Sternberg (dpa / mv) – The special exhibition “Slavenburg – In the footsteps of a queen” is centered around the wife of the legendary Danish king Harald Bluetooth. It will be opened on Wednesday (3 p.m.) by Minister of Culture Bettina Martin (SPD) in Groß Raden (Ludwigslust-Parchim district).
Bluetooth lived in the 10th century and married Tove, the daughter of the Obotrite prince Mstivoi, as Mecklenburg-Western Pomeranian state archaeologist Detlef Jantzen says. Mstivoi’s castle stood on the site of today’s Schwerin Castle. During a major excavation in the inner courtyard of the castle in 2014 and 2015, numerous important finds were made that are now being presented in the special show. Large parts of a Slavic castle were discovered, which according to research had been built around 941/42 and greatly expanded around the year 965.
The exhibition was built around Tove’s fictitious farewell before she left for Denmark, says state archaeologist Jantzen. The young woman wanders through her father’s castle once more and bids the residents farewell before leaving for the wedding.
The finds would be presented on the basis of this story: everyday objects such as knives, sickles, keys and fish hooks, weapons of the castle guards or even leather shoes. A piece of the wooden castle wall construction that was discovered during the excavations will also be shown in the 200 square meter exhibition. Jewelery was also found during the excavations and is now on display, including bronze brooches with glass inlays and the finest find, an ornate gold bead.
