM 2009A3-6, WM
2009A789, WM 2009B14, WM 2009CK) are good
matches and they have been combined to produce
a new mean curve of 197 tree rings (WM 2009AK).
Further to these, a partially preserved tree ring has
been counted towards both the pith and the bark. The
earliest tree ring lies c. 3 (2-4) cm from the pith. The
last 18-23 tree rings are sapwood. The last tree ring
is identical with or very close to the bark ring. In the
German investigations, six radii were measured on
the coffin (Kln 099026A-F), of which the data from
one (C) has not been available. Four of these datasets
are stated to have been combined to produce a mean
curve of 115 tree rings (Kln 0990260), which matches well with the Danish mean curve (WM 2009AK)
with the exception of the very last of the tree rings
they have in common. The German measurements,
which cover this period, are displaced relative to
each other, whereas the measurements included in
the Danish curve match each other well. The longest
of the German sequences (Kln 099026F, 176 years)
has not been included in the German mean curve,
presumably because it is a poor match with the other
datasets. Comparison with the Danish mean curve
(WM 2009AK) makes it seem likely that the German measurements contain errors. The Danish mean
curve (WM 2009AK) has therefore been used as the
ultimate mean curve for the Sortehj coffin.
Dating
It has not been possible to date the mean curve for
the coffin.
216
Acta Archaeologica
1998:68-74.
Fig. 15. 15. Sortehj. Photo of the sample comprising the last tree
rings of the heartwood together with the in situ sapwood. Before
this sample was taken, dendrochronological analyses were carried
out on nine loose pieces of sapwood; these measurements end on
almost the same year. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the
last sapwood ring is the actual bark ring, or very close to this. The
sequences from the loose pieces of sapwood could, however, not be
matched with the tree-ring sequence measured on a sample from
the coffin gable, which only comprised heartwood. Despite the fact
that the sample shown here is heavily desiccated and cracked it was
possible to measure not only the last tree rings of the heartwood
but also the first ten sapwood rings and hereby obtain a secure
transition from heartwood to sapwood. With the aid of the tree-ring
curve from this sample is was possible to synchronise the curves
from the sample on the gable and the curves for the loose pieces
of sapwood and thereby obtain a continuous tree-ring curve for the
coffin. Photo: Jrgen Kraglund, Skalk.
16. STORE KONGEHJ, Vamdrup

sogn, Anst herred, Ribe amt.
Sb. 24; Ke 3832 Vester-Vamdrup; NNU A 7179 Store
Kongehj (Catras 0017); WM 030326 (TSAP 2041);
Kln Schleswig 2, 0990030, 0990200. - Sources:
Madsen 1876:15-16; Handelmann 1879:65-67; Boye

During excavation of the mound in 1861-62 (Boye
1896:82-87) four oak coffin graves were discovered,
of which only grave A (probably the mounds central
grave) contained a well-preserved oak coffin. The
other coffins were very decayed and do not appear to
have been retained after excavation.
The coffin from grave A was a double coffin.
The outer coffin was made from a very knotty and
still bark-covered oak trunk, whereas the inner coffin had been worked with much greater care (Boye
1896:82); no information is given on whether the
outer surface of the inner coffin was worked or had
bark preserved.
According to Boye (1896), the finds from 16. Store
Kongehj were incorporated into Frederik VIIs
private collection of antiquities and on the Kings death
they came to the Museum of Nordic Antiquities (now
the National Museum). From this must however be
excepted the inner coffin A which the King gifted to
the Nordic Museum in Flensburg (Boye 1896:87; no
mention is made of the outer coffin). In the Flensburg
Collection the coffin was given the number F.S.
7368.
From Flensburg, the coffin went to the museum
in Kiel (Boye 1896:87; for further details of this transfer see under UI 23. Tvillingehj). In a catalogue of
the museums artefacts from 1879 mention is made
of ein einigermassen conservirter Sarg mit Deckel.
Derselbe was eingeschlossen in eine zweite, aus einen
sehr knorrigen Eichenstamme ausgefertigte uere
Kiste, deren Ueberreste an der Wand aufgerichtet stehen (Handelmann 1879:65-66). At this point in time
not only the base and lid of the inner coffin were preserved but also the outer coffin the latter though apparently in poor condition. Today, the coffin is stored
at Gottorp Castle but only the inner coffin appears to
be preserved (cf. below).
Vilhelm Boye, from whose book on the oak
coffins from 1896 most of the above information
originates, visited the Flensburg Collection in 1862
( Jensen 1998:50) and must have seen the coffin from
Store Kongehj there. It is remarkable that he did not
notice the outer coffin, which must also have been

at the museum, but mentions only that the King
gifted the inner coffin to the Flensburg Collection.
Whether it is solely his impressions and notes from
this visit, together with Jacob Kornerups drawings of
the coffin, Boyes description is built on is unknown.
But he does not cite other sources of information
and he is normally very careful to do this. This is
an important question due to the fact that Boyes
description of the coffin is incomplete. He does not,
for example, mention that there are three holes cut
in the base of the coffin, two within the coffin and
one outside the gable. The latter could have served
to secure a rammed-down post intended to hold the
coffin in place. But this feature is unexpected in the
Store Kongehj coffin as this (cf. Kornerups drawing
of the coffin prior to being opened) was supported by
two stout posts hammered in at each end of the coffin.
Neither does Boye mention the well-preserved tool
marks, which are found especially in the lower part
of the coffin. These omissions could be due to the
fact that he did not have the opportunity to inspect
the coffin in connection with the production of his
book on oak coffins, but had to rely on notes from
the visit to Flensburg in 1862, which were probably
not written with the intention of being included in a
publication more than 30 years later. The omissions
in Boyes description of the Store Kongehj coffin reappear in later descriptions (eg. Aner & Kersten 1986;
Jensen 1998).
When the German investigations took place, an
oak coffin was exhibited at the Konge Museum in
Vamdrup which, in the course of the investigation, was
presumed to be a coffin from Store Kongehj, which
lies near Vamdrup. This was, however, not the case
it was coffin A from 5. Guldhj (which also comprises
an inner and an outer coffin), which was on loan from
the Koldinghus Museum (for further information see
under 5. Guldhj). The mistake was discovered later
but prior to this the incorrect information had been
sent to the National Museum and to Wormianums
dendrochronological laboratory.
The coffin is very fragmented and is now in the form
of a total of 19 pieces of wood (including the five
samples which were sawn off for dendro analysis).
Further to these, part of at least one piece is missing,
217
which was present during the German investigations

