Mysterious medieval moat found in the middle of Oslo: "Could suggest a desperate need for defense" An untouched area of land in the middle of the city presented a puzzle to the archaeologists. Until they realized what it was: King Haakon Haakonsson’s moat. But why did the King build what was by then an outdated defense system?
A lost Viking town discovered in the 1950s is stored away in this basement Not until recently have researchers really started studying a thousand-year-old Norwegian town we know surprisingly little about.
The Norwegian medieval kings were known to give the best gifts: Falcons Norwegian falcons given as gifts from the Norwegian king during the Middle Ages are said to have been valued more highly than silver and gold by the English royal family.
Gaming-pieces and a gaming board found in the Medieval Park in Oslo New finds from Oslo's Medieval Park excavation shed light on one of history's most popular pastimes: playing games and gambling.
New runic find from medieval Oslo – this time it’s a name tag Asbjørn put his name on it, 800 years ago.
What old graffiti can tell us about medieval people In some places, the carvings are a sign of religious community. On other walls, they are a product of competition.
A bone and a stick inscribed with Norse runic text found in Oslo A large bone inscribed on both sides is the first such item found in Oslo in more than 30 years, according to the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU).
Knife handle in the shape of a king from the 13th century found in the Medieval Park in Oslo It may be the oldest of its kind in Scandinavia, researchers believe.
Norway’s wooden stave churches are are a demanding heritage to maintain Only 28 of Norway’s unique stave churches remain. Maintaining them presents challenges.
How dirty and stinky were medieval cities? People in the Middle Ages were aware that a putrid urban environment was unhealthy, and according to Norwegian researchers they confronted the problem.
Law and justice: Swearing an oath in the Middle Ages was powerful evidence In the 13th century, rumour meant a lot. If the village gossiped that you had been unfaithful, you could be put on trial. You then had to find people who would swear you were innocent.
Thousands of medieval trinkets discovered underneath Scandinavian churches More than 100,000 coins and hairpins have been found under the floorboards of medieval churches throughout Scandinavia, revealing insights into religious life in the Middle Ages.
Was rape common in the Middle Ages? TV shows such as "Game of Thrones" on HBO and "Norsemen" depict rape as having been commonplace in the past. But is that correct?