A new study provides a rare insight into what early modern whaling in the Arctic actually did to the human body.
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Whalers’ graves on Svalbard reveal the human cost behind Europe’s first oil industry
New discoveries show that Oslo’s royal manor was built over a Viking Age boat grave
Hundreds of boat nails discovered during excavations in 2023 have given archaeologists reason to fundamentally rethink the founding and early history of Oslo. What for decades has been interpreted as a medieval fortress beneath the royal estate, may instead be the remains of a Viking Age boat grave, constructed around a hundred years before the city was formally founded.
Mongolian Herders Face New Challenges — Cooperation Is Key to Overcoming Them
Mongolian herders work together in herding groups known as Khot ail, a form of cooperation that dates back to the 12th century. Today, this traditional system has gained renewed relevance as herders confront climate change and increasing urbanisation.
The Idea That Medieval Women Bled Freely Without Protection Is a Myth
Menstruation is mysterious, stigmatised, and rarely mentioned in historical sources. To understand how women handled this bloody challenge in the Middle Ages, we need to look at archaeological material. Archaeologist Sunniva Wilberg Halvorsen has studied sanitary products from a medieval latrine in Tønsberg.
Unknown Medieval Ruin Discovered at Selja Monastery and Pilgrimage Site
An unknown medieval structure has emerged just meters from Selja Monastery. The find may shed new light on life and activity on the island during the monastic period.
The Polar Archipelago of Svalbard: Historical Exploitation and Industrial Cultural Heritage
The industrial heritage of Svalbard tells an important story of human activity in the Arctic – and today faces significant conservation challenges.
Lost Medieval Town at Hamar Uncovered: Excavation Confirms GPR Data
In the summer of 2023, the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) pinpointed the location of the long-lost medieval town of Hamarkaupangen using grond penetrating radar (GPR). During an ongoing excavation carried out by NIKU and Anno Museum, archaeologists have finally found physical remains of buildings, confirming the geophysical data.
Historic discovery: Karl XII’s hidden transport route uncovered at Blomsholm
New geo-radar technology has uncovered traces of Karl XII's spectacular overland transport of galleys in 1718. The discovery provides new insight into one of Sweden's most fascinating military operations.
DNA analysis reveal that the man in the well at Sverresborg was blond, blue-eyed, and from the south of Norway
Analyses of the skeleton retrieved from the well at Sverresborg in Trondheim in 2016 shed new light on a dramatic story from King Sverre’s saga. Now, researchers know how old the man was, what he looked like, and where in Norway he was from.
Archaeological Geophysics – launch of map service argin.no
NIKU (with partners) has created an open map service with an overview of projects completed with archaeological geophysics in Norway. Almost 2000 hectares have been studied and 300 project reports are now available through the webpage argin.no.
NIKU to Mongolia: How do Empires arise from small-scale herding groups?
A summer in Mongolia is a distant thought for many. 1st of July, two of NIKUs researchers will travel to Mongolia to study cooperation among nomadic herders.
Where Technology meets Archaeology
It is large, red, and drives around the field on its own in search of archaeological traces no one can see. No, it's not part of the Transformers universe, but an entirely new type of ground-penetrating radar robot. This spring, archaeologists from NIKU are using a revolutionary new technology to search for unknown cultural heritage sites. The technology promises increased efficiency, environmentally friendly solutions, and more accurate mapping of cultural heritage sites underground.