Archaeologists Followed a 500-Year-Old Clue—and Found a Lost Town Hiding in Plain Sight
Years of searching for a lost medieval Norwegian town was finally rewarded with a discovery.
Crews used a 500-year-old legend to start the search, but used more modern georadar techniques to pinpoint the right spot for excavation.
The team discovered the lost town of Hamarkaupangen, the first ruin being a two-room home.
A 16th century tale of a Norwegian town just east of a bishop's castle turned out to be far more than ancient lore. Archaeological crews from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research and the Anno Museum have revealed the discovery of Hamarkaupangen, the lost medieval town from the story.
The Chronicles of Hamar—a 16th century text—describes the settlement, believed to have originated in the 11th century, as east of the cathedral and the bishop's castle in Hamar, located in southern Norway. The only problem? Every time archaeologists looked, they found just trivial topsoil-level artifacts and no real evidence of an established medieval village.
Belief the city ever existed started to wane altogether, while others questioned if maybe the village was only a seasonal trading post.
That doubt has all for naught. Georadar was only first used in 2023, and that really helped move the project along. Crews used the technology—in 2023 and 2024—to search a field east of the cathedral and castle, locating the town just where the 16th-century text said it would be, confirming the legend. This summer, an excavation dug three feet below a layer of stone into what the team believes is a two-room home, according to a translated statement from the institute.
Buried under the masonry, the team exposed wooden structures they believe are walls and floors, confirming the findings from the georadar survey that showed the remains of wooden buildings that once made up the town. Researchers believe the radar shows the site as a two-room living area with logs and plank floors. The hunt is now on for the fireplace.
'We were very excited about what it looked like down below, because thick layers of quarries are a context that we have not worked with before,' Monica Kristiansen, archaeologist on the project, said in a translated statement. 'We therefore have no prior knowledge of how the stone-filled layers will affect the visibility of, for example, wood in the georadar data. In addition, there are poor preservation conditions for organic material in these areas, and any remains of wooden buildings was therefore assumed to be poorly preserved. Therefore, it is very gratifying that the georadar impetrations are successful.'
To get inside, the team opened a small peephole into what they believe is the living area. Already, through the 43-square-foot hole, the crew has identified wall logs and floors, 'and that bodes well for the rest of the field,' Kristiansen said.
As the search continues for the fireplace, Kristiansen is confident that the radar findings showing additional urban structures in line with Norwegian medieval architecture, groupings of buildings, narrow passages, and even street layouts will play out in excavations just as this site has.
The long-held legend of Hamarkaupangen is no longer just a legend.
You Might Also Like
The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape
The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere
Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Charity appeal to save prehistoric ritual site
Cornwall Heritage Trust has launched a fundraising appeal to rescue and secure the future of a "unique prehistoric ritual site". The charity said it hoped to raise £50,000 towards the acquisition of Castilly Henge, just off the A30 near Bodmin. Castilly Henge is a substantial oval earthwork, with an external bank and internal ditch, which the trust said would have formed an amphitheatre-like settings for gatherings and ritual activities. The trust said the scheduled monument, described as "Cornwall's ancient sacred heart", was currently at risk due to the threat posed by "invasive vegetation". It said modern development of the nearby road infrastructure and local service network, which lie within meters of the site, also posed potential risks. The charity also said the henge was currently inaccessible to the public. Trust CEO Cathy Woolcock said: "The henge has been at risk for some time – a threat which urgently needs to be addressed before this special place and the secrets it holds are potentially lost." She said the charity had been protecting historic landscapes and monuments across Cornwall for the last 40 years. "We have a strong track record of giving these special places the archaeological and land management expertise they need and have helped save a number from the Heritage at Risk Register," she said. "We hope to be able to do the same for Castilly Henge." More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall The trust said recent surveys undertaken by Historic England's Archaeological Investigation Team discovered traces of a now-removed possible stone circle in the middle of the henge. "Not all henges contain stone circles, and there is only one other known to survive in Cornwall," it added. "A four-week archaeological excavation is set to take place at the monument in September and October 2025 to target important questions about these findings to understand more about the monument's character, date and potential later reuse." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ More on this story Hidden Neolithic stone circle set to be unearthed Related internet links Cornwall Heritage Trust
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Tower of London dig reveals Black Death-era skeletons below popular tourist site: 'Tip of the iceberg'
