Archaeologists from the University Museum in Bergen have found traces of a heathen temple used for worshipping old Norse gods such as Odin and Tor. It’s the first such temple ever found in Norway, and probably stems from the early Viking Age.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that concrete traces after the temple were found near the shore of a bay in Ørsta, on Norway’s west coast. It’s believed such temples were used by cults, for worshipping and sacrifices, and this one had a lovely view down the fjord from Ose, adjacent to what’s now a residential area.
The archaeologists date it to the early Iron Age (from 575AD), at a site that had been zoned for more housing. The University Museum was called in to carry out excavations before building began, and they found traces of several buildings, including one believed to have been 14 meters long and seven meters wide, with strong posts on all sides.
For more details and photos from the excavation click here (external link to the University Museum in Bergen’s Facebook page).
newsinenglish.no staff
