Iron Age

As one of the first “offspring” of the 1960s Lejre approach, Vingsted Historiske Værksted was set up near Bredsten. It still plays an important role in the Danish network of archaeological education centres (Historiske Værksteder or historical workshops).

In the early 1970s, the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier excavated at the “Altburg” near Bundenbach. This was the site of a Iron Age defended settlement between 170 BC and 50 BC in the West Celtic area.

The settlement Birka, at the island Björkö was hugely important in the Viking Period, around 750 AD. It was a key site in the Viking trading network, the nearby island Adelsö was the royal residence (Hovgården). The amount of artefacts excavated since the 19th century, the density of population is striking and following the excavations, both islands are UNESCO world heritage since 1993. The area had massive influence on this part of Europe.

On the bank of the river Daugava, Lielvarde was the site of a 13th century castle. Its ruins are still visible. Near the city centre, a 12th century fortified wooden settlement is reconstructed, called Uldevena koka pils. Uldevens is the name of a 12th century Latvian king. It is a private initiative based on archaeological samples supplied by scientific journals published in Latvia.

Near the Dordogne valley, a Bronze Age settlement was found at the foot of the Beynac castle. Once excavated, this site was turned into an archaeological open air museum, run by the Museum Association of the Sarladais area.

The Archeopark Rochefort is dedicated to the excavated remains that were consolidated, restored and partly renewed, of one of the biggest Romanian farms in the north of Gaul. A good reason to open the territory for the wide public. The association administrating the territory enable visitors to taste the atmosphere of the live of our Gallic Romanian ancestors.

The Préhistosite at Ramioul consists of caves used in Palaeolithic, an archaeological open-air museum, indoor education areas and a traditional museum.

The Bronze Age Village at Trewortha in Cornwall is attached to the Trewortha Farm Centre. It consists of Bronze Age roundhouse reconstructions on privately owned land, used for education purposes. The rich landscape of Bodmin Moor stood at the beginning of this initiative.

One of the first offspring of the Lejre approach within Denmark itself was Næsby, in 1973. It is situated in the northern outskirts of Odense in the breathtaking green landscape of the Stavisådal. It is by now a large centre with many reconstructed Iron Age houses (more particular, 0 – 400 AD), like a small village.

At Llynnon, funding was available to put disused woodland and coppice back into use. The idea came about to construct a Bronze Age / Early Iron Age area with two roundhouses which were eventually completed in 2007. As all the materials where sourced from this woodland it proved very successful.