Copenhagen - Danish archaeologists say they have discovered a well-preserved Viking era shield, reports said Wednesday.

The wooden shield had a circumference of 0.80 metres and was believed to be from the end of the 900s.

The find was described as for the first of its kind in Denmark, archaeologists told the online site Sjaellandske medier.

The shield was found Tuesday near Trelleborg, site of a so-called Viking ring castle near the town of Slagelse about 100 kilometres south-west of Copenhagen.

The ring castle at Trelleborg dates from around 980.

"The shield was in a moist ditch which explains why it was so well- preserved," archaeologist Kirsten Christensen said. (dpa)