February
20
/ 2024
By Andreas Vikøren/ UNIVERSITY OF STAVANGER Klosterøy is an island in southwestern Norway known for its rich cultural heritage. Here, you can find Norway's most well-preserved medieval monastery, along with other attractions. Archaeologists were therefore not surprised when new surveys using ground-penetrating radar yielded good results in September 2023. Discoveries of several structures interpreted as pit houses, as well as three pier or boathouse foundations, has led archaeologists to suspect they are uncovering a once thriving marketplace. These interpretations are further supported by numerous metal detector finds at Utstein on Klosterøy, such as coins and weights, commonly associated with trade. If this turns out to be the case, and the interpretations are correct, the discovery is unique to this part
