Dating the walls Sample collection for OSL dating of bricks at Akershus Castle. Photo: NIKU

Dating Akershus Castle using OSL-method

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It has been widely accepted that Akershus castle was erected by King Haakon V Magnusson around 1299. The dating is based on written sources and architectural investigations conducted by Holger Sinding-Larsen in the early 20th century. 

In 2023 researchers at NIKU decided to put Sinding- Larsen’s theories to the test by dating brick from castle walls using Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating (OSL). This technique dates non-organic objects by measuring the amount of trapped energy contained within the object.  

The analysis is currently underway at The Nordic Laboratory for Luminescence Dating and the dating results are expected in August 2024.  

The project is a collaboration between NIKU, Forsvarsbygg and The Nordic Laboratory for Luminescence Dating.

Project leader: Michael Derrick (NIKU)

Project participants: Regin Meyer and Lars Jacob Hvinden-Haug (NIKU)

  • Status
    In progress
  • Client
    NIKU, Forsvarsbygg
  • Time
    2023-2025
Built in 1299? When were the different parts of Akershus Castle built? Researchers from NIKU aim to find the answer. Photo: NIKU.
Picking the right bricks Michael Derrick (left) and Regin Meyer from NIKU discuss which bricks to date at Akershus Castle. Photo: NIKU.
Collaborates with Forsvarsbygg Michael Derrick (left) and Regin Meyer (NIKU) are collaborating with Tom Andersen from Forsvarsbygg to determine when the different parts of Akershus Castle were built. Absent, but also involved in the project, is Lars-Jacob Hvinden Haug (NIKU). Photo: NIKU.