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.
Archaeology
We undertake archaeological excavations, investigations and registrations in the medieval towns of Norway.
Excavations and finds
NIKU has carried out more than 1,000 archaeological excavations in Norway since 1994.
Environmental monitoring
Environmental monitoring is a relatively new field of study in archaeology.
Skeletal analysis (osteoarchaeology)
Archaeological excavations often uncover human remains such as unburnt bones and skeletal remains from cremations.
Church archaeology
NIKU provides national expertise in church and monastic archaeology.
Projects
Here are some examples of our projects
Latest news
DNA analysis reveal that the man in the well at Sverresborg was blond, blue-eyed, and from the south of Norway
Linking Places – Call for Papers
Call for papers for the conference Linking Places in the Emerging Viking Age in Oslo October 17-18th. The submission deadline is 31st May.
Linking Places
Save the date for the conference Linking Places in the Emerging Viking Age on the 17. and 18. October 2024! More information to come early next year.
Innovative Technology: Robot to Find Norway’s Hidden Cultural Heritage
The Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) and AutoAgri are launching a revolutionary self-driving ground penetrating radar (GPR) for archaeological survey. The technology promises increased efficiency, climate friendly solutions, and accurate mapping of hitherto undiscovered cultural heritage.
Medieval gaming piece with runic inscription found in Trondheim
When archaeologists from The Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research conducted a last-minute excavation in Medieval Trondheim last year due to a broken sewer pipe, a surprise find was made. A soapstone gaming piece bearing a runic inscription.
Promising results with ground-penetrating radar in Iceland
This summer, archaeologists from Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage (NIKU) have carried out several surveys using ground penetrating radar in Iceland. Preliminary results show that the investigations have already been very successful.
Rare rune finds in Oslo
In the last week before Christmas two runic inscriptions were unearthed during excavations in Oslo’s old town. One inscription is carved on bone and this is the first bone with runes found in Oslo in more than forty years. The second is carved on wood and contains a religious text in both Norse and Latin.
A 13th century figure with falcon found in Oslo – but is it a king or a queen?
A small carved figure was recently unearthed during excavation the medieval town of Oslo. The figure depicts a person in robes and crown with a falcon perched on his arm. But is it a king or a queen?
Cultural monuments in Iceland are threatened by volcanoes – NIKU helps secure knowledge
Volcanic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland threatens several protected archaeological sites. In recent weeks, NIKU has been working hard together with the Icelandic National Heritage Board (Minjastofnun Íslands) to ensure solid digital documentation of three sites in danger of being covered by lava.
Past, Present, Future: Archaeological Climate Summit in Kiel
The global state of research on social archaeology and climate change it the topic for this years Summit on Social Archaeology of Climate Change (SACC) in Kiel.