Lejre

Lejre is unlike any other place I have ever been. It is essentially an outdoor museum—an expanse of land in which every hill, fort, animal and structure tell a story of a time in history. Lejre’s story is one that touches on several time periods of Denmark's past, starting from the Stone Age and continuing through the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and the Viking era.

These eras differed significantly in societal structure, architecture, hunting methods, and man-made tools. This change, however, was not brought about instantaneously or unprompted, but was rather a result of a gradual shift in the environment—with natural phenomena governing man’s chosen lifestyle. The environmental factor which had the most prominent effect on both the topography of Denmark, and subsequently the structure of different societies, is the formation and distribution of ice. While Denmark does not have any mountains—its highest point of elevation being only around 172 ft—the various hills, valleys and lakes tell a story about the gradual succession of ice over the land. The last ice age ended around 15,000 years ago. During these ice ages around 90% of Denmark was covered in ice. As this ice began to melt, the landscape began to change. Around the masses of ice that had not melted, rock began to accumulate. Slowly, these accumulations formed hills and valleys. In the areas where the ice took longer to melt, lakes and bodies of water were formed. In addition to changing Denmark's topography, this environmental change also had an effect on the lifestyle of the people living in this region. For example, while the ice was still present and just beginning to melt, the environment became very accommodating to species such as reindeer—which feed off moss but can also thrive in icy environments. Therefore, during this time, reindeer were the primary source of meat for the people residing in Denmark. However, when temperatures rose and the ice began to further melt, the reindeer migrated further north. When this environmental shift occurred, species such as oxen, which thrive in grassy environments, began to take over the land. Therefore, for the communities that stayed within Denmark, their main food source shifted from reindeer to oxen.

            An additional example of nature’s effect on society is the reconstruction of the huts and houses of men during these different points in history. As earlier noted, as the environment changed, different means of survival were utilized by societies residing in these areas. Mainly, as the ice melted and the landscape shifted from ice to grasslands, there was a gradual shift from hunter-gatherer societies to agriculture societies. Based on remnants of different housing structures, many reconstructions of homes and villages have been built. Though many elements of these structures are uncertain—for example the correct height of doors, the raw materials used to construct these homes, and the exact shape of certain roofs—by understanding the resources available during certain time periods, as well utilizing discovered remnants such as wooden stakes, and tools made of minerals such as iron, it has been found that housing structures differed significantly depending on the time period. For example, while early hunter-gatherers resides in small huts that were most likely constructed of oak and animal skin, later societies that began to employ agriculture as their means of food and societal structure resided in larger villages, with homes that were both larger and more complex. The change from hunter-gatherer huts to agricultural sturdy homes further exemplifies how a change in environment can subsequently cause a shift in societal structures. 

            The Lejre experience is truly extraordinary. Its ability to capture the collision of manmade society and the natural environment is a lesson that can be used to confront historical questions of how and why our lands and societies have developed the way they have. However, perhaps more importantly, Lejre’s story can be used as a means of understanding the importance of man’s current relationship with nature. Lejre can truly teach us that while many societies may view their practices as stable and unchanging, an environment that changes drastically throughout time influences every aspect of our world.  Therefore, nothing, not even the structures in which we live, or the means through which we acquire food and organize society, is unchanging.

A Hut from the Iron Age

The preserved door found from the Iron age

Hunter-Gatherer Hut

Pot used in an Agricultural society

Pot of a hunter-gatherer society
The pots used to by hunter-gatherer societies were typically pointed at the bottom, making them easier to lay on top of burning embers. However, the pots used by agricultural societies were typically flat. This suggests that societies that are constantly moving may have greater use for cooking implements which can easily rest on top of fires, while stationary societies may prefer pots which easily rest on tables and shelves.

Forest Land

Grasslands