Implications of recent metal detector finds for the interpretation of King Øystein’s Harbour in Agdenes, Norway
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66449/fornvn.v121i1.63995Nyckelord:
Viking Age, Trading sites, serial production, metal detector finds, harbour constructions, NorwayAbstract
King Øystein’s Harbour in Agdenes, Norway, has been the focus of multiple archaeological investigations both underwater and on land since the discovery of its harbour structures in the 19th century. Early on, the site was identified with the harbour facilities attributed to King Eystein Magnusson in medieval historical sources. The prevailing interpretation has long been that the site functioned as a medieval military control and defense point. Alternative functions, such as that of a sheltered harbour or a possible Iron Age trading centre, were less well documented archaeologically. However, recent metal detector finds associated with trade and craftsmanship may offer new insights into the site’s function. A particularly significant discovery is a Viking Age lead model used for the serial production of trefoil brooches in the Borre style. The lead model is one of only a few such objects found in Norway outside the Viking town of Kaupang, and it represents the northernmost example of its kind discovered in Norway to date. Together with other metal detector finds, this evidence strongly suggests that King Øystein’s Harbour in Agdenes may have served as a seasonal local market. Furthermore, it indicates that the earliest harbour constructions likely date back to the Viking Age.
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