Tag: archaeology

Archaeologists’ most exciting finds: “I caught a glimmer of gold and glass”

A glass goblet from the Roman Empire was unearthed in Eastern Norway.

New discovery of Viking treasure: “This is undoubtedly the most significant event of my career”

The Viking treasure was buried under what was presumably the thralls’ house.

A 1,300-year-old arrow and horse dung have emerged from a melting Norwegian glacier

“It’s a type of arrow that is very, very rare,” researcher says.

Ancient artefacts resurface as mountain snow melts. Archaeologists urge hikers to stay alert

Due to unusually low snow levels in the mountains this year, archaeologists predict that ancient artefacts will surface in the mountains of Western Norway. They are urging people to stay alert for these findings.

Remarkable find: Archaeologists in Norway discovered the remains of a gauntlet on the seabed

What is this precious steel glove doing in the sea?

Archaeologists' most exciting finds: Teeth marks reveal the everyday lives of ordinary people

The past is filled will regular people, not just kings and queens. It’s essential to remember them, an archaeologist argues.

Archaeologists' most exciting finds: Investigating graves from Europe's first oil adventure

“The absolute coolest thing I've ever been a part of,” says the archaeologist.

Archaeologists' most exciting finds: “It was as if I entered a time capsule from the Bronze Age”

“I held the flashlight at an angle along the rock, and the figures came to life,” says the archaeologist.

A unique medieval boat has been given its own museum in Northern Norway

However, many secrets still lie hidden within the only preserved medieval boat in Norway.

Archaeologists' most exciting finds: Unearthed some of the oldest human bones ever found in Norway

“I was completely overwhelmed by the responsibility,” says archeologist Gaute Reitan.

Archaeologists' most exciting finds: Found traces of Sámi settlement in the Viking Age

It has been difficult to prove that there were Sámi in central Norway at the start of the Viking Age. But then Harald Bugge Midthjell and his colleagues made a discovery.

This ship part found in Norway is much older than archaeologists first thought

The wood dates back to the late 11th century, close to the Viking Age.

Archaeologists' most exciting finds: A truly unique artefact from the Bronze Age was discovered at a depth of 12 metres

“I could hardly believe it,” the marine archaeologist says.

Mostly babies were buried here over 2,000 years ago. What have the archaeologists discovered?

The newly discovered burial site consists almost entirely of babies, buried over several hundred years. How do researchers determine that the majority of those buried here were infants, especially when the bodies were cremated?

Archaeologists sound the alarm: Urgent action needed to preserve the Gjellestad Ship remains

Archaeologists sound the alarm: Urgent action needed to preserve this Norwegian Viking ship

Under layers of sand and soil, a Viking ship is rotting away.

Over 30 mysterious children's graves uncovered in Norway

Archaeologists have discovered 40 circular stone formations during an excavation in southeastern Norway. All have cremated bone remains in the centre, mostly from children.

New Viking ship discovered in Norway

A large boat or perhaps a ship, archaeologists initially said. Now they are certain. There was once a Viking ship buried at Jarlsberg.

"Imagine being the first person to hold something like this in over 1,000 years"

The small gold flake belonged to a person of power in the Merovingian period. Thanks to a faint beep in a metal detector, this 1,500-year-old gold foil figure was found.

Norway's most famous rock carving may have been preserved by a Nazi researcher looking for the origins of the Germanic people

The skier Rødøy-man was the logo for the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer. But in 2016, the petroglyph was destroyed. A researcher sent by Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler may now prove to be the saviour of this 5,000-year-old rock art.

Bones from a mammoth were found in this Norwegian well. Researchers are now looking for the rest of it

On the hunt for mammoth remains in Norway

Findings on the Norwegian farm could provide new answers about what happened during the last Ice Age.

God originally had a wife

Bible scholars have debated the existence of God’s wife for 30 years. But you will hardly ever hear about this in church.