(cf. below). Several of the pieces of wood fit together
such that the 19 parts can be assembled to form a total
of 11 pieces. The wood is preserved in two boxes,
which appear to contain the base and the lid of the
coffin respectively. The outer coffin appears not to
be preserved; of the 11 assembled pieces, ten have
preserved remains of a coffin gable at one or both
ends and can, accordingly, not be from the outer
coffin, which was open at both ends (Boye 1896:82).
Only one piece of wood lacks remains of a gable,
but resembles the other pieces of wood so well that
it probably also originates from the inner coffin. The
dendrochronological investigations confirm that all of
the five measured samples originate from the same
tree trunk.
The great majority of the pieces are equipped with
labels, assigning them to the Store Kongehj coffin,
but all of these were attached in connection with the
dendrochronological investigations. The length and
other dimensions of the preserved coffin parts correspond, however, to the measurements given by Boye
(1896) and there are, accordingly, no grounds to doubt
that these are parts of the Store Kongehj coffin.
In one box there are two long pieces of wood
and four detached sawn-off samples. One of the long
pieces has part of the coffin gables preserved at each
end and is, therefore, preserved in the full length of
the coffin. The other long piece has only preserved
remains of the gable at one end; this end has been
sawn through and fits together with detached piece 1
and dendro sample C.
On the longest of the pieces there are parts of two
cut out holes, originally probably rectangular; one just
outside one of the gables, the other inside the coffin
about 44-49 cm from the same gable. On the short
piece there is part of a similar hole, c. 75-80 cm into
the coffin interior. These holes make it probable that
the two long pieces are parts of the coffin base.
On the inner surface of both the long pieces wellpreserved tool marks from a narrow-edged axe can
be seen. On the outer surface remains of sapwood are
preserved in several places. A number of holes of varying diameter have been drilled into the longest piece
in recent times. The reason for this is unknown.
In the other box there are five pieces of wood, as
three pieces, which fit together, are considered as one.
218
Acta Archaeologica
One of these five pieces (piece 1, comprising three

parts) is preserved in the full length of the coffin, as it
has remains of a gable at both ends. Pieces 2, 3 and
5 have the preserved remains of one gable, whereas
piece 4 does not include either of the gables. One end
of piece 5 has been sawn off, probably in order to be
used for dendrochronological analysis, but has been
glued back in place again. The five pieces of wood
must be parts of the lid of the inner coffin.
Tool marks can be seen on the inner surface of the
pieces, but these are not so well preserved as on the
lower part of the coffin. On the outer surface, a few
remains of sapwood are apparent. Numerous holes
have, in recent times, been drilled into several of the
pieces. The reason for this is unknown.
Of the four detached pieces, one fits together with
dendro sample C and with one of the long pieces
from the lower part of the coffin. The three remaining pieces also each fit together with their respective
dendro sample (piece 2 sample A, piece 3 sample
B, piece 4 sample E). The three composite pieces do
not readily fit with others of the preserved pieces of
wood from the coffin.
Of the five dendro samples, four fit together, as
mentioned above, with other parts of the coffin. The
fifth (sample D), in contrast, does not fit together with
any of the other preserved pieces and the pieces from
which it was sawn is therefore missing. Several of the
dendro samples have also been in two fragments,
which have been glued together again. And in a single case, smaller samples were removed which are
now missing. A core was previously taken from piece
E (Fig. 16). The reason for this is unknown.
In the German investigations, six samples were sawn
off for dendrochronological investigation. Five of
these samples (samples A-E) have been re-used in
the Danish investigations. Of the German datasets
which were received there are, however, only two,
Kln 0990200 (D 2093) and Kln 0990030 (D 2094),
which on comparison with the Danish datasets proved
to belong to the Store Kongehj coffin.
On each of the five samples, the tree rings have
been measured along several radii, which have been
combined to provide a mean curve for the sample.
The five mean curves have then been combined to
produce a curve of 296 tree rings (WM 2041AE). Further to these, a partially preserved tree ring has been
counted towards both the pith and the bark. This
mean curve has been compared with a mean curve
for the German data (WM 2041T12), which comprises 295 tree rings. The two curves match so well that
it is certain that the measurements have been carried
out on the same coffin. All six curves have therefore
been combined to give a final mean curve of 296 tree
rings (WM 2041AT). A further tree ring was counted
towards both the pith and the bark. The earliest tree
ring lies c. 2 cm from the pith. All the tree rings are
heartwood.
The last preserved tree ring is almost the same on
four of the five samples sample D ends in year 293,
samples A and E in year 294, sample C in year 296
(sample B does not include the trees last tree rings).
The approximate coincidence of the end years make
it likely that the last preserved heartwood ring (year
296) lies close to the sapwood boundary. This is also
suggested by the fact that the edge of the samples, in
most cases, follows more-or-less the same tree ring
over a longer distance. Furthermore, just after the
last preserved tree ring on samples A and E there are
portions with compacted and deformed wood, which
very probably is sapwood (Fig. 16). It is therefore
likely that the samples comprise more-or-less all the
trees heartwood rings and that only the sapwood has
crumbled away. If the end year on the mean curve
(WM 2041AT) is not itself the last heartwood ring on
the tree, it must be very close to the sapwood. In a
few places on the outer surface of both the base and
the lid of the coffin there are remains of (apparently)
well-preserved sapwood (cf. description above) such
that it is probably possible to establish the number
of sapwood rings and, accordingly, the precise felling
date of the tree. The museum at Gottorp Castle has,
however, with reference to the coffins value as an
exhibit (!) not wished that further samples be taken
for dendrochronological investigation (letter from I.
Ulbricht 1st March 2004).
On an overview of the German dendrochronological
investigations of the oak coffins (NNU A5533C,
1983:20) the entry in the column under the heading
Splint states that ca. 25 Kernholzringe fehlen, i.e.
that over and above the measured tree rings a further c.
25 heartwood rings were missing in the growth direc-
219
Fig. 16. 16. Store Kongehj. Photos of dendro sample E from the inner coffin from 16. Store Kongehj. To the left, the whole of the measured
surface with a pared measuring radius, which comprises the last (i.e. youngest) preserved tree rings on the sample; the upper edge of the
sample is naturally rounded, showing that, here, it is close to the boundary between the heartwood and the sapwood. To the right of the
measured radius, remains of strongly deformed sapwood can be seen. To the left of the measured radius, traces can be seen of a previously
taken core sample. To the right, the same sample seen from the edge. On the measuring surface the pared measuring radius can be seen. On
the edge of the sample, the strongly deformed and compacted sapwood is visible. Photo: Jrgen Kraglund, Skalk.
tion. As the German measurements end just one year

prior to the Danish, which as stated must be presumed
to extend (almost) out to the sapwood boundary, this
assumption must be rejected. Perhaps there is just a
typing error in the German overview so that instead
it should have stated that c. 25 Splintholzringe were
missing. This would then correspond approximately to
the number of sapwood rings a c. 300-year-old oak tree
would be expected to have on the basis of the normally
applied sapwood estimates.
Dating
The mean curve for the coffin is included in the
master curve for all the oak coffins where it covers
the period 1712-1417 BC. Further to this, a partially
preserved tree ring has been counted both before
and after those measured and the total tree-ring
sequence comprises, accordingly, the period 17131416 BC. As the last preserved tree ring lies very
close to the sapwood boundary, the trees last growth
year can be established as c. 1385 BC 12/+20 years

BC (1397-1365 BC).
The date has not been previously published.
17. STOREHJ at Barde, Vorgod sogn,

