During its time, the hall was up to 40 meters long and 8-10 meters wide, and it had 10-12 oak posts that supported the roof.
The hall was a prestigious building which, in addition to having an everyday function, was probably also a gathering place for political meetings and large Viking get-togethers," according to archaeologist Thomas Rune Knudsen.
"This is the largest Viking Age find of this nature in more than ten years, and, even though it has only been partially excavated, we can say that we have not seen anything like it before here in North Jutland," Knudsen, who is also the head of the excavation, said, according to the museum's website.
Special design
The long hall's design is similar to the houses found at Harald Bluetooth's ring fortresses, such as Fyrkat at Hobro and Aggersborg at Aggersund.
For this reason, among other things, it can be dated to the late Viking Age, that is, the second half of the 10th century or the beginning of the 11th century.
"We only had the opportunity to excavate part of the hall, but several houses are probably hidden in the area to the east. A hall building of this nature rarely stands alone," Knudsen said.
The remains might belong to a farm of a nobleman from the Viking Age, perhaps from one of the most influential and important families of the time in the said area.
The runestone in Hune Church. Photo: Historical Museum of Northern Jutland
The Hune runestone
Near the village of Hune, there is a runestone that can be dated to this particular period, dedicated to Runulv den Rådnilde.
The one-and-a-half-meter-high stone stands in the Hune Church, not far from the excavation site. It is dated to ca. 970-1020 CE.
Although we do not know its original location, we do know that it originates from the local area. According to Knudsen, the stone's dating makes it very interesting in this context.
"It is difficult to prove that the discovered Viking hall belonged to the family of Viking Runulv den Rådsnilde, but it is certainly a possibility. If nothing else, the rune stone and hall represent the same social class, and both belong to society's elite," he noted.
Excavation plans and precise dating
Only about half of the Viking hall has been excavated for now, but according to plans, the excavation will resume after the New Year.
More precise dating will also be carried out. The dating results are expected to be available at the end of next year.
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