Details about the find

The ancient mound turned out to be a grassy hill known as Gerlaugshagen in Norway. It is located in Leka, a municipality in the central part of the country. Hundreds of years ago, a shipping route passed here for a long time.

This summer, archaeologists surveyed the coastal area and discovered wooden remains that likely came from the ship, as well as several large rivets that may have held the ship together.

The size of the ship’s rivets and the preserved wood around the various rivets indicate that the preservation conditions were good. This is the largest burial mound in Trøndelag (Central Norway) and one of the largest burial mounds in Norway.
– said archaeologist Geir Grønnesby from NTNU, who led the research.

Researchers concluded that the mound, which is approximately 60 meters in diameter and 7 meters high, could easily accommodate a ship. By comparison, most regional mounds are much smaller, measuring 8 to 12 meters in diameter.

View of the mound / Photo: Geir Grønnesby

After radiocarbon dating the preserved wood, archaeologists discovered that the ship Built around 700 AD. This means it was before the Viking Age, which lasted from 793 to 1066.

The uniqueness of the mound lies in its precise dating. The earliest ship graves are estimated to be at the end of the eighth century. Grønnesby says the find helps bridge the gap between the Norse tradition of burying people in ships and the famous artefacts found at Sutton Hoo in England, which date back to the seventh century.

Herlaugshagen Mound / Photo: Geir Grønnesby

Local records indicate that the site was excavated several times in the 18th century, and written evidence indicates that numerous artifacts were found there, including a fragment of wall, iron nails, a bronze teapot, animal bones, a charcoal sheet and a plate. Sitting skeleton with sword. Unfortunately, sometime in the 1920s all these items were lost.

Despite these losses, the new study gives archaeologists insight into the history of ship graves in the region.

It is also important that the discovery was made further north than many previously known monumental ship graves. It also tells us that maritime knowledge and contact over wide areas were standard long before the Viking Age.
– added the scientist.

Ship rivet / Photo: Geir Grønnesby

More research is needed to paint a picture of what the ship looked like and what its purpose was. “Since we did not excavate the entire ship, it is difficult to say what it was used for. The ships we know of are believed to be warrior ships used for plunder and war purposes. However, we know that trade was intense at that time. This time, it is most logical for the goods to be transported by ships along the coast.”“.