Hovedfundene

Hovedfundene is a term used in Danish archaeology and museology to designate the most significant artifacts recovered during an excavation, survey, or archaeological project at a given site. The designation serves to summarize the material culture of a site and provides a focal point for interpretation, reporting, and public display.

The selection of hovedfundene is not based solely on size or rarity. Instead, they are objects that yield substantial information about chronology, production methods, trade networks, function, or social organization. Criteria can include contextual integrity, typological importance, representativeness of a particular occupation phase, or potential to illuminate broader questions about the site. Hovedfundene are typically considered alongside other categories such as minor finds, ecofacts, and features.

Documentation and cataloging are central to the concept. Hovedfundene are recorded in excavation reports and museum inventories with standardized data fields, including findspot, depth or layer, dating, material, typology, and interpretive notes. They are commonly photographed or drawn and stored in museum repositories. In many cases, hovedfundene form the core of exhibitions and scholarly publications.

Etymology reflects its purpose: hovedfundene consists of the main (hoved) finds (fundene). The term embodies a curatorial and analytical approach to organizing archaeological information in Danish contexts, emphasizing artifacts that most effectively illuminate a site's history.