DOI: 10.33547/terra.fertilis13
Havsmarken – a port of trade in the borderland between Carolingian Europe and Viking Scandinavia
by Sigurd Arve Baslund Bohr 
, Jesper Hansen and Mogens Bo Henriksen
in Terra fertilis, terra deserta. Exploitation of marginal zones, edited by M. J. Przybyła, J. Rodzińska-Nowak and M. Wojenka, Neue Studien zur Sachsenforschung 15, Braunschweig – Kraków: Braunschweigische Landesmuseum, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Profil-Archeo, pp. 219-240.
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Abstract: This article presents the results of recent archaeological investigations at Havsmarken, a Viking Age site located on the island of Ærø in southern Denmark. The study aims to reinterpret the function and significance of the site within the broader context of early medieval trade networks and maritime activity in the western Baltic region.
Based on extensive metal-detector surveys, excavations conducted between 2019 and 2021, and geophysical prospection, the authors identify Havsmarken as a major center of trade, craftsmanship, and ship-related activities dating primarily to the 9th–10th centuries CE. The material record includes thousands of artefacts such as weights, hack silver, casting residues, dirhems, and Carolingian coins, indicating a weight-based exchange economy and long-distance connections with both Scandinavian and continental European regions.
A key discovery is the identification of a large, naturally formed ravine (Structure S1) adapted for human use, likely functioning as a slipway or working area for ship repair, construction, or dismantling. The concentration of clinker nails, rivets, tools, and production debris strongly supports the interpretation of the site as a shipyard closely integrated with trading activities.
The findings suggest that Havsmarken operated as a seasonal or semi-permanent hub situated at a strategic maritime crossroads between Carolingian Europe and Viking Scandinavia. Despite its peripheral location on land, the site played a central role in regional and international exchange networks. The study highlights the complexity of coastal “marginal zones” and demonstrates their importance in facilitating economic and cultural interactions during the Viking Age.