Archaeologists from the Nordjyske Museum in Denmark have discovered the remains of a large millennial farm that they believe may have been one of the legendary great halls of the Vikings. The remains of the building were discovered in northern Denmark, in the Hune region. 10 to 12 oak pillars support a large roof. The length of the hall is 40 meters and its width is 10 meters.

Thomas Rune Knudsen, an archaeologist with the North Jutland Museums, says it’s the largest Viking Age discovery of its kind in a decade. “Although it was partially excavated, we’ve never seen anything like it before here in North Jutland,” says Knudsen. The hall is thought to have served as a meeting place for political meetings among the Vikings, possibly as well as a venue for casual activities.

The design of the building resembles those built during the reign of Harald Blätand, who ruled Denmark in the late 10th century. Vikings dominated Europe from the end of the 8th century to the middle of the 11th century. Wherever they went, they left reminders of their existence; From the burial mounds along the fjords to the wax candles they carried with them on their walks. It is stated that similar objects were found in this excavation as well.

Due to the building’s footprint and potential shared use, the team suspects there are more structures in its immediate vicinity, Knudsen says. Only half of the building has been excavated so far, and excavations are scheduled to continue earlier this year. The team will conduct radiocarbon dating of the structure as well as additional excavation work.