Blling herred, Ringkbing amt.
Sb. 96 a; Ke 4620 Barde; NNU A 5955 Storehj

(Catras 7020); WM 030326 (TSAP 2060); Kln Store
Hj 3148, 0990040; Borum Eshj B 3332, 099025C,
099025D (wood from the coffin from Storehj at
Barde, used for restoration of the inner coffin from 10.
Muldhj, which during the investigation was thought
to be a coffin from 2. Borum Eshj). - Sources: Boye
1998:105-109.
During excavation in 1882 a centrally located oak
coffin was discovered. Both the lower part and the lid
220
Acta Archaeologica
Fig. 17. 17. Storehj at Barde. Photo of the measuring surface on sample D 2088. On the surface, a measuring radius has been prepared
by paring. Every tenth tree ring is marked with a white line. The outer edge of the sample follows more-or-less the boundary between the
heartwood and the sapwood apart from two places (marked with arrows) where remains of sapwood are preserved. Photo: The National
Museum.
were preserved. Bark was still preserved in places on

the lower part. Tool marks show that the wood was
not just fresh but also wet when the coffin was made
(Boye 1896:39). The coffin was sent to the Museum
for Nordic Antiquities (now the National Museum)
where it is still kept. It was un-numbered until 1974
when it was given the museum number ad B 314860.
Both the lower part and the lid are still preserved and
there is no doubt about their identity. There are still
remains of sapwood in places on the lower part but
there no longer appears to be bark preserved.
In the German investigations, part of the gable at the
root end of the lower part was sawn through and used
as a dendro sample (D 2088). The sample was re-used
in the Danish investigations (D 6157); it comprises
part of the sapwood (Fig. 17). In addition to this a
sample has now been taken of the intact sapwood in
a place where the sapwood appears to be completely
preserved (D 6158). Similarly, several pieces of
sapwood, which lay detached in the coffin, were also

examined (D 6159).
On the sample from the gable, the tree rings were
measured along two radii with a total of 283 tree rings,
of which 15 were sapwood. On the intact piece of sapwood, 28 tree rings were measured. The data from
the two samples have been combined to produce a
mean curve of 292 tree rings (NNU 70200019). This
curve matches well with the German dataset (Kln
0990040, NNU 7020001T), which begins in the same
year but ends seven years before the Danish curve.
The two curves were therefore combined to give a
final mean curve of 292 tree rings (NNU 70200018).
The earliest tree ring lies c. 4 cm from the pith; the
last 22-28 tree rings are sapwood.
In order to confirm, if possible, the fact that the
sample of intact sapwood was completely preserved,
dendrochronological investigations were also carried out on five of the pieces of sapwood, which lay
detached in the coffin. Preliminary investigations
revealed that these pieces match so well with the
measurements from the intact piece of sapwood that
it is certain that the detached pieces originate from
the Storehj coffin. Subsequently it became apparent

that the last preserved tree ring on four of the five
pieces was the same as the last tree ring on the intact
piece. On the remaining detached piece the tree-ring
sequence ended a couple of years previously as the
last tree rings here were so deformed that they could
not be measured. So, in all, five pieces of sapwood
end with the same tree ring. It is therefore likely that
this tree ring is the bark ring and that only the actual
bark itself which was preserved on the coffin on
excavation is missing. Furthermore, several pieces
of sapwood, which lay loose in the coffins from 5.
Guldhj and 21. Trindhj, have proved to be from the
Storehj coffin, and to end with the same tree ring as
the sapwood samples mentioned above, cf. sections
on those coffins.
In the investigation of the inner coffin from 10.
Muldhj, it became apparent that wood from the coffin from Storehj at Barde had been used in the restoration of this, see under the Muldhj coffin for more
details.
Dating
1664-1373 BC. As the last tree ring is, with great
probability, the bark ring, the trees last growth year
can be established as 1373 BC.
The date has previously been published by Christensen & Jensen (1991) and by Christensen (1998).
The felling dates given then correspond to the last
growth year given here.
18. STORHJ at Egtved, Egtved sogn,

Jerlev herred, Vejle amt.
Sb. 109; Ke 4357 Egtved; NNU A 3580/81, A 7065

Egtved (Catras 6026); WM 030326 (TSAP 2051). Sources: Thomsen 1929; Aner & Kersten 1990:39-41;
Jensen 1998:9-28.
During excavation in 1921 an oak coffin was found in
the northwestern part of the mound. Both the lower
part and the lid were well preserved. The outer
surface of the coffin had been debarked (Thomsen
1929:167). The coffin was sent to the National Museum
where it is still kept (museum no. B 11831).
221

Both the lower part and the lid are well preserved and
there is no doubt concerning identity. Sapwood is still
preserved on the coffin.
The Egtved coffin was not measured during the
German investigations. In the Danish investigations
the lid was sawn through at one end and the tree
rings measured along several radii on the surface so
produced (D 5567) (Fig. 18). These measurements
c. 5 cm from the pith. The last nine tree rings are
sapwood and the bark ring is probably preserved as
measurements taken in six different places along the
edge of the sample end in the same year. The bark
ring has both earlywood and latewood but the latter
zone is very narrow. It is therefore likely that the tree
was felled in July or possibly August prior to the end
of the growth season.
Dating
period 1479-1370 BC. The last tree ring is, with great
probability, the bark ring and the trees last growth
year is therefore 1370 BC. As only a narrow zone of
latewood has been formed in the last tree ring the
tree was probably felled in July or perhaps August of
that year.
The date has previously been published by Christensen (1990), Christensen & Jensen (1991) and Christensen (1998). The felling date given then corresponds
to the last growth year given here.
19. SNDER NLEV, Hjordkr sogn,

Rise herred, benr amt.
Sb. 20; Ke 3028 Snder-nlev; NNU A 7180 Snder
nlev (Catras 5044); WM 030326 (TSAP 2061);
Hamburg Snder nlev, 00460039; Kln Haderslev
Snder nlev, 099030M (identical with Hamburg
00460039). - Sources: Neumann 1954; Aner & Kersten
1981:73-75; Jensen 1998:163.
222
Acta Archaeologica
Fig. 18. 18. Storhj at Egtved. Photo and drawing of the measuring surface on the sawn-off sample. One half of the sample is dominated by
a large knot. The white areas are new wood, inserted to stabilise the coffin. On the surface the pared measuring radii (marked with letters
and numbers on the drawing) can be seen. Similarly, it can be seen how the individual tree rings are followed from radius to radius. Along
the greater part of the samples outer edge, the desiccated and cracked sapwood is preserved; six of the measured radii (A, I-V) end the same
year, showing that the bark ring (the tree ring directly under the bark) is preserved. Photo: Niels Elswing, The National Museum; drawing:
Christian Schubert. 1:5.

During an archaeological excavation in 1954, remains
were discovered of five oak-coffin burials, but only
in two of them, graves 8 and 9, was there such
well-preserved wood that it was retained after the
excavation.
Grave 8 lay at the eastern side of the mound. Of
the oak coffin it is stated in the excavation report
(Neumann 1954) that Large fragments of the coffins
base were preserved in the middle of the grave. The

fact that there were also remains of the coffin preserved in the west end of the grave is not expressly
mentioned but appears likely as (in immediate continuation of the above) it is stated that At the west
end the outer 40 cm had sunk c. 10 cm deeperThe
reason for this must be sought in the fact that here
lay a large piece of hollowed-out tree trunk across
the coffin such that the base was pushed under the

base of the coffin and the side stood up at the end
of the coffin.
The fact that the wood from the grave was retained is not mentioned in the report but at Haderslev
Museum there are three pieces of coffin wood from
the west end of the grave (museum no. 22929). The
reference to the wood as coffin wood can, however,
not be traced further back than to a letter from the
National Museum from 3rd September 1980, more
than 25 years after the excavation.
On the basis of the above, it appears uncertain
whether the preserved wood comes from the coffin
itself or from the transverse tree trunk.
No information is given with respect to whether
sapwood or bark was preserved on the pieces of wood
on excavation.
Grave 9 lay close to the northeastern edge of the
mound. The lower part of the coffin was fairly well
preserved, whereas there is no information on the lid,
which appears not to have been preserved. There is
no information on possibly preserved sapwood and
bark.
The coffin was taken to Haderslev Museum where
it is still kept (museum no. 22935). According to Aner
& Kersten (1981:75) the coffin is, however, at Aabenraa Museum. Museum curator Steen Andersen, Haderslev Museum, confirms that this was the case for a
time, but that it belongs to Haderslev Museum.

