An almost complete linen shirt dating to the first half of the 11th century was found at Viborg, Denmark (Fentz 1987; 1987a). The garment was reconstructed from linen tabby, as described in Beatson (1995).
As archaeological evidence is non-existant, the nature of Scandinavian underwear in the Viking period must remain speculative. Underwear was presumably as necessary then as it is now, for insulation, to prevent chafing by rough woolens, and reduce soiling of outer clothes. It was therefore necessary to be liberal with references, though at least they show that these styles of garment were in existance before the Viking Age. Iron Age 'Tollund Man' wore a hide girdle tied with a simple knot, which might have fastened a (perished) fabric loincloth (Glob 1977), like that of the recently discovered chalcolithic 'Ice Man' (Barfield 1994). A loincloth was reconstructed as a simple rectangle of linen, fastened by a hide belt similar to that of 'Tollund Man'.