Was the Oseberg Viking wagon drivable? New methods are constantly uncovering new details about Norway's oldest vehicle

The wagon is the only one of its kind from Norway’s Viking Age, but the wood is dry and brittle. Since 1904, it has been documented with the best technology available.

The Oseberg Viking ship is still shrouded in mystery

Why was this Viking ship crushed with stones – and moored – before it was buried?

In addition to being crushed, the ship was moored. Despite being on land.

This bucket remained buried in a Viking grave for 1,000 years, but is in excellent condition

The figure on the bucket looks like a Buddha, but is from an ancient Celtic death ritual. It then ended up in a Norwegian Viking grave.

Top Norwegian archaeological finds of 2023: Viking ships, gold treasures, and 4,000-year-old skeletons

Many finds are described as spectacular, unique, unusual, and sensational. But some are still more striking than others. Here are the top archaeological finds of the year.

Unique coin found in central Norway: How did this 1,000-year-old Byzantine gold coin end up in the Norwegian mountains?

Could it have been part of the great treasure that Harald Hardrada brought home from Constantinople? A metal detectorist brought the gold coin to light this autumn after it had spent a thousand years in the mountains of Valdres.

Study finds that sharks may have been part of Stone Age Norwegian coastal diets

Porbeagle sharks supposedly taste like veal, and were a formidable opponent. Catching one may have conferred high status, according to a researcher.

These mass graves in Northern Norway will now be re-examined

What killed these people? When did they die? Who are they?

Norwegian archaeology find of the year: A 4,000-year-old grave with skeletons

The grave is approximately as old as the pyramids and contained remains of at least five people.

Pigs provided food in the Middle Ages, but men had to watch out for their scrotums

It was quite common to have a pig in your backyard in Europe's medieval towns. But there were fines if it was allowed to roam freely, or if it bit off someone's scrotum while that person was using the outhouse.

Precise dating from Medieval Oslo: This is undoubtedly the King's Wharf

The King’s Wharf, which was excavated in Bjørvika earlier this year, was built with trees felled in 1288.

Medieval Norwegian food was more flavourful than you might think

Exotic spices were first exclusive, then became common — until Norwegians stopped seasoning their food.

This Norwegian-Swedish cannon could be one of the oldest in Europe

The cannon was loaded and ready for battle when it ended up at the bottom of the sea 600 years ago off what was an important medieval Norwegian city.

Melting ice near Norway's highest mountain reveals horse bridle that could stem from the Viking Age

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient bridle and other artifacts from a mountain pass almost 2,000 meters above sea level.

Another gold treasure in Norway: 1400 year old gold foil figures found in pagan temple

A total of 35 gold pieces have now been found by the roadside near the Hov farm in Vingrom. "It doesn't get much more spectacular than this," says archaeologist.

1500-year-old gold treasure discovered by metal detectorist: “This is the gold find of the century in Norway”

Nine gold pendants with rare horse symbols, ten gold beads, and three gold rings from the 6th century were recently discovered by a metal detectorist in Southwestern Norway.

Glacial archaeologist on melting ice in the mountains: "It’s absolutely extreme"

The dramatic backdrop to spectacular archaeological finds in the Norwegian mountains is that the ice is melting, rapidly. This year's glacial archaeological season in the mountains is now underway.

Archaeologists may have found a Viking house the length of almost two tennis courts

This summer's excavation at an ancient royal estate in Norway has uncovered traces of a massive house, an exquisite sword, and many remnants of lavish parties.

Here’s what the archaeologists found in the Viking grave the Heiland-family discovered in their garden

The sword that popped out of the earth in southern Norway may have revealed a double burial. After two days of intense excavations archaeologists have unearthed lots of jewellery, an axe and a shield. And perhaps a frying pan. And a pet rock.

The couple were just extending their house: Found a grave from the Viking Age in their garden

That thing sticking up from the earth, which looked a bit like the blade of a sword, turned out to be exactly that. From the Viking Age.