Grave 8: There are three pieces of wood from the
grave all oak. One or both ends of each piece have
been previously sawn off. This is unlikely to have
been done for the purposes of dendrochronological
investigation as the surfaces produced in this way on
two of the pieces only include some of the tree rings.
Perhaps it was done in connection with the wood
being sent to the National Museum for radiocarbon
dating which was, however, later abandoned. The
sawn-off ends have now been lost. As a step in the
Danish investigations, the three pieces have now
been sawn through at their broadest point. On one
of the pieces (D 7198) the medullary rays are virtually
parallel, which means that the piece must be from
the outer part of a large tree trunk a long way (30-40
cm?) from the pith; the average tree-ring width is 1.7
223
mm. The wood is fairly well preserved. On two other

pieces (D 7243, D 7244) the medullary rays converge,
allowing the calculation to be made that the earliest
tree ring on D 7243 lies 16-18 cm, and on D 7244 c.
25 cm, from the pith of the tree. The average tree-ring
width of the pieces is, respectively, 0.9 mm and 1.1
mm and the wood on both pieces is more decayed
than on D 7198. The tree-ring sequences on the three
pieces cannot be matched. On this basis it is unlikely
that the three pieces were part of the same tree trunk.
As a general rule, the broadest tree rings are usually
found close to the pith. But here, D 7198, where the
earliest tree ring lies far from the pith, has tree rings
almost double the width of these on the other two
pieces, which have their earliest tree ring closer to
the pith. Conversely, it is very possible that D 7243
and D 7244, which have an almost identical tree-ring
width and are equally decayed, originate from the
same tree trunk. In this case they are probably from
the oak coffin (cf. Fig. 18, in which an attempt has
been made to draw the two samples in on a crosssection of the trunk). The fact that the tree-ring curves
of the pieces cannot be matched could, in this case,
be due to the fact that the curves do not overlap each
other sufficiently. The third piece, D 7198, probably
comes from another tree trunk, perhaps the one which
lay transversely to the coffin at the west end of the
grave. The fact that the two tree trunks were difficult
to separate on excavation appears likely in view of
the complex find situation, cf. the quote from the
excavation report cited above. None of the samples
have sapwood preserved.
Grave 9: The coffin is preserved to the same degree as when found but the wood is very decayed.
There does not appear to be sapwood preserved.
On an overview of the oak coffins analysed in the
German investigations (NNU A 7180:1), it is stated
that one sample was measured from grave 8 (Aner &
Kersten 1981:74, grave K), whereas the coffin from
grave 9 (Aner & Kersten 1981:75, grave L) is not
mentioned. There must be a misunderstanding here;
at the start of the Danish investigations there was a
sawn-off dendro sample from the coffin from grave 9,
whereas dendrochronological analysis had not been
carried out on the pieces of wood from grave 8.
224
Acta Archaeologica
Fig. 19. 19. Snder nlev sb. 20 grave 8. Samples D 7243 and D
7244, which perhaps originate from the actual oak coffin, have been
tentatively drawn in on a half trunk cross-section, corresponding
to one half of the coffin. The broken lines on the samples mark
the medullary rays, the extensions of which cut each other at the
trees pith. The last tree ring on D 7243 lies c. 25 cm from the
pith (corresponding to the tree from which it originated having
a diameter of around 50 cm, whereas the latest tree ring on D
7244 lies c. 39 cm from the pith (corresponding to a tree diameter
of about 80 cm). With this location in the cross-section the two
samples almost do not overlap each other. This could be the reason
that their tree-ring curves cannot be crossmatched.
Grave 8: The three pieces of wood were sawn

through to produce surfaces suitable for dendrochronological analysis. On piece 1 (D 7198), one radius with 31 tree rings was measured (NNU 5044004A);
the earliest tree ring lies 30-40 cm from the pith all
the tree rings are heartwood. On piece 2 (D 7243),
the tree rings were measured along two radii, which
have been combined to produce a mean curve with
87 tree rings (NNU 50440029); the earliest tree ring
lies 16-18 cm from the pith all the tree rings are
heartwood. On piece 3 (D 7244), the tree rings were
also measured along two radii. The data have been
combined to a mean curve with 132 tree rings (NNU
50440039); the earliest tree ring lies c. 25 cm from the
pith all the tree rings are heartwood.
The three tree-ring sequences have been compared
with each other in an attempt to arrive at a relative dating
but without result. Neither do they show any similarity to
the mean curve from the coffin in grave 9.
Grave 9: In the German investigations, one gable
end of the coffin was sawn through and the sawn-off
sample used for dendrochronological investigation.
This sample was re-used in the Danish investigations (D 6463). The tree rings on the sample were
measured along four radii and the datasets have been
combined to produce a mean curve of 82 tree rings
(NNU 50440019). The earliest c. 5 cm of the wood
was so decayed that the tree rings could not be measured. The earliest measured tree ring lies c. 8 cm from
the pith. All the tree rings are heartwood. After the
last measured tree ring there is c. 0.5 cm of deformed
wood in which the tree rings could not be measured;
it is uncertain whether this represents sapwood.
The German dataset (Hamburg 00460039 = Kln
099030M) comprises 83 tree rings of which the last
according to an overview of the coffins included in
the German investigations (NNU A 5533C, 1983:20)
perhaps lies close to the boundary to the sapwood
(K/S?, i.e. Kernholz/Splintholz?). The German
dataset matches well with the Danish but includes
three more tree rings than the latter towards the bark.
The two datasets have therefore been combined to
produce a mean curve of 85 years (NNU 50440018).
The earliest measured tree ring lies c. 8 cm from the
pith. All the tree rings are heartwood. The presumption that the last tree ring is close to the sapwood
boundary could not be confirmed in the Danish investigations.
At Wormianums dendrochronological laboratory,
measurements were similarly carried out on the sawnoff gable end of the coffin from grave 9 (W 280A13;
measurements carried out after the German investigation). A total of 81 tree rings were measured on the
sample and a further 5-6 deformed tree rings were
counted towards the bark. The distance from the earliest tree ring to the pith is not given; all the tree rings
are heartwood. Wormianums dataset is a good match
with the mean curve for the Danish and the German
datasets (NNU 50440018), and does not include more
tree rings than demonstrated by the other investigations.
Dating
Grave 8: The mean curve for one of the samples
(D 7243), NNU 50440029, could be dated and is
included in the master curve for all the oak coffins
where it covers the period 1578-1492 BC. The sample
comprises only heartwood and the distance from the
last preserved tree ring to the sapwood boundary is

