Ribe Excavation Quick Overview

Hello everybody! I wanted to give y’all a quick overview of the excavation in Ribe so you can get an impression of whats happening and check out the spot where we’re actually digging.

But first of all, let’s agree where in the world Ribe is anyway. Follow this link to see the Google map of Ribe - you’ll be hovering right over the spot.

Alternatively load this kmz-file in Google Earth (if you have it) and take a flight to 55.327664N/8.761736E …

The image below shows part of a 17th century drawing of central Ribe with the Cathedral (seen from a northeasternly direction); the red overlay marks the excavation site:

Next, here’s a plan of the Cathedral from 1737 showing ‘LindegÃ¥rden‘, the ‘ambitus’ or courtyard south of the church. Again the red shape marks the 2008 excavation:

The Courtyard has been destroyed except for a part of the west wing still standing which can be clearly seen in the background on this photo:

The building has been very heavily ‘restored’, but at least still stands in the right place!

Below, the same (norhtern) part of the dig, only seen from the west:

Note the remains of a wall in the upper right corner; that’s the graveyard wall from ca. 1737-43 which was built on the spot where the south wall of the courtyard’s south wing used to be. To the north (left of the wheelbarrows) a row of large, irregular holes probably indicate that a number of quite large stones have been removed. They may have served as part of the foundations for the north wall of the south wing.

And finally, a view from the south towards the cathedral:

That’s all for now - drop me a comment below if there’s anything you want to know!