What is it about?
This study re-examines the famous horned Viksø helmets, some of the most iconic Bronze Age objects found in Denmark. By analysing organic material preserved inside the helmet horns and joints, the researchers discovered that the substance is birch bark tar, a natural adhesive produced through a specialised heating process. Radiocarbon dating of the tar showed that the helmets were in use before 906–850 BCE, providing the first direct scientific date connected to the helmets’ active use. The research combines archaeology, chemistry, microscopy, and radiocarbon dating to investigate not only when the helmets were used, but also how they were made and decorated. The findings reveal that organic materials played a far more important role in Bronze Age craftsmanship than previously recognised and provide entirely new insights into the technological knowledge behind these remarkable artefacts.
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Why is it important?
The Viksø helmets are among the most famous symbols of the Scandinavian Bronze Age, yet many fundamental questions about them have remained unresolved for more than eighty years. This study provides the first direct scientific evidence for how parts of the helmets were constructed and establishes a reliable chronological framework for their use. The identification of birch bark tar used both as a structural adhesive and to attach decorations demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of materials and production techniques among Bronze Age craftspeople. The results challenge the traditional focus on metal alone by showing that knowledge of organic materials was equally important in the creation of prestigious objects. As a consequence, the study changes how we understand the technology, craftsmanship, and specialised skills required to produce high-status ritual equipment during the Late Bronze Age.
Perspectives
The research opens entirely new avenues for studying prehistoric technology, trade, and cultural connections. The discovery that the Viksø helmets contain tar produced through a specialised process suggests that Bronze Age craftspeople understood how production methods influenced material quality and performance. Such knowledge may have been linked to wider exchange networks through which both materials and technical expertise travelled across Europe. By comparing adhesives from different regions and artefacts, future studies may be able to trace patterns of communication, innovation, and trade that are currently invisible in the archaeological record. The findings also highlight the enormous research potential of organic residues preserved on metal artefacts, encouraging archaeologists to investigate glues, resins, fibres, and other perishable materials that have long been overlooked. Ultimately, this work points toward a more complete understanding of how technology, craftsmanship, and long-distance connections shaped Bronze Age societies across Europe.
Dr. Heide Wrobel Nørgaard
Moesgaard Museum, Department of Archaeology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: New Insights from the Viksø Helmets: Evidence of Bronze Age Birch Tar Use as an Organic Construction Material, Open Archaeology, January 2026, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1515/opar-2025-0100.
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