Fraugde-Kærby: Manor Estate, Graves and Kærby Mose

If you would like to take both archaeology and the landscape into account when planning your trip, Fraugde-Kærby and its surroundings can be explored through two distinct themes: the archaeological site of an Iron Age manor estate and the Kærby Mose wetland.

The Manor Estate and the Fraugde-Kærby Hoard

The discovery of a small silver and gold hoard in Fraugde-Kærby in 2007 led to the identification of a new Iron Age manor estate. The archaeological site lies approximately 1 kilometre north of Fraugde-Kærby on an almost level moraine area running from east to west. This area is bounded by watercourses to the west and east.

The Fraugde-Kærby hoard comprised 196 grams of precious metal and was found in a posthole in a main building. It is best interpreted as a precious-metal deposit intended for melting down and producing new jewellery. The find may indicate that a goldsmith worked seasonally at the Iron Age manor estate; there was probably no permanent connection. For visitors who want to understand historical contexts through specific finds, this site connects settlement history with an unusual history of materials.

Burial Sites at Tietgen Byen

The burial sites at Tietgen Byen also give the area around Fraugde-Kærby a clearly recognisable archaeological profile. The Late Bronze Age burial site comprised 42 cremation graves laid out between two older burial mounds. Two rows of cooking pits marked the approximate western boundary of this burial site.

The Viking Age burial site at Tietgen Byen comprised a total of 49 graves. It included ten chamber graves in which the deceased had been buried in rectangular chambers built of wood. The remaining graves lay within an approximately 50×100-metre, almost rectangular area. Thus, different burial forms and periods stand side by side at Tietgen Byen without their respective characteristics having to be conflated.

Kærby Mose and the Landscape

In the area around Fraugde-Kærby, Kærby Mose was converted into an approximately 38-hectare wetland. As part of the Kærby Mose project, a network of paths was improved, increasing the opportunities for recreation. Those who want to include the landscape and spending time outdoors alongside archaeological themes will find a second focus for their trip here. The combination of archaeological sites and wetland makes Fraugde-Kærby particularly interesting for a trip in which cultural themes and natural surroundings stand side by side.

Orientation for Your Stay

The Fraugde-Kærby-Vej stop is part of FynBus route 195 between Nyborg, Langeskov and Odense. When choosing a hotel in Fraugde-Kærby, you can consider this transport connection alongside the archaeological and landscape highlights. This allows you to choose your accommodation based on your preferred combination of manor estate, burial sites, wetland and recreational opportunities.

For further orientation in the region, the following places are also relevant: Fraugde, Højby, Odense C and Odense Sv.

For the broader travel overview: Odense.