Retired archaeologist refuses to stop searching: ‘It would be a sensation’

A retired Danish archaeologist continues his decades-long hunt for a legendary 12th-century royal fortress, despite official excavations ending years ago, reports DR.

“It would be a sensation if we found it,” said the archaeologist, who has spent over 30 years searching for the elusive Borgring, a circular Viking-age fortress believed to have been built by King Valdemar the Great. Though systematic digs concluded without success, he remains convinced the site lies hidden near Køge, south of Copenhagen.

Using old maps, aerial photos, and ground-penetrating radar, he has identified a promising area where soil discoloration and subtle terrain shifts suggest buried structures. “The technology today is far better than when I started,” he said, noting that modern tools could finally reveal traces of the long-lost stronghold.

Local authorities have not approved new excavations, but the archaeologist persists, analysing data and lobbying for support. “If this is indeed Borgring, it would rewrite part of Denmark’s medieval history,” he said.