Archaeologists recently uncovered the ancient skeletons of possible Black Death victims – buried just beneath one of London's most popular tourist spots. Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the organization that manages the Tower of London, shared the news with Fox News Digital. The discoveries were made during an excavation in the spring, marking the first dig at the Tower of London in three decades. It took place ahead of a scheduled renovation of the Church of St. Peter ad Vincula, a chapel that dates back to the 15th century. "As a final resting place for many who lived or were imprisoned within the Tower's walls – including three queens and two Catholic saints – [the church] undoubtedly has a few stories to tell," HRP said. "But much of its earlier history remains unknown." It added, "Now, finds from the most significant excavation at the Tower in a generation are beginning to shed light on both the development of its chapel and some of the people connected with it." One of the most eyebrow-raising finds was a mass grave of 14th-century skeletons, which officials said were "possibly linked to the Black Death." In a separate discovery, archaeologists found even older graves in coffins – likely belonging to high-status individuals. "Three skeletons from the late 12th or early 13th century were also uncovered," the statement read. "These individuals appeared to have been buried in coffins — an unusual practice at the time, possibly indicating high-status burials." In total, the remains of 20 individuals were found during the excavation. Officials also identified a fragment of a burial shroud at the site, which HRP described as "extremely rare" since it is made of fabric. "This is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis about the people, as well as the buildings." "One separate burial contained two 12th- to early 13th-century pots filled with charcoal – exceptionally rare examples of medieval grave goods previously recorded only once in England," the statement added. "These finds will now undergo further scientific analysis." Alfred Hawkins, a curator of historic buildings at HRP, described the excavation as a "generational opportunity." "These excavations were essential as part of our mission to provide greater access for people to visit this important place of worship, but they have also given us an amazing opportunity to explore the site in more depth than ever before," he said. In addition to the skeletal finds, archaeologists also uncovered "tantalizing hints of the chapel's earlier incarnations," HRP said. "This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower." Though the current chapel was built in 1520, officials found evidence of "a large-scale burning event," which points towards the destruction of an earlier structure — likely the one built by Edward I in 1287. "A compacted layer of Reigate stone unearthed during the dig may date even earlier – potentially to works by Henry III in 1240," HRP said. "Elsewhere, a large section of wall and what may be a floor surface could be remnants of Henry I's 12th-century chapel, about which very little is known." "This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower, offering a rare opportunity to redraw the map of the medieval fortress and enhance our understanding of those who lived, worshiped, and died there." Jane Sidell, principal inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said the project helps gain insight into Tower residents "in a way we have never been able to do before." "But this is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis of the people, as well as the buildings, of one of England's most evocative historic monuments."
CNN
4 days ago
- CNN
Medieval knight's complete skeleton discovered beneath Polish ice cream parlor
Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a medieval knight, buried under a shuttered ice cream parlor in the Polish city of Gdańsk. Experts have been working at the site in the historic Śródmieście (city center) district since 2023, and initially uncovered a medieval tombstone decorated with the carved image of a knight, according to a statement from Polish archaeology firm ArcheoScan, sent to CNN on Tuesday. The tombstone was then lifted earlier in July, revealing the complete skeleton of an adult male, thought to have lived around the 13th or 14th century. The find is of 'exceptional significance' and 'one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Poland in recent years,' Sylwia Kurzyńska, archaeologist and director of ArcheoScan, said in the statement. The tombstone is made from Gotland limestone, which was highly prized in the Middle Ages, and the relief depicts a knight sporting chainmail armor and mail leggings, with a sword and a shield. The slab measures around 150 centimeters (4' 11') in length, and important details of the artwork can still be seen, despite the fact that it is partially damaged. 'The tombstone is remarkably well preserved, considering it was carved from soft limestone and lay underground for centuries,' said Kurzyńska. 'The knight is shown standing upright with an uplifted sword — a posture likely symbolizing authority and elevated social status,' she added. This marks the tombstone out from the vast majority of late medieval sepulchral art, which tended to be limited to inscribed epitaphs, heraldic panels or Christian crosses, according to Kurzyńska. 'Only a small fraction included depictions of the deceased — and among these, most were simplified engravings on flat slabs designed for church floor use,' she added. It is also unusual in that both the artwork and its archaeological context remain intact. After lifting the stone, archaeologists found the remains of a man who stood 170-180 centimeters (5' 7' - 5' 11') tall, far larger than the medieval average, according to Kurzyńska. The bones were arranged naturally, confirming that the tombstone marked the original burial site, and preliminary analysis indicates 'excellent preservation,' she said. 'Although no grave goods were found, all available evidence suggests that the deceased was a person of high social standing — most likely a knight or commander held in particularly high esteem and respect,' said Kurzyńska. The grave was part of a cemetery housing almost 300 burials, which was attached to the oldest known church in Gdańsk. The church was built from oak found to have been felled in 1140, and was located in an early medieval stronghold occupied from the late 11th century to the early 14th century, according to the statement. 'This was a place of power, faith, and burial — a space of symbolic and strategic significance in the history of Gdańsk,' said Kurzyńska. Discover your world Go beyond the headlines and explore the latest scientific achievements and fascinating discoveries. Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. The latest find 'offers an invaluable source of knowledge about the lives and deaths of Gdańsk's military elite in the 13th and 14th centuries, about medieval funerary traditions, and about cross-Baltic cultural connections,' she added. Experts are now working on further analysis of both the tombstone and the skeleton. The stone slab is being cleaned and stabilized so that it can be documented and 3D scanned to allow for the digital reconstruction of missing fragments, while the skeleton will undergo anthropological and genetic analysis to reveal more about the knight's life, and a facial reconstruction will be made based on the skull.
