Viking-Age Cabin Excavated on Ancient Norwegian Mountain Path

Archaeologists from the University of Oslo’s Museum of Cultural History have recently conducted an excavation at Holmetjønn, an ancient mountain cabin site along the historic Nordmannslepa trail. The investigation uncovered evidence of both Viking-age and medieval shelters in the harsh landscape of the Hardangervidda plateau. The findings will provide valuable insights into how travelers in this region sought shelter and sustenance while trekking through the mountains.

An Ancient Path

The Great Nordmannslepa is one of Norway’s ancient transport routes, stretching across the Hardangervidda and connecting Western and Eastern Norway, explains the University of Oslo report. It was once a crucial path for transporting goods and livestock. This summer, a team of archaeologists explored the remnants of a cabin near Holmetjønn, located about a five kilometer (3 mile) walk from the existing modern Stigstuv tourist lodge, following part of the old trail.

The great Nordmannslepa path winds over the Hardangervidda mountain range. (Magne Samdal/KHN University of Oslo)

The site contains two separate cabin foundations. The first is a stone structure likely seen by Professor Christopher Hansteen during his documented journey across the Hardangervidda in 1821. Hansteen was at this time a leading scientist, known for having calculated the exact location of the capital as well as the exact time of the battle of Stiklestad (31 August year 1030). 

But an older, more significant find lies below this structure: a second cabin foundation dating back to the Viking Age and the Middle Ages. This earlier cabin was in use for centuries by travelers navigating the path. By the time Hansteen used the path, it was marked by cairns, which he described in his memoirs as ‘comforting guides who say “You are still on the right path”, notes the report.

Findings at the Excavation Site

The excavation revealed numerous artifacts that provide a clearer picture of how travelers used these mountain shelters. Inside the remains of the cabin, archaeologists found two rooms: a small entrance area and a larger main room, likely centered around a large fireplace.

The main room served as a communal space where travelers would have gathered, cooked, and rested after long days of travel across the plateau.

Layers of soot and animal bones were found inside the cabin, showing that the space was repeatedly used for cooking and warmth. Here people sat and ate, throwing their food leftovers like bones directly into the fire – where they remained all this time. The bones were primarily from birds, fish, and reindeer, revealing that travelers relied on local wildlife for food.

In the main room, the archaeologists found a large hearth that took up much of the space in the shack. Here, people sat, ate, and enjoyed themselves, throwing their food scraps directly into the fire – where they remained for a thousand years. (Marianne Vedeler/KHN University of Oslo)

Evidence of wood from pine, birch, aspen, and willow was also uncovered, indicating that the travelers may have carried their fuel with them, as the high altitude surrounding area provided little firewood.

Outside the cabin, the archaeologists discovered numerous horseshoes, suggesting the cabin served as a resting place not only for people but also for the horses that accompanied them. The presence of these horseshoes points to the cabin’s role as an essential stopping point for both riders and animals along the trail.

Artifacts from the Viking Age

Among the most remarkable finds were two Viking-age hunting arrows and a fire steel, discovered just inside the cabin’s entrance.

One of the arrow heads found in the storeroom. (Marianne Vedeler/KHN University of Oslo)

The arrows, likely left behind by a hunter, were crafted with great skill, as iron was a valuable material at the time. This discovery suggests that the cabin may have been used as a base by hunters, taking advantage of the plentiful game in the surrounding mountains.

The fire steel, a small tool used to strike sparks and light fires, is a common artifact from this period, offering further evidence of the cabin’s Viking-era origins.

A fire steel, (an old fire lighter) found in the cabin. (Marianne Vedeler/KHN University of Oslo)

The site also contained layers of discarded bones, including entire cattle jaws, which had been thrown onto the fire. This raises questions about the types of food consumed by the travelers. One possibility is that they may have eaten smalahove, a traditional Norwegian dish made from sheep’s head, though this is still speculative.

Importance of the Excavation

The Holmetjønn excavation has provided valuable data about how people survived and traveled in the Norwegian mountains during the Viking Age and the Middle Ages.

In the Middle Ages, these mountain cabins were crucial shelters for travelers facing harsh weather and difficult terrain. Medieval laws even governed behavior inside the cabins, stating that if a shelter was full, lots would be drawn to determine who must leave. This underscores the importance of these shelters as life-saving structures in an unforgiving environment.

The archaeologists from the University of Oslo plan to continue their work at Holmetjønn, as the site holds great potential for further discoveries. This excavation is part of a larger project called FOODIMPACT, which is focused on studying medieval food culture in Norway.

By analyzing the remains found at this and other sites, researchers hope to gain deeper insights into the daily lives and survival strategies of the people who once traveled these ancient paths.

Top image: The foundation of an old hut near a hiking trail in Holmetjønn, Hardangervidda, Norway.    Source: Marianne Vedeler/KHN University of Oslo

By Gary Manners