Posts from the Ravning Bridge at Kongernes Jelling (Royal Jelling) Experience Centre
Artefact
Several of the original posts from the Ravning Bridge are displayed in the Kongernes Jelling Centre, alongside a multimedia display about the bridge itself with an artists impression of the original. The bridge, constructed in 979 or 980 lies 10km south of Jelling and has a strong connection to Harald Bluetooth and this royal seat. For more information about the bridge, see item <a href="http://www.worldtreeproject.org/document/987">#987</a> and <a href="http://jelling.natmus.dk/en/about-the-project/sub-projects/the-bridge-over-ravning-enge/" target="_blank">http://jelling.natmus.dk/en/about-the-project/sub-projects/the-bridge-over-ravning-enge/</a>
Harald Bluetooth
Kongernes Jelling
The World-Tree Project
July 2016
Tom Birkett
Image Public Domain
<a href="http://jelling.natmus.dk/en/about-the-project/sub-projects/the-bridge-over-ravning-enge/" target="_blank">http://jelling.natmus.dk/en/about-the-project/sub-projects/the-bridge-over-ravning-enge/</a>
<a href="http://en.natmus.dk/museums/kongernes-jelling-home-of-the-viking-kings/" target="_blank">http://en.natmus.dk/museums/kongernes-jelling-home-of-the-viking-kings/</a>
jpg
Still Image
Denmark
Jelling
Viking Age
The Ravning Bridge (Ravningbroen), Jutland
Archaeological Remains
The Ravning Bridge (Danish Ravningbroen) is one of the most important archaeological sites in Denmark. It is located in the valley of the River Vejle, around 10km south of the important fortification at Jelling, crossing what is now known as Ravning Enge (Ravning Meadows), a wide valley that was probably characterised by swampland and shallow water in the Viking Age. Parts of the structure were first uncovered in the 1930s, and excavations have been carried out in the 1950s following draining of parts of the valley, in the 1970s and resumed in the 1990s. These excavations revealed wooden posts as well as part of the superstructure of a large bridge constructed of oak - over 5 meters wide, with <span>280 piers supported by vertical wooden posts. Its total length was around 760m.<br /></span><br />Dendrochronological analysis of the wooden structures recovered from the valley revealed that the wood was felled in the year 979 or 980. This places the construction of the bridge towards the end of the reign of Harald Bluetooth (Haraldr blátǫnn Gormsson), who was also responsible for major construction works at Jelling, and the building of at least five ring forts. The Ravning Bridge may thus be interpreted as part of this widespread military construction, and may have been intended to assist in the movement of troops towards the Danevirke and the German border, where Haraldr lost a battle in 974. The bridge would have been capable of moving large numbers of troops quickly across this natural barrier, and also of enabling trade and the movement of goods. It was abandoned by the year 1000, only 15 years or so after the end of Harald's reign.<br /><br />A section of the bridge has been reconstructed adjacent to the original, and it gives a sense of the scale of the construction. The site can easily be visited from Jelling or Vejle, and there is a small exhibition on site.<br /><br />For more information about the bridge, and the ongoing investigations by the Nationalmuseet (National Museum) under <span>Dr Peter Pentz</span>, see the project <a href="http://jelling.natmus.dk/en/about-the-project/sub-projects/the-bridge-over-ravning-enge/" target="_blank">website</a><a href="http://jelling.natmus.dk/en/about-the-project/sub-projects/the-bridge-over-ravning-enge/" target="_blank"><br /></a><br />The bridge is under the juristiction of VejleMuseeerne (Vejle Museums), and more information about opening times of the exhibition can be found on their <a href="http://www.vejlemuseerne.dk/vejlemuseerne-vejle-museums" target="_blank">website</a>.
Harald Bluetooth
The World-Tree Project
July 2016
Admin
Images Public Domain
<a href="http://jelling.natmus.dk/en/about-the-project/sub-projects/the-bridge-over-ravning-enge/">http://jelling.natmus.dk/en/about-the-project/sub-projects/the-bridge-over-ravning-enge/</a>
<a href="http://www.vejlemuseerne.dk/vejlemuseerne-vejle-museums" target="_blank">http://www.vejlemuseerne.dk/vejlemuseerne-vejle-museums</a>
jpg
Still Images
http://www.worldtreeproject.org/document/987
Denmark
Viking Age
Vejle Museums
Museum
The Vejle Museums in Denmark include under the auspices the Ravning bridge, built by Harald Bluetooth in the tenth century.
Vejle Museums
http://www.vejlemuseerne.dk/
Vejle Museums
06/07/2016
Administrator
Vejle Museums
Vejlemuseerne
http://www.vejlemuseerne.dk/
Website
Dansk
Danish
Deutsch
German
Engelsk
English
Website
http://www.vejlemuseerne.dk/
Denmark, Danmark, Viking Age