These cows are standing outside the fortress's West gate, where a ditch from a possible moat still exists. The four gates of the fortress were constructed exactly at North, South, East and West, and the fortress was exactly circular, with no apparent regard for the practical or tactical repercussions. The Fyrkat Fortresses appears to have been built between 975 and 980 by Harald Bluetooth. Fortresses like Fyrkat have been found in at least three other locations, all being nearly the same size, except the compound at Aggersborg, which contained 48 longhouses instead of 16.