CHAPTER EIGHT ( 7 )

SEBBERSUND

Jens N. Nielsen

T

he use of metal detectors has led to the discovery of a number of late Iron Age and
early medieval settlements of a special character in the eastern part of the Limfjord.
One of these settlements is Sebbersund near Nibe.
The Sebbersund site lies on the fjord coast, on a narrow, sandy foreland, part of which
is known as ‘Skt Nikolaj Bjerg’ (St Nicholas’ Mountain). The area was ideal for maritime
activities, such as anchoring and local and long-distance transportation. Excavations
took place here in the 1990 s and in 2002 (Birkedahl and Johansen 1993 : 3 – 8 ;
1995 : 160 – 4 ; 2000 : 25 – 33 ; Birkedahl 2000 : 140 f.; Christensen and Johansen 1992 :
199 – 229 ; Nielsen 2002 : 6 – 27 ).

A TRADING PLACE AND PRODUCTION CENTRE

Approximately 70 pit-houses were excavated north of Skt Nikolaj Bjerg (Figure 8. 7. 1 ).
Marks in the cornfields show that the total number is considerably larger, perhaps nearly
300. Concentrated and overlapping pit-house remains indicate that when a pit-house
fell into disuse, a new one was usually put up almost on the same site. The limited
excavations do not allow for a more exact evaluation as to the structure of the pit-
house area. Nor do post-holes and other fillings found between the pit-houses allow
conclusions to be made as to structures, such as longhouses.
Loom weights and spindle whorls found in half of the pit-houses show the impor-
tance of textile production. The rest of the finds come from the filling of the pit-houses.
They comprise fragments of earthenware pots and soapstone vessels, glass beads, slate
whetstones, numerous combs made from bone and antler, bones from domestic animals,
and shells. A rather large amount of teeth from iron eel spears and fish bones indicate
that fishing took place in the shallow waters surrounding the foreland.
Post-holes and pits found north-east of Skt Nikolaj Bjerg cannot be identified as
remains from houses or other constructions. Several of the pits contained stones and
large amounts of flint that had been exposed to fire, as well as charcoal and clinker from
forges. The flint was probably used in connection with forge welding. Iron scales and
forge remnants show that ironworking was an important activity in this settlement.
There are also traces of bronze, silver and gold crafts.