Archaeologists Discover Lost Medieval Town In Norway By Following Instructions From a 16th-Century Text

Usually, experts follow the insights provided by old texts, depicting the legends to gain an understanding of the realities that were persistent in the ancient world. One of these 'realities' has come forth in the form of 'Hamarkaupangen,' a town mentioned in a 16th-century text called the 'Chronicles of Hamar,' according to Popular Mechanics. For years, experts were trying to detect this 'lost town' but had very little success. However, everything changed when a team of researchers got their hands on certain advanced equipment and, surprisingly, discovered remnants of the town in Norway, exactly where the legend had claimed. 

Lost Town of Hamarkaupangen

The 'Chronicles of Hamar' describes the Hamarkaupangen town as a settlement that originated in the 11th century. The text claimed it was established east of a cathedral and a bishop's castle in Hamar, which is now in southern Norway. In the past, researchers followed the clues laid out by the text and ended up finding nothing but certain topsoil-level artifacts. There was nothing on the site that indicated the existence of a medieval village, like the one described in the text. Some experts began to seriously consider the possibility that the village was just a myth, while others speculated that Hamarkaupangen might have been a seasonal trading post in reality, and therefore did not leave behind the expected traces. 

Discovery of Hamarkaupangen

The medieval city was finally uncovered by archaeologists from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research and the Anno Museum. Researchers confirmed that they used state-of-the-art georadar technology to detect the alleged settlement in 2023. They applied the technology to scan a field near what they believed to be the cathedral and bishop's castle, mentioned in the ancient text. After decades, researchers finally spotted structures that they could associate with a medieval village in the area.

If true, then it is the only medieval town in Norway that is not built on the coast, according to NIKU. The ground radar data revealed several buildings reminiscent of an urban structure. Researchers were surprised that georadar technology was able to detect the elusive evidence. The radar waves used to examine the site allowed the experts to analyze, without causing any disturbance to the soil. Such technology is invaluable when experts deal with sensitive areas like this one, which are prone to damage. The radar waves allowed the team not only to locate the town but also to find elements on the site previously hidden from them in plain view. Experts are yet to understand why people left the possible medieval town, and pushed it towards dissolution.

Excavation soon commenced in the area, and one of the first things that came out of the site was a two-room home. It was uncovered from three feet below a stone layer. This shelter was dated back to the medieval period by experts, based on several of its prominent features. Analysis revealed that the walls and floors of the lodging were made out of logs and planks, a practice associated with Norwegian medieval architecture. It further solidified the claim that the house was once part of a medieval village, possibly the infamous Hamarkaupangen. 

Researchers were elated to get their hands on the home and considered the finding to be unprecedented. "We were very excited about what it looked like down below, because thick layers of quarries are a context that we have not worked with before," archaeologist Monica Kristiansen explained. "We therefore have no prior knowledge of how the stone-filled layers will affect the visibility of, for example, wood in the georadar data. In addition, there are poor preservation conditions for organic material in these areas, and any remains of wooden buildings were therefore assumed to be poorly preserved. Therefore, it is very gratifying that the georadar impetrations are successful."

Difficulties Associated with Exploration

Researchers are hopeful that the house is just the beginning, and more structures associated with Hamarkaupangen will come out through future excavations. The team wants to comprehend how the town was designed and how communities utilized it for their various purposes. However, the team is well aware that the conditions of the excavation site do not support such a prospect. The extreme circumstances of the location, which include poor preservation of organic material, will always serve as a hindrance in understanding life at Hamarkaupangen.

Furthermore, if all the structures in the 'lost' town were indeed made like the one discovered recently, then there is a huge possibility that they haven't survived for examination. It is because wooden remains are known not to fossilize properly and undergo even more rapid deterioration when placed under stone layers. Researchers plan to continue using georadar technology, and have already found some evidence hinting towards more urban structures, possible street layouts, and narrow passages in the ancient town. If these assertions are true, then Hamarkaupangen was much more complex than experts gave it credit for.