unknown. The trees last growth year can be calculated
to after c. 1468 BC 11/+18 years (1479-1450 BC).
The two other samples could not be dated.
As mentioned previously, there is some uncertainty as to the extent to which the three samples originate from the actual oak coffin or from the tree trunk,
which lay transversely to it. If the assumption, outlined
above, that samples D 7243 and D 7244 originate from
the actual coffin, is correct, it is likely that the last tree
ring on the dated sample D 7243 lies far from the sapwood boundary. In this case it must be presumed that
(the majority of) the 131 tree rings on D 7244 are later
than those on D 7243, as the tree ring curves cannot
be matched to each other. The early post quem dating
of sample D 7243, taking into account the uncertainty
concerning the origin of the sample, cannot be taken
as showing that the oak coffin from grave 8 is the oldest of all the dated oak coffins.
Grave 9: The mean curve could not be dated,
presumably, in particular, because of its pronounced
periodicity due to cockchafer attacks (Fig. 20) (Christensen 1983 & 1987). A German dating of curve Hamburg 00460039 to comprise the period 1588-1506 BC
(overview of German dates, NNU A5533C, 1983:20),
which corresponds to curve NNU 50440018 covering
the period 1590-1506 BC, is possible but does not appear certain, which is why it has been ignored here.
The dating result has not been previously published.
20. TERKELSBL, Tinglev sogn, Slogs

herred, Tnder amt.
Sb. 48; Ke 2940 Terkelsbl; NNU A 7176 Terkelsbl
(Catras 0017); WM 030326 (TSAP 2037); Kln
Schleswig 1, 0990170; Schleswig 3, 0990140. - Sources:
Handelmann 1869:32-33; Handelmann 1879:67; Boye
1896:113; Aner & Kersten 1981:28; Wiell 1997:220;
Jensen 1998:79.
During digging by the owner in 1868 an oak coffin
was discovered approximately in the centre of
the mound. The lower part of the coffin was well
preserved whereas a piece of the lid was missing at
the root end of the trunk.
225
Boye (1896:113) gives a series of dimensions for

the coffins length and breadth etc. and gives the information that on the outer surface there is still a
quantity of bark but further to this it shows marks
from being struck with a tool, the edge of which was
4-6 centimetres broad. According to Aner & Kersten (1981:28), the outer surface was debarked. Boye
probably did not see the coffin for himself as he states
that his description builds upon information from the
Director of the Museum in Kiel, J. Mestorf. Despite
the fact that the state of preservation of the coffin was
poor even then (cf. below), Boyes detailed account
suggests the execution of a thorough investigation of
the coffin by J. Mestorf and we can therefore assume
that his information is reliable.
After the excavation in April 1868 the coffin was
taken to Flensburg. According to the head of the
Flensborg Collection, A. Wallisch, it was already then
in ziemlich defecten Zustande (Handelmann 1869).
The coffins stay in Flensburg was, however, rather
short as in July of the same year it was sent to the
museum in Kiel (Wiell 1997:220), where the greater
part of the Flensburg Collection was already kept after being handed over from Denmark. Here it was
incorporated under museum number F.S. 7482 in the
museums catalogue for the Flensburg Collection kept
by H. Handelmann, Director of the museum in Kiel.
It is the last number included in the catalogue (Wiell
1997:297). In the printed catalogue of the antiquities at the museum, which Handelmann published in
1879, the Terkelsbl coffin is referred to as Ein sehr
defecter Sarg mit geringen Ueberreste des Deckels
(Handelmann 1879:67).
After destruction of the museum in Kiel in 1944
the Terkelsbl coffin was transferred to the museum at
Gottorp Castle, where it is still kept under the number
F.S. 7482.
The coffin is very fragmented and comprises now
15 fairly well preserved pieces of wood (including
five samples sawn off for dendrochronological
investigation) together with a quantity of very
decayed and degraded pieces. Many of the pieces
of wood fit together or are held together with iron
bands and the 15 pieces can therefore be referred to
seven large or small coffin parts. From four of these,
226
Acta Archaeologica
one or two dendro samples have been taken and the

results of the dendrochronological analyses show that
the samples definitely originate from the same tree.
The three pieces from which dendro samples have
not been taken resemble the others so closely that it
is likely that they originate from the same coffin. On
dendro sample 4, a narrow radial sector is missing,
probably a previously removed sample (cf. below).
From dendro sample 3, a c. 4 cm long core sample
has apparently been taken. The purpose of this is
unknown.
Several of the fragments comprise parts of one gable but the individual gable pieces do not fit together
and it is unknown whether the whole coffin or only
the lower part is represented in the preserved pieces
of wood. No attempt has been made and it would
probably be very difficult to assemble the fragments
to form a whole of half a coffin.
There are no drawings or measurements of the
coffin, Boye (1896:113) merely gives the information that it resembles the largest of the coffins from
5. Guldhj. The dimensions he gives for the whole
coffin (Boye 1896:113) cannot be used to demonstrate that the preserved fragments originate from this
coffin. With the exception of one very recent label
bearing the text Terkelsbl FS 7482, all the labels
on the pieces of wood have been attached in connection with the dendrochronological investigations.
It is likely that these fragments are the remains of the
coffin from Terkelsbl but this cannot be proved with
absolute certainty.
In the German investigations, five samples were
removed for dendrochronological investigation; these
were re-used in the Danish investigation. Of the
German datasets that were received there are only
two, Kln 0990170 (D 2092) and Kln 0990140 (D
2095), which on comparison with the Danish data
proved to belong to the Terkelsbl coffin.
On the five samples, the tree rings have been measured along one or two radii. These have been combined to give a single mean curve for each sample. The
curve for sample 5 (which does not include a greater
number of tree rings than the other samples) is, however, affected by errors and, for this reason, no further
use has been made of it. The mean curves for samples
1-4 have been combined to produce a mean curve for

