5,500-year-old sun disc found on Danish island

1/3. Photo by Marta Bura

 
Relics that are evidence of beliefs and rituals performed by inhabitants of the island of Bornholm before 5.5 thousand years have been discovered by the archaeologists from Warsaw during the ongoing excavations in Vasagard.

05.08.2015. The research project is the result of several years of collaboration between the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw and Bornholms Museum. As part of the agreement, archaeology students of IA UW come each year to the Danish island for excavations and practice their skills. This year, they cooperate with students from the University of Copenhagen.

The study site - Vasagard - puzzles archaeologists to this day. It was probably the site of a sun worship temple, surrounded by palisades. This is evidenced by the entrance to the complex, located in the direction of the sunrise during the solstice or equinox. During this season of excavations, archaeologists have discovered several ditches, in which, in their opinion, bodies of the deceased were placed to be decomposed. Then the bones were transferred to proper burial chambers. [...] scienceinpoland.pap.pl via The Archaeology News Network