3,000 year old graves found in Norway

Norwegian archaeologists have found 3,000-year-old graves in central Norway, public broadcaster NRK reported Monday.

Project manager Merete Moe Henriksen shows a flat stone with symbols from the Bronze Age at Sandbrauta
in South Trondelag, Norway [Credit: Bent Lindsetmo/NRK]

The archaeologists, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology Museum, found the graves under two meters of slide deposits in Sandbrauta in South Trondelag, where a new section of the European route E6 is to be built.

"There is a trace of a clay landslide that happened in the area probably already in prehistoric times. The clay has landed as a lid over the tombs," project manager Merete Moe Henriksen said.

Detail of flat stone with Bronze Age symbols [Credit: Bent Lindsetmo/NRK]

According to state-owned company New Roads, the excavation will have no consequences for the development of the road, NRK reported.

The archaeologists have found well-preserved cairn graves under the clay which are nine meters in diameter, as well as several smaller stone-built chambers.

The archaeologists have excavated several stone-built burial chambers [Credit: Bent Lindsetmo/NRK]

Several figures have been found close to the cairns as well. The scientists have also found a casting mold that had been used to cast bronze axes.

The graves are in good shape and therefore constitute an important source of knowledge of the burial customs of the Bronze Age in central Norway, the archaeologists said.

The excavations will continue in the area during autumn and next year.

Source: Xinhua [October 25, 2017]