Skyrim: Ansilvund Excavation Puzzle Guide & Solution

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has no shortage of puzzles scattered through its many dungeons and crypts, some simple, some more obscure, such as the pillar puzzle within the Ansilvund Excavation. Ansilvund is an ancient Nordic tomb that sits far to the north of the city of Riften. While it's not included in the main questline, the Dragonborn will eventually travel there, as its dungeon is correlated with many Radiant Quests like "Family Heirloom" or "Protecting the Bloodline." Additionally, Skyrim's Ansilvund is one of the locations where a Stone of Barenziah can be found.

A “stealth archer” build in Skyrim might make things a little easier, as Ansilvund features plenty of cracks and crevices to hide behind while sniping unsuspecting enemies. This is because the crypt is well-guarded with level-scaled necromancers, rogue mages, and plenty of draugr. Additionally, as this is an excavation site, players will find several ore veins within Ansilvund’s winding tunnels.

Skyrim: Ansilvund Puzzle Solution

Reading For Answers

Approximately halfway through Skyrim's Ansilvund Excavation, players will encounter a puzzle with spinning pillars connected to a locked door across a small stone overpass. What makes this puzzle so perplexing is that, unlike typical pillar puzzles in Skyrim, no apparent solutions are lying about the area or in nearby rooms. Yet, what players may not realize is that the answer to the Ansilvund puzzle is much closer than it seems.

There are two possible ways to solve Skyrim's pillar puzzle in Ansilvund. The first way is by checking one of the books on a table across from the mechanism's lever. Next to a journal sits a book commonly found in multiple locations across Skyrim called Of Fjori and Holgeir. It tells a short love story between Fjori and Holgeir, but the main point players should be looking for the order of keywords within the written lines.

More specifically, the names of the animals engraved on the pillars can also be found in this Elder Scrolls book. Each animal appears in the story in the same sequence the pillars need to be set to. According to the order of the story, the solution to Ansilvund's puzzle in Skyrim is as follows:

• "As the Eagle (1) finds..."
• "But the Snake (2) came..."
• "A Whale (3) greeted Fjori's view..."
• "But the Snake (4) bit Fjori..."

Alternatively, the correct left-to-right order of Ansilvund's pillar puzzle can also be found directly below the spinning mechanisms. They are well-hidden beneath deep shrubbery and cobwebs, yet, if you look close enough, you should be able to see the same solution to Skyrim's Ansilvund puzzle as in the book: "Eagle - Snake - Whale - Snake."

Escaping Ansilvund

This puzzle is part of the "A Love Beyond Death" Quest, which will start automatically as soon as you enter the Ansilvund Excavation site. To continue on after solving the puzzle, you will enter the final room where the boss, Lu'ah Al-Skaven, is waiting. Once she has been defeated, you will be able to collect the Ghostblade weapon. If you continue on, there is also a master-level chest waiting for you with goodies inside.

To get out of the Excavation Site, continue on by unlocking the gate. There is a ramp behind it that will take you to a ledge where you can see a Frostbite Spider and another draugr. Once you leave the ledge, you can go left to find the exit and continue on with your adventures in Ansilvund in Skyrim.

Ansilvund's Stone of Barenziah Location

Finding The Ansilvund Stone Of Barenziah

It's entirely possible players ended up needing to solve Skyrim's Ansilvund pillar puzzle on their way to locate the Stone of Barenziah in Ansilvund. The Stone can be found in the burial chambers of Ansilvund, near Fjori's ghost.

Finding The Other Stones Of Barenziah

This is part of the "No Stone Unturned" quest, where players have to find 24 Stones of Barenziah, of which the Stone they find in Ansilvund is just one. Players will have to traverse the entirety of Skyrim's map in order to find them all. In order to guide your efforts, here's a basic outline of where you'll find every Stone of Barenziah in Skyrim.

The last part of the "No Stone Unturned" quest involves finding a crown to return to Vex, which will unlock a special Perk - the reward for finding all 24 Stones of Barenziah. Ansilvund is also home to several possible radiant locations, so you may have to return later as part of a companion quest. Thankfully, you'll only have to solve the pillar puzzle one time throughout your entire run of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.