Medieval gaming piece with runic inscription discovered in Norway

An old sewer pipe needed repair in Trondheim in mid-Norway last year. A last-minute dig to save possible archaeological objects yielded a surprising and rare result: a gaming piece with runes.

7,000-year old fish traps excavated in Norwegian mountain lake – a race against time as the water is coming in

Four Stone Age fish traps were discovered by chance in the Norwegian mountains last summer. Archaeologists are now working against the clock to secure finds before the area is again covered in water.

New studies are upending our ideas about Viking shields

The shields from the Gokstad Viking ship were not only made for burial rituals and as decorations. Evidence indicates that they were used in battle, according to a Danish archaeologist.

Archaeologists had to destroy nearly all of the medieval ‘King’s Wharf’ soon after they excavated it.

Remains of a massive foundation for a wharf were recently uncovered during excavations in Bjørvika, east of Oslo’s centre. It might have been the King's Wharf during medieval times. But no sooner had the wharf been found than it was gone again.

Here's what archaeologists found under the floor of the 12th century Stavanger Cathedral

Crawling around here in pitch darkness in 1967, an architect bumped into bones and skeletons.

New video footage shows what could be the oldest known shipwreck at the bottom of Norway's largest lake

The researchers managed to catch a glimpse of the wreck before the underwater robot ran out of power.

This brooch became high fashion during the late Viking and Middle Age

The number of Urnes style brooches found in Norway have more than doubled in the past decade, most likely due to an increase of metal detectorists.

New discovery of a Viking ship in Norway

A 20-metre-long Viking ship has been discovered using georadar on a mound previously believed to be empty. “This is a spectacular find which sheds light on the earliest Viking kings”, says archaeologist Håkon Reiersen.

This is what a Norwegian boy looked like 8,000 years ago

The Stone Age boy has now been reconstructed using DNA analysis and modern forensic techniques.

A gold coin that changes history: Oldest known reference to the Norse god Odin found in Denmark

Norwegian and Danish researchers have found the god Odin's name on a gold coin from the beginning of the 5th century. Norse mythology must therefore be dated 150 years earlier than before.

Vikings tagged the great lion in Venice with runes

Hundreds or thousands of Norwegian and Swedish Vikings went to the Mediterranean for ‘summer jobs’ as mercenaries. They left behind graffiti.

Archaeologists surprised when 3,500 year old arrowheads made of shells melted out of the ice in the Norwegian mountains

Unique arrowheads made of freshwater pearl mussel have melted out of the ice in the mountains in Jotunheimen in Norway. Arrowheads like this have not been found anywhere else in the world, according to archaeologist.

The building of a new Museum of the Viking Age in Oslo has officially begun

Ola Borten Moe, Minister of Research and Higher Education in Norway, did the honours of putting the first shovel – or rather excavator – in the ground.

The Vikings likely brought horses and dogs with them on their voyages to England

“Very nice to get some archaeological flesh on that bone,” says Professor Jan Bill.

The world's oldest rune stone was found sticking out of the ground. Here’s how researchers figured out how old it is

The stone could be up to 2,000 years old — and we know that because of a cremation.

World’s oldest rune stone found in Norway, archaeologists believe

The find was kept secret by researchers for more than a year.

The inner parts of the Oslofjord contains some of the most exciting traces of Stone Age people in Europe

Archaeologists are now seeing how a landscape of fjords, straits and islands attracted people in the Stone Age. Few other places in Europe lend themselves as well to studying the lives and disappearances of the Stone Age people.

Now we know who the Vikings had children with

DNA evidence from Norway points above all to Britain and Ireland rather than people from the north-east. But a lot of this hereditary material has mysteriously almost disappeared after the Viking Age.

40-tonne steel rigs will protect the Viking ships during the building of a new Viking Age museum in Oslo

The Viking ships have remained in the same place since they were first put on display. Now they are being moved, with comprehensive security measures in place to ensure they are not damaged.

Here’s what Norwegian archaeologists discovered in 2022

5,000-year-old rock art. The remains of a 1,600-year-old house. A shipwreck at the bottom of a lake. A Viking grave, a Viking sword and a Viking silver treasure. These are among the top finds from Norway in the year gone by.

