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ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE FOUND A 1200-
YEAR-OLD PAGAN STRUCTURE AT SITE
OF FIRST NORSE TEMPLE

 Archaeologists from the University Museum of Bergen have discovered evi-

dence of a 1200-year-old pagan structure
in Norway.
 Once a wooden construction, it dates back
to the Viking Age(793-1066 AD).
 The large wooden temple is said to have
been used by an ancient civilization to pray
and make sacrifices to Norse gods such
as Odin and Thor.
 According to the archaeologists, the build-
ing was about 45 feet long, 26 feet wide and stood nearly 40 feet high.
 The temple was used for worship by sea fairing men and women during the
midsummer and midwinter solstices.
 This is the first old Norse(relating to ancient or medieval Norway or
Scandinavia) temple discovered till date. According to research, the temple once
had a curved longside with slightly rounded gables and four posts at the centre.
 Animals were slaughtered and the meat was prepared in cooking pits. The feast
of meat and drinks would have likely taken place at the manors hall building.
However, the study suggests that this ritual came to an end right before the
Viking era began and the Norse transitioned to animal sacrifices.
 The scholars have noted that the buildings are from the Early Iron Age almost
2500 years ago.
 At that time, they do not have any radiocarbon dating analysed, but the archi-
tecture testifies that the building must be from Late Iron Age (600 – 1000 AD) or
belong to the Viking Age.

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