the whole coffin of 191 tree rings (WM 2037ABCD).
The earliest tree ring lies c. 1 cm from the pith; all the
tree rings are heartwood. Another partially preserved
tree ring was counted towards the bark.
The two datasets from the German investigations
tree rings (WM 2037T12). The distance from the earliest tree ring to the pith is not given. All the tree rings
are heartwood.
The mean curves from the Danish and the German investigations are good matches apart from the
fact that the German curve comprises 12 more tree
rings towards the pith than the Danish. These tree
rings were presumably measured on the missing
sector of sample 4 mentioned above, as this sample
appears to extend further in towards the pith than
the others. The two mean curves were combined to
produce a final mean curve of 203 tree rings (WM
2037ADT). A further partially preserved tree ring was
counted towards the bark. The earliest preserved tree
ring must be very close to the pith. All the tree rings
are heartwood.
The final years for the four Danish and the two
German datasets fall within an interval of only six
years. On several of the dendro samples, the last tree
ring can be followed over a longer distance along the
edge of the sample (Fig. 21) and on none of the samples does there seem to be a greater number of tree
rings preserved than those measured. This suggests
that the last preserved tree ring lies close to the transition between heartwood and sapwood. As mentioned,
bark and therefore sapwood was preserved in
some places when the coffin was found, which further
supports the conclusion that its present surface lies
close to the sapwood boundary.
The tree-ring curves for the coffin are heavily periodic as minima occur every fourth year over a long
period of time. This is doubtless a consequence of
the tree having been defoliated by cockchafers (Christensen 1983 & 1987). This situation has made both
the crossmatching and the absolute crossdating of the
curves difficult.
Dating
227
Fig. 20. 19. Snder nlev sb. 20 grave 9. Tree-ring curve for the oak coffin from 19. Snder nlev sb. 20 grave 9. The tree has been exposed
to cockchafer attacks and the tree-ring curve has, therefore, a characteristic rhythmical sequence with minima every fourth year, continuing
over a long period. In this part of the country, the cockchafers live as larvae in the earth for three years. On the fourth year they emerge as
beetles and in these flying years the insects can defoliate trees so that they only form a narrow growth ring. If the trees are defoliated in
several subsequent fourth years, a narrow tree ring is, accordingly, formed every fourth year, which gives the curve its rhythmical sequence.
On the figure, the flying years are marked with a vertical line every fourth year and the narrow tree rings (curve minima), which match this
rhythm, with a ring around the tree ring. In the last part of the curve, there is a series of nine minima at four-year intervals, which must be
due to cockchafer attacks; only one minimum (year 74) in this part of the curve does not match the rhythm. In the earliest part of the curve a
further five minima fit into the same flying-year rhythm. The horizontal scale shows the number of tree rings, from pith to bark; the vertical
scale (logarithmic) shows the width of the tree rings.
period 1608-1406 BC. As a partially preserved tree

ring was counted in the direction of growth, the total
tree-ring sequence covers the period 1608-1405 BC.
The surface of the coffin presumably lies close to the
sapwood boundary and the trees last growth year can
therefore be established as c. 1379 BC 11/+18 years
(1390-1361 BC).
21. TRINDHJ, Vamdrup sogn, Anst

herred, Ribe amt.
Sb. 26; Ke 3817 Hafdrup; NNU A 5954 Trindhj
(Catras 6027); WM 030326 (TSAP 2062); Kln
Trindhj, 0990020 (grave A); 0990110 (grave B);
099023A (grave C). - Sources: Boye 1896:88-95;
Aner & Kersten 1986:24-28; Jensen 1998:61-68.
During an excavation in 1861 three oak coffins were
discovered: grave A lying a little to the southwest
of the centre of the mound, graves B and C in the
eastern half of the mound. The lower part of coffin A

was well preserved but the lid was much degraded. In
graves B and C both the lower parts and the lids were
well preserved. A fourth oak coffin, found about 30
years previously, has been lost.
No information is available for graves A and B
concerning the extent to which the outer surface was
worked or whether there still was bark or sapwood
preserved. The tool marks on the coffin from grave
B show that it probably was finished off while the
wood was still green. It is said of coffin C that it was
debarked with a narrow-edged tool, which had left
numerous traces (Boye 1896:93).
After excavation, the coffins were incorporated
into King Frederik VIIs private collection of antiquities. But the King later gifted them to the Museum
for Nordic Antiquities (now the National Museum),
where they still are kept (museum nos.: grave A:
19908, grave B: 20086, grave C: 20087).
The lower part of the coffin and three pieces of the lid
are preserved from grave A; the lower parts and the
228
Acta Archaeologica
Fig. 21. 20. Terkelsbl. Photo of the measuring surface on the two associated samples from one gable on the lower part of the coffin. The
coffins tree-ring curve comprises a total of 191 tree rings. The final year on the six dendrochronological analyses from the coffin (a seventh set
of measurements has been omitted because of measuring errors) lies within a period of only six years; on the sample to the left of the picture
the measured radius ends in year 191, on the sample to the right in year 186. The approximate coincidence of the end years make it likely that
the edge of the sample is very close to the boundary between heartwood and sapwood. Photo: Jrgen Kraglund, Skalk.
coffin lids from graves B and C are preserved in their

entirety. There is no doubt as to the identity of the
coffins. The coffin from grave C does, however, have
a nailed-on label presumably from a time when it
was exhibited with the text: Oak coffin that has
contained the body of a child. From Guldhj west
of Kolding. At the other end, however, the museum
number 20087 has been painted on, and as the coffin
corresponds to the description of the coffin from
Trindhj grave C in Boye (1896), the location given
on the label must be a mistake.
Sapwood does not appear to be preserved on coffin A. Coffin B has clearly been worked on its outer
surface, especially on the lid, and sapwood is not preserved. On coffin C, most of the outer surface of both
the base and the lid has been coarsely worked. However, sapwood is preserved on a fragment of the lid.
In both coffin A and coffin C there was, at the start
of the investigation, a box containing detached pieces
of wood, including sapwood. Similarly, several loose
pieces of sapwood lay in the bottom of these coffins.
Dendrochronological investigations of these pieces

have, however, shown that they do not originate from
the Trindhj coffins but from the coffin from 17. Storehj at Barde, which stood immediately beside the coffins from Trindhj in the conservation workshop.
Grave A: In the German investigations, one of the
fragments from the lid was sawn through and used as
a dendro sample (D 2086). The sample was re-used in
the Danish investigations (D 6155).
The tree rings on the sample were measured along
five radii and the results were combined to produce
a mean curve of 120 tree rings (NNU 60270019).
The distance from the earliest tree ring to the pith
is unlikely to have been more than 1-2 cm. All the
tree rings are heartwood but the samples naturally
rounded outer surface is close to the sapwood boundary the precise distance cannot, however, be determined. The mean curve matches well with the German dataset (Kln 0990020, NNU 6027001T).

Grave B: In the German investigations, a dendro
sample was taken from both the lower part and from
the lid. There is, however, only one German dataset
from this coffin, Kln 0990110 (D 2087). The samples
were subsequently glued back in place, but were sawn
off again and re-used in the Danish investigations (D
5754 base, D 5755 lid).
On each of the samples, the tree rings were measured along a single radius and the two datasets have
been combined to produce a mean curve of 286 tree
rings (NNU 60270049). The earliest tree ring lies c. 4
cm from the pith. All the tree rings are heartwood. It
is not known how far the last measured tree ring lies
from the sapwood boundary. The mean curve matches well with the German dataset (Kln 0990110, NNU
6027003T).
On an overview of the coffins included in the
German investigations (NNU A 5533C, 1983:20), it
is stated that c. 12 sapwood rings were counted on
(one of) the samples from the coffin. As the German
dataset ends one year prior to the Danish sequence,
which only comprises heartwood, it is probably the
case that, in the German investigation, c. 12 sapwood
rings were counted in addition to the 265 heartwood
rings in the dataset. Sapwood is not preserved on the
coffin today, but it is not unlikely that this was the
case at the time of the German investigation. As the
German dataset ends, as mentioned above, the year
prior to the Danish, the last tree ring on the Danish
dataset must be very close to the sapwood boundary.
Grave C: In the German investigations, the root
end of the lid was sawn through and the sawn-off
piece used as a dendro sample. Further to this a detached fragment from the lid was sawn through and
used for the same purpose. At the National Museum
there is, however, only one German tree-ring curve,
Kln 099023A (D 2085). The sawn-off samples were
re-used in the Danish investigations (D 5625 the actual lid, D 6153 the detached piece). A further sample with remains of sapwood was also taken from the
same fragment of lid from which D 6153 was taken (D
6154) (Fig. 22).
On each of the samples, the tree rings were measured along three radii; these have been combined to
give a mean curve of 221 tree rings (NNU 60270029).
This curve matches well with the German dataset
(Kln 099023A, NNU 6027002T). The earliest meas-
229
ured tree ring lies c. 7 cm from the pith. The last