Viking grave discovered in the middle of Norway's capital Oslo

A grave with the remains of a shield and a cape buckle were uncovered during the construction of a new house this autumn. It is the first Viking grave rich in artefacts that archaeologists have excavated in Oslo.

The plan was to renovate a laundry room. But then bones from a 12 000 year old polar bear showed up

This is the story of how the best-preserved Ice Age polar bear in the world ended up at the Museum of Archaeology in Stavanger in the 1980s. Norway's first Stone Age people may have lived alongside this polar bear.

Shipwreck discovered at the bottom of Norway’s largest lake – possibly 700 years old

Marine archaeologists believe the ship dates to sometime between 1300 – 1850. It was found at the bottom of the lake Mjøsa, at 410 metres.

Meet Tora, 65 years old. She lived during the Middle Ages

Researchers have created a model of a medieval woman from Trondheim in Norway, based on analysis of her bones.

Ötzi-museum does not believe there are so many more ice mummies out there

What happens to artifacts in ice patches in the Norwegian mountains is not necessarily transferable to the Alps and the Ötzi-find-site, according to Andreas Putzer from the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

A ski from the Viking Age melted out of the ice in 2014. A few years later the second ski in the pair appeared

The skis are the best-preserved pair from prehistoric times in the world. But who was trying to cross a mountain pass during winter in the 8th century, and why did they lose their skis? More clues may yet melt out of the ice to tell the story.

New research on 5300-year-old Ötzi suggests there could be more ice mummies out there

The 31-year-old find of the ice man from the Alps, has been studied again. While Ötzi is unique, the conditions that preserved his body are not, say the researchers.

One Viking’s lost silver treasure discovered by metal detector enthusiast

46 pieces of silver from the Viking age were recently discovered in a field in mid-Norway. “It’s an exceptional find,” says archaeologist.

How do you build a Viking ship? These woodworkers are joined by researchers on their third Viking ship project

The prow of a Viking ship rises over Vikingodden in Tønsberg, Norway. The ‘Gokstad ship’ is being rebuilt.

7,000 year old fish traps discovered in the Norwegian mountains

Stone Age folks in the Norwegian mountains didn’t just hunt reindeer. A unique find from this summer reveals that they had also developed extensive fish traps in the lakes.

Every Viking owned a stone like this - and they traded massive quantities of them too

Whetstones are one of the most common finds from the Viking Age. What looks like a simple stone however, tells the tale of extensive trading systems - and perhaps even the reason for why the Vikings started raiding overseas.

Developing a robotic georadar to make archaeological surveys easier

Surveys using ground-penetrating radar have helped archaeologists in Norway discover among other things a Viking ship and a Viking longhouse. An automated version now promises to make these surveys even more efficient.

Found a Viking sword in the backyard

It wasn't a couple of pieces of an old rusty plow. It was a Viking sword.

The last person who touched this three-bladed arrowhead was a Viking

“We have never found an arrowhead like this before”, the glacial archaeologists from Secrets of the Ice in Norway recently reported on their Facebook-page.

New Viking Age jewellery find delivered to archaeological museum on a platter

The typical Viking Age women’s jewellery had been collecting dust in somebody’s living room for decades. Until last week, when it was all of a sudden delivered by an anonymous source at the Museum of Archaeology in Stavanger.

This gold ring once belonged to a powerful Viking Chief. It was found in a pile of cheap jewellery auctioned off online

The heavy, shiny gold ring stood out. And no wonder. It once belonged to a powerful Viking chief.

One of the most famous acts of sabotage during WWII happened in the basement of this building. Now it's open to the public

On a mission to prevent Hitler from developing a nuclear bomb, a group of brave soldiers made their way into the basement where heavy water was being produced. That very basement was rediscovered a few years ago.

Monks had to remain silent whilst they ate, so they invented a sign language

The Cistercian monks lived by strict rules.