Norwegian archaeologists mentioned on Monday they’ve discovered a bunch of longhouses, together with the biggest in Scandinavia, within the southeastern a part of the nation utilizing ground-penetrating radar – in an space that researchers consider dates again to the Nordic Iron Age. There was a central place on the finish of
Longhouses – tall and slim, single-room buildings – have been present in Gjelstad, 86 kilometers (53 miles) southeast of Oslo, the place a Viking-era ship was discovered near the Swedish border in 2018.
“We have found several buildings, all typical Iron Age longhouses, to the north of the Gjelstad ship. The most important find is a 60-metre (197-ft) long and 15-metre (49-ft) wide longhouse, a shape that gives it makes it one of the largest in Scandinavia,” says archaeologist Lars Gustavsen on the Norwegian Institute. Cultural Heritage Research mentioned in a press release.
The significance of Gjelstadt throughout that point interval was not instantly recognized. But the physique, recognized by the Norwegian acronym NIKU, mentioned it was working to find it.
This autumn, archaeologists lined 40 hectares (about 100 acres) south, east and north of the place the Gjelstedt ship with the radar system was discovered, and one of many subsequent steps is an archaeological excavation, the NIKU mentioned.
The survey is the primary a part of a analysis undertaking entitled “Viking Nativeity: Gjelstad Across Borders”, the place archaeologists, historians and Viking Age consultants study the event of the world in the course of the Nordic Iron Age which started round 500 BC and commenced round 500 BC. Lasted until AD. 800 and the start of the Viking Age.
“We don’t know how old the houses are or what their function is. Archaeological excavation and dating will help us find the answer,” mentioned one other archaeologist Sigrid Manaskar Gunderson.
They have additionally discovered a number of resolved burial mounds within the surrounding fields.
“We weren’t surprised to see these burial mounds, because we already know there are many others in the vicinity,” Gustavsen mentioned. “Still, it is important to know about these in order to get a complete picture of Gjellestad and its surroundings.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