12-14 tree rings are sapwood. As stated above, the coffin was debarked when it was worked and clear axe
marks are visible on its outer surface. The remains
of sapwood on the sample from the lid appear, however, to be of more-or-less the same thickness everywhere (Fig. 22), which suggests that the sapwood here
is (almost) completely preserved. There is, however,
not absolute certainty about the presence of the bark
ring.
If the bark ring is preserved on the coffin from
grave C, the sapwood on this coffin has only comprised c. 12-14 tree rings, and on the coffin from grave
B, which must be considered to be contemporaneous
(cf. below) only c. 12 tree rings. Compared with the
normally used sapwood estimates this is very few sapwood rings. However, the number corresponds approximately to that found on the oak coffins where
the bark ring is definitely preserved, cf. the section
on the number of sapwood rings on the oak coffins
p. 185. The small number of sapwood rings on the
samples from the two coffins from Trindhj does not,
therefore, hinder the conclusion that the last preserved tree ring on the coffins is the actual bark ring
or very close to it.
Dating
Grave A: The coffins mean curve is included in the
master curve for all the oak coffins where it covers
the period 1495-1376 BC. As it is unknown how far
the latest preserved tree ring lies from the sapwood
boundary the trees last growth year can with certainty
only be established as after c. 1355 BC 9/+18 years
(1364-1337 BC). Because the coffin has retained the
natural rounded form of the tree trunk it is, however,
likely that only a small number of rings are missing
up to the transition between heartwood and sapwood,
such that the actual last growth year does not lie far
from the theoretically earliest possible last growth
year.
Grave B: The coffins mean curve is included
in the master curve for all the oak coffins where it
covers the period 1644-1359 BC. All the tree rings
are heartwood, but in the German investigations c.
12 sapwood rings were counted after the last measured tree ring. Dendrochronologically, the trees last
growth year can be established as c. 1328 BC -12/+20
230
Acta Archaeologica
Fig. 22. 21. Trindhj. Photos of sample D 6154 from coffin C. To the left, a cross-section of the measuring surface on the sample, which
comprises heartwood and, uppermost (marked with an arrow), in situ partially cracked sapwood. To the right, the same sample seen obliquely
from the side. Uppermost, the measuring surface can again be seen, to the left the outer surface of the coffin with remains of sapwood (likewise
marked with an arrow). The sapwood has almost the same thickness everywhere, which makes it likely that it is fully preserved. Photo: The
National Museum.
years (1340-1308 BC). Archaeologically, coffins B and

C must be contemporaneous as they stood very close
together, only separated by a few, presumably intentionally placed, stones (cf. excavation plan p. 89 and
plate XVIII in Boye 1896 together with a drawing
by J. Kornerup in Jensen 1998:61). The trees from
which coffins B and C were made must then have
been felled at the same time and the more precisely
determined last growth year for coffin C must, therefore, also apply to coffin B: 1347 BC or a few years
subsequent to this.
Grave C: The coffins mean curve is included in
the master curve for all the oak coffins where it covers
the period 1567-1347 BC. As the sapwood is virtually
completely preserved the trees last growth year can
be established as 1347 BC or a few years subsequent
to this.
The dates were previously published by Christensen and Jensen (1991) and by Christensen (1998).
In 1991, the felling date for coffin A was given as c.

1356 BC, in 1998 as after 1356 BC. These dates correspond to the last growth year given here with one
years difference, due to the use of other sapwood estimates. Furthermore, in the 1991 publication the fact
must have been overlooked that felling took place after the stated year. For coffin B, the felling date was
given in 1991 as c. 1330 BC, in 1998 as after c. 1333
BC. These dates are calculated on the basis of the
assumption that only heartwood was preserved from
the coffin. The difference is due to the use of different sapwood estimates and here, too, it must have
been overlooked in 1991 that felling took place after the stated year. Subsequently, it has become clear
that during the German investigations, 12 sapwood
rings were demonstrated on coffin B and that the coffin must, archaeologically, be contemporaneous with
coffin C. This is why the more precisely established
last growth year for this coffin also applies to coffin

B. The felling date for coffin C was given in 1991 as
c.1333 BC and in 1998 as 1347 BC or a few years
subsequent to this. The date given in 1991 was calculated on the basis of the assumption that the sapwood
was only partially preserved on the coffin, whereas in
1998, as now, it was presumed that it was more-or-less
completely preserved.
22. UNGSTRUP, Torning sogn,

Lysgrd herred, Viborg amt.
Sb. 52 (from Aner & Kersten 2004, the find of the
coffin is not mentioned in NMs sognebeskrivelse;
WM 030326 (TSAP 2047). - Sources: Boye 1896:45;
Bro-Jrgensen 1966:66-67; Jensen 1998:126; Aner &
Kersten 2004.
During digging in the mound in 1892 a centrally
was well preserved, whereas only two long pieces
of wood were preserved from the lid (Fig. 23). The
outer surface had been debarked (Boye 1896:45). The
report from Sophus Mller mentioned by Boye (1896)
cannot be found. After examination, the coffin was
taken to Viborg Stiftsmuseum where it is still kept
(museum no. VSM 534 C).
The coffin is preserved to more-or-less the same
extent as when it was found, although there are only
a few remains of sapwood remaining on the lower
part. There is no doubt as to its identity.
investigations. In the Danish investigations a sample
was sawn off from one gable of the lower part about 30
cm from a place where sapwood was preserved. The
tree rings on the sample have been measured along
four radii and the resulting data combined to produce
a mean curve of 182 tree rings (WM 2047A14). A
further partially preserved tree ring (year 183) was
counted towards the bark. The distance from the
earliest measured tree ring to the pith is c. 20 cm.
The edge of the sample follows largely the same tree
231
ring and at the end of one measured radius there are,

