– “This is perhaps Norway’s largest Viking ship,” says Hanna Geiran, National Heritage Officer.
Last week, archaeological investigations were carried out in the Viking ship grave Myklebust in Nordfjordeid.
The surveys were carried out as part of the mapping of Norwegian Viking heritage as a possible entry on Norway’s “waiting list” for World Heritage.
The excavation was commissioned by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage and was carried out by archaeologists at the University of Bergen (UiB), in collaboration with the University of Stavanger.
In the shadow of Gokstad and Oseberg
The burial mound – known locally as Rundhøgjen – was last excavated in 1874 by archaeologist Anders Lorange, when the burnt Viking ship Myklebustskipet was found.
This ship was eventually overshadowed by the discoveries at Gokstad (1880) and Oseberg (1904), and has not been properly investigated since. Until now, that is.
Among the recent finds in the mound are more than 500 ship nails, a bronze ring and several possible shield dents.
In addition to the approximately 600 shipwreck nails and 42 shield bolts recovered in 1874, the total number now confirms that the Myklebust ship was a large Viking ship.
– “The ship was of a very large size. There is great variation in the rivets, and this confirms that the Myklebust ship was a formidable Viking ship,” says Morten Ramstad, Head of Section at the Foraminal Section at the University of Bergen (UiB).
– “This may be Norway’s largest Viking ship, but we don’t know for sure. Closer examination of the rivets will provide more knowledge about the ship,” says Hanna Geiran, National Heritage Officer.
– When Anders Lorange investigated the mound 150 years ago, he did so using the methods of the time. Now we can investigate much more – and find out even more,” says Geiran.
The excavation followed Lorange’s original shaft from 1874, and nothing more will be excavated in the mound.
Surveyed with georadar
Before the excavation, the Archaeological Museum in Stavanger ran georadar over the area.
– “This is very exciting, because it gives us the opportunity to see what lies beneath the ground. The aim here is to find out more about the mound, but also the surrounding area. Investigations show that this was a large farm and a center of power,” says Geiran.
– “Physical evidence is very important in a World Heritage application. We have that now, and it will strengthen the assessment we will make to the Ministry of Climate and Environment regarding inclusion on Norway’s tentative list,” she says.
In addition to the findings in the burial mound, archaeologists have also found traces of a shallow grave and a production facility in the surrounding area.
Ramstad describes the findings as “overwhelming”.
– We have now confirmed that it is an intact cultural environment from the Viking Age. It feels almost unreal. This is a great experience. We’re incredibly lucky to have received this assignment from the National Heritage Board,” he says.
– I never thought I’d have the opportunity to dig in such a special find as the Myklebust ship, in such a central location in the Viking Age. It’s also great to be able to dig in the footsteps of a legendary archaeologist like Anders Lorange. We are in awe,” says Ramstad.
Ramstad & co. were also thrilled when they discovered an unprecedented surprise from Lorange: A message in a bottle with a greeting to future archaeologists.
The bottle was put down when he closed the burial mound 150 years ago.
– “It was very special and incredibly big to find that bottle. I’ve made many fantastic discoveries in my career, but this is probably the best,” says Ramstad.
– “All the archaeologists here were excited for many hours afterwards. It was a great experience to share with good colleagues,” he says.
It is not yet known what the bottle actually contains, as it must be opened properly by the conservators at UiB. The bottle had some water inside.
One of seven Viking ship graves
In Nordfjordeid, a replica of the Myklebust ship has been built at Sagastad, measuring 30 meters in length and 6 meters in width.
Ramstad doesn’t want to speculate on just how big the Myklebust ship was in its glory.
– But now we’ve found well over 1,000 ship nails, and we’ve only excavated a quarter of the pile. We just have to start counting. Maybe we’re talking about several thousand ship nails in total,” he says.
A total of seven Norwegian ship burial mounds are being mapped, and Myklebust is the only one with a fire grave.
The other ship burial mounds are: Gjellestad in Østfold, Storhaug on Karmøy in Rogaland, Herlaugshaugen on Leka in Trøndelag, as well as Oseberghaugen, Gokstadhaugen and Borrehaugene in Vestfold.
– There is great commitment and interest in archaeology and the Viking Age in Norway. Here in Nordfjordeid, it’s about local identity, but also about national history. Perhaps it can eventually become part of the world’s heritage,” says Geiran.
It is the government that decides whether the Viking heritage should be included on Norway’s tentative list.
The government also decides whether Norway should proceed with the proposals on the tentative list and start a nomination process as a basis for consideration by UNESCO.
