Archaeologists from Museum Nordsjælland have uncovered Helsingør medieval skeletons at Marienlyst Castle, revealing a series of graves dating back more than 500 years during planned sewer works in the castle garden. The burials include adults and children, with several remains exceptionally well preserved.
Rescue dig at Marienlyst Castle uncovers graves
The discovery emerged during preventive works in the historic gardens, where archaeologists identified multiple Christian burials beneath a narrow trench. One grave contained a newborn infant, while many of the deceased were interred with arms folded across the abdomen or hips, consistent with late medieval Christian practice. As excavation lead Louise Lund Johansen noted, translated from Danish: “We suddenly came close to the people who were buried in Helsingør more than 500 years ago.”
What the Helsingør medieval skeletons reveal about daily life
Initial assessments indicate numerous health stress markers among the adults, including fused vertebrae that would have caused chronic pain. The bone changes point to physically demanding work and a high prevalence of illness and wear among the buried population. Infant and child burials further highlight the elevated child mortality typical of the period.
From field to lab: analysis and exhibition plan
Following registration at Museum Nordsjælland, the remains will be transferred to the Anthropological Laboratory (Antropologisk Laboratorium) at the University of Copenhagen – Globe Institute (Globe Instituttet). Specialists will determine age-at-death, sex and conduct osteological and pathology assessments, with potential for isotopic and DNA analyses. The plan is to exhibit the finds at Museerne Helsingør, adding new material to the city’s public history.
Mapping the site into medieval Helsingør
Marienlyst Castle sits within a layered historic landscape on the Øresund, close to Kronborg and to the medieval St Anne (Sankt Anna) Franciscan friary once active in Helsingør. Earlier finds near the castle have linked the area to medieval burial grounds, and the new graves add context to urban life, religion and health in northern Zealand during the late Middle Ages.
The excavation offers a rare glimpse into everyday life and health in medieval Denmark. Laboratory results and the planned local exhibition are expected to refine the chronology and social profile of the buried community, enriching the understanding of Helsingør’s past for both residents and international visitors interested in Nordic heritage.
