Throughout human history, volcanic eruptions have wreaked havoc on civilizations, causing drastic climatic shifts, failed harvests, and societal turmoil. One such event, in 43 BCE, saw an Alaskan volcano release massive amounts of sulfur into the atmosphere, plunging the Mediterranean into a period of agricultural collapse and famine.

Recent evidence suggests that a similar catastrophic eruption occurred around 2900 BCE, profoundly impacting Neolithic communities in Northern Europe.

Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute of the University of Copenhagen analyzed Greenlandic ice cores to identify this volcanic event, which likely caused prolonged atmospheric haze and global cooling. This discovery sheds new light on archaeological findings at the Vasagård site on the Danish island of Bornholm. Here, hundreds of sunstones engraved schist pieces adorned with solar motifs, were uncovered in ritualistic contexts.

Denmark sunstones
The circular structure in trench XXIV at Vasagård West and the objects found in the postholes: engraved stones (1, 2 & 5), pottery (3 & 4) and decorated burnt daub (6 & 7). Credit: Freerk Oldenburger / John Lee / René Laursen / The National Museum of Denmark / The National Museum of Denmark

According to Rune Iversen, an archaeologist from the University of Copenhagen, the sun was central to the agricultural societies of Neolithic Northern Europe. These early farmers depended on sunlight for crop growth, making any prolonged solar obscurity terrifying. The sunstones, likely symbols of fertility and cosmic power, appear to have been sacrificial offerings intended to restore balance during climatic crises.

At Vasagård, the sunstones were found in ceremonial trenches alongside the remnants of ritual feasts, including animal bones, broken clay vessels, and flint tools. These deposits, dated to around 2900 BCE, coincide with the volcanic eruption identified in the ice cores. After their placement, the trenches were deliberately sealed, signifying the conclusion of a significant ritual event.

The late Neolithic period in Northern Europe was marked by substantial cultural and environmental changes. DNA studies on human remains from this era indicate widespread outbreaks of plague, compounding the stress of volcanic-induced climate disruption. During this tumultuous time, the previously dominant Bell Beaker culture began to wane, giving way to new societal and religious practices.

Denmark sunstones
One of the stones with solar motifs. Credit: Vasagaard Vest

Archaeological evidence from Vasagård suggests that the community restructured its sacred spaces following the sacrifices. The ritual trenches were replaced with rows of wooden palisades and circular houses of worship. These architectural shifts may reflect the community’s attempt to adapt to the environmental and societal upheavals they faced.

While parallels can be drawn with other solar-oriented structures like England’s Stonehenge, the Vasagård findings represent a uniquely Scandinavian interpretation of solar veneration. These practices persisted into the Nordic Bronze Age, as evidenced by artifacts such as the famous Sun Chariot, further underscoring the enduring importance of the sun in regional belief systems.

Visitors to the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen can view four of the Vasagård sunstones starting January 28. These artifacts exemplify one of the earliest known forms of sun worship in southern Scandinavia, a tradition that would later resurface during another volcanic crisis in 536 CE, when gold hoards were sacrificed to appease the gods.


SOURCES

University of Copenhagen

Iversen R, Nielsen PO, Sørensen LV, et al. Sun stones and the darkened sun: Neolithic miniature art from the island of Bornholm, Denmark. Antiquity. Published online 2025:1-17. doi:10.15184/aqy.2024.217


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