During construction work in December last year, the remains of a shield and a cape buckle were uncovered in Oslo. This rear Viking burial treasure were in fact discovered in the middle of the capital of Norway.
Archeologists were brought in to excavate a site on the upper side of a small pond called Holmendammen. Plans to build a new detached house on a plot of land by the dam triggered an archaeological survey of the site. Marianne Bugge Kræmer was in charge of the resulting investigation.
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This was probably a quiet area during the Viking age, but is a residential area on the Oslo’s west side today.
“This location has been a prominent hill, clearly visible in the terrain and with a great view,” says Kræmer to sciencenorway.no. She is an archaeologist at the Oslo Municipality Cultural Heritage Management Office. “The grave was located directly under a thin layer of topsoil and turf right on the east side of the highest point on the site,” she continued.
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According to the archeologists, knives, a sickle and horse equipment as well as cremated human remains were also found.
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This is the first time a Viking Age grave rich in artefacts has been found in Oslo. Holmendammen was built at the beginning of the 20th century after the Holmenbekken was dammed. The dam was used to make ice.
Viking Burial Treasure discovered in the Middle of the Capital of Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg