A team of archaeologists recently embarked on a mission to explore a grassy hill in Norway using metal detectors. Their focus was on Herlaugshaugen, a burial mound located on the island of Leka. This particular mound is believed to be the final resting place of the ancient King Herlaug. However, what started as a routine investigation quickly turned into something much more significant. The metal detector signaled a discovery, and the archaeologists unearthed large ship rivets, indicating the presence of a ship grave within the mound.
According to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, this finding has led researchers to determine that the burial mound dates back much earlier than anticipated, around the year 700. It is now recognized as the oldest known ship grave in Scandinavia, belonging to the Merovingian period. This revelation has completely altered experts’ understanding of shipbuilding and maritime expertise, as they had previously linked the development of ships to the beginning of the Viking age. This discovery suggests that people were constructing large ships far earlier than previously thought.
The Merovingian period, named after the ruling lineage of the Franks, lasted from approximately 550 to 800. It was a time of significant transformations, including changes in burial practices, language, style, and weaponry. The burial mound’s discovery also indicates wealth and power, potentially resulting from long-distance trade.
The Herlaugshaugen mound, one of Norway’s largest burials of its kind, was initially excavated in the 18th century. Previous excavations uncovered a wall structure, iron nails, a bronze cauldron, animal bones, and a seated skeleton holding a sword. However, by 1920, these artifacts had disappeared mysteriously.
Archaeologist Geir Grønnesby, part of the recent research team, expressed the intention to further investigate the burial mound and explore its potential links to similar burials in Norway.
Leka, the island where Herlaugshaugen is situated, is located on the northern coast of Norway, specifically in Trøndelag county, approximately 500 miles north of Oslo.
In conclusion, the discovery of ship rivets within the burial mound on the island of Leka has pushed back the timeline of shipbuilding in Scandinavia. This finding sheds light on the early development of shipbuilding and maritime expertise during the Merovingian period. The research team plans to continue their investigations into this remarkable burial mound and its possible connections to other similar sites in Norway.