immediately after tree ring 183, just below the edge of
the sample, remains of a further slightly deformed tree
ring, which lacks tyloses in the earlywood vessels and
is, therefore, probably sapwood. Tree ring number
183 is, therefore, considered to be the last heartwood
ring prior to the sapwood.
On a loose piece of sapwood from the lower part
of the coffin, the tree rings were measured along nine
radii and the data combined to produce a mean curve
of 17 tree rings (WM 2047BCD), all of sapwood. A
further partially preserved tree ring was counted both
in towards the heartwood and towards the bark. Of
the nine radii, eight end on the same tree ring which,
in all probability, can be considered to be the bark
ring (the ninth radius ends in the previous year).
Accordingly, 183 heartwood rings (WM 2047A14)
and 19 sapwood rings (WM 2047BCD) have been demonstrated on the coffin. If the presumed sapwood ring
observed after year 183 on WM 2047A14 corresponds
to the oldest partially preserved sapwood ring on WM
2047BCD, which seems likely (cf. below), a total of 202
tree rings has been demonstrated on the coffin. The
earliest tree ring lies c. 20 cm from the pith of the tree,
the last ring is presumed to be the bark ring.
A tree-ring curve (curve 1) has been tentatively
calculated on the assumption that the measured sapwood rings (WM 2047BCD) follow immediately on
from the measured heartwood ring (WM 2047A14),
i.e. that the partially preserved tree ring 183 corresponds to the also partially preserved earliest sapwood ring. Similarly, curves have been calculated in
which one or two tree rings have been inserted or
removed between the heartwood and the sapwood.
When compared with the master curve for all the oak
coffins, curve 1 achieves higher synchronisation values than the other experimental curves. It is therefore
likely that the incomplete tree ring after data set WM
2047A14 is the same as the incomplete tree ring prior
to WM 2047BCD as was assumed in the calculation
of curve 1 and as also appears most reasonable when
looking at the coffin itself.
Dating
curve for all oak coffins, where the 182 years cover
the period 1551-1370 BC. The 202 tree rings which, in
232
Acta Archaeologica
Fig. 23. 22. Ungstrup. Photo of the oak coffin from 22. Ungstrup. The lower part of the coffin is well preserved, although the parts of the
wood near the pith have decayed at the gable ends. In contrast, the upper part is only preserved in the form of two long pieces each running
along one of the sides of the coffin. The sample for dendrochronological analysis was taken from the lower part in the nearest gable end. On
the left outer surface of the lower part, preserved remains of sapwood can be seen in several places close to the edge facing the upper part.
Photo: Viborg Stiftsmuseum
total, are preserved on the samples, cover the period

1551-1351 BC. As the presumed last tree ring must be
considered to be the bark ring, the trees last growth
year was presumably 1351 BC or, in any case, one of
the years immediately before or after this year.
ADDENDUM
23. SKRYDSTRUP, Skrydstrup sogn,
Gram herred, Haderslev amt.
Sb. 50; Ke 3527; WM 2172 (TSAP 5803). - Sources:

Lund 1936:13-20; Broholm & Hald 1939:10-24; Aner
& Kersten 1984:75-76; Jensen 1998:150-157.

coffin grave was discovered located centrally in the
mound. However, of the coffin itself, only very small
remnants (Lund 1936:17) were preserved, while the
remainder had rotted away. In a later investigation
at the National Museum, it could be established that
The coffin lid was not preserved and the lower part
of the coffin was broken up into many pieces which
were pressed down over the stones that had supported
the coffin within the mound. Only alongside the legs
and at the foot end were c. 10 cm wide strips of wood
visible around the corpse and the woollen cloth which
covered it (Broholm & Hald 1939:21).

It is not known how much of the degraded wood
was preserved following the National Museums
investigation of the grave. From a list produced by
the museums conservation department in 1980 (j.
nr. 801217.12) it is apparent that 6 large pieces of
wood + 4 small fragments were preserved from the
coffin; these were originally conserved using alum,
but have now been re-conserved with PEG. Today
there are six large pieces of wood from the coffin
(the largest measures c. 50 x 11 x 5 cm), and seven
very small pieces which are not suitable for treering measurement. The wood is much decayed and
deformed. All the pieces appear to originate from
the outer part of a large tree trunk; it is not possible
to determine whether sapwood is preserved. Several
cup-shaped depressions are apparent on the large
pieces of wood; these are presumably due to pressure
on the coffin from the stones which surrounded it.
Of the preserved wood, six large pieces (referred to
here as pieces 1-6) were investigated with the intention
of dendrochronological dating. First, the pieces were
sawn through at their widest point in order to produce
surfaces suitable for tree-ring measurement. At this
point it became apparent that three of the pieces were
233
so badly degraded that it was not possible to discern

very many of the tree rings. As a consequence, these
three pieces were excluded from further investigation.
On the other three pieces it was possible to measure
short tree-ring sequences.
On piece 1, the tree rings were measured along
three radii which were combined to produce a mean
curve comprising 34 tree rings (WM W5803C09). On
piece 2, the tree rings were measured along 17 radii. Two of these radii comprised very few tree rings
and did not crossmatch with the others, whereas the
other 15 could be crossmatched and were combined
to produce a mean curve comprising 46 tree rings
(WM 5803D09). On piece 3, the tree rings were
measured along two radii which were combined to
produce a mean curve comprising 21 tree rings (WM
W5803E09). The three mean curves could not be
crossmatched. Following the measured tree rings on
all three pieces of wood, there is 1-2 cm of much deformed wood in which the number of tree rings could
not be established with certainty. Neither could it be
ascertained whether the latest tree rings in the deformed wood are heartwood or sapwood.
Dating
None of the three mean curves could be dated.

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190

1. KONG ARRILDSHJ, Kirchspiel

LA Grabhgel 32; Ke 2243 Harrislee; NNU A

lower part was well preserved, whereas the lid was

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

ever, that most of them cannot be from the coffin lid.

date. A radiocarbon date was subsequently obtained

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

WM 2030C12: t = 16.4). These values are so high that

2. BORUM ESHJ, Borum sogn,

lid preserved. The coffin had been debarked (Boye

the German investigations received subsequently

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

3. LILLE DRAGSHJ, Hjrup sogn,

lower part of the coffin (D 2084). There is, however,

number of sapwood rings; in 1998 the average of the

4. FLADSHJ, Fvling sogn, Malt

Sb. 97; Ke 3920 Tobl; NNU A 7182 Fladshj (Catras

of the lid were found. The outer surface of the coffin

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

5. GULDHJ, Vamdrup sogn, Anst

Discovery and subsequent treatment

the gables, can no longer be seen as the wood here

a coffin from 16. Store Kongehj Grab B, which is

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

gated (D 6318, Hg 27187). The tree ring data from

ble preserved bark remains associated with one of the

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

6. HSBY, Kirchspiel Hsby, Kreis

LA Grabhgel 21; Ke 2361 Hsby; NNU A 6516

Discovery and subsequent treatment

ally been radiocarbon dated twice (Aner & Kersten

An overview of the German tree-ring data had

7. JELS, Jels sogn, Gram herred,

Sb. 83; Ke 3443 Hennekesdam; NNU A 6514 Jels

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

1667-1348 BC. As the last tree ring is presumably the

8. MAASBLL, Kirchspiel Maasbll,

museum in Flensburg there is a file card with a rough

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

dataset has not been included in the mean curve as

LA Grabhgel 1; Ke 2186 Flensburg; WM 030326

State of preservation today

apart and the intervening slice removed. The slice is

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

10. MULDHJ at Muldbjerg, Hover

Sb. 59; Ke 4740 Muldbjerg; NNU A 7178 Muldbjerg

the museum store the possibility cannot be discounted

1501-1396 BC. Taking account of the distance from

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

appraisal of the actual outer coffin it can be estimated

period 1470-1365 BC. The bark ring is very probably

11. MLLEHJ, Uge sogn, Lundtoft

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

12. NYBL, Hjordkr sogn, Rise herred,

Sb. 64; Ke 3022 Nybl; NNU A 6515 Nybl (Catras

trunk was raw externally, which probably means

State of preservation today

13. NRAGERHJ, Emmelev sogn,

Sb. 39; Ke 2909 Emmerlev; NNU A 5952 Nragerhj

(Catras 5030); WM 030326 (TSAP 2058). Kln

Dendrochronological Dating of Bronze Age Oak Coffins

14. RNHJ, Hjordkr sogn, Rise