Royal Jelling

Since the discovery and investigation in 2006-2013 of the remains of a palisade that enclosed the royal mounds and rune stones in Jelling, the interpretation of the monument complex and its development through time has changed considerably. From having been perceived mainly as a place of burial and commemoration in the tenth century, it is today regarded as a ritual and ceremonial space, which was located in a landscape on which it seems to have had little immediate impact, either in terms of settlement patterns or burial customs. . In its entirety, the complex gives the impression of a meticulously planned layout that was based upon strict architectural and geometric principles, which appear to have been established and maintained over several decades. Whilst much was new or built on a vastly exaggerated scale, the structural and ideological references embedded in the monuments suggest that the meaning and function of the place rested upon far more than innovative thinking and physical dimensions, or the implied control of manpower and natural resources. In this chapter, the results of the many investigations and research initiatives presented in this volume are summarised as a prelude to the discussion of the purpose of the enclosure, and the wider implications of the successive additions to the monuments.