The Egtved Girl

Facts

The dead girl in the coffin

By Flemming Kaul, Museumsinspektør, mag. art. (31 stories)

In Storhøj Burial Mound near Egtved west of Vejle, farmer Peter Platz found a well preserved Bronze Age coffin in 1921. When archaeologists from the National Museum of Denmark lifted its lid, they found a girl just as she was when she was buried in the summer of 1370 BC. She was wearing a beautiful outfit of woven wool. A knee-length string skirt and a short blouse. She also had a round bronze belt plate decorated with spirals. The girl quickly became know as the Egtved girl". "

Public place

Selected entry

What does the string skirt mean?

Story written by Flemming Kaul

Time / Periode -1370

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What does the string skirt mean? Ever since the Egtved girl was found, people have been asking this question. Was the Egtved girl a temple dancer or a priestess? Was it an everyday garment? Was it summer wear? Or did it mean she was married or single? The string skirt might well have been used for religious rituals. After all, a small Bronze Age figurine found at Grevensvænge on Zealand has a similar string skirt. She is in mid backflip, dancing an acrobatic dance and is wearing nothing above her waist. The string skirt was probably worn with the belt plate as part of the festive clothing used during the summer. And religious rituals, such as dancing, were all part of the fun.