A good source for sites in Norway. Norwegian text only.
|
 
|
Very close to the road, but behind a barbed-wire-fence. Only one (?) of the stones is standing.
Burial-mounds in the background.
|
    
|
There are 7 stones at Grinde (the site is called Dukjen), they are known as Resa- or Sversteinane. The stones are 1,8 - 4 m. high and 0,5 -1,5 m. wide.
In 1919 only one of the stones were standing, 6 were used as building-material for bridges. The site was restored in 1952 and the stones were placed in a L.
The stones may come from an old quarry at Grindevatnet, about 550 m. north-east from Dukjen.
|
|
The Stødle-plautaux
Follow signs to "Stødle kyrkje", there are several things to see here (mounds, stones and petroglyphs). There is a map on the parking at the church.
The stone on the mound beside the church (Kyrkjehaugen, i.e. the churchmound) have a standing stone on top. This stone is fairly recently put up here, it used to be a part of the stonefence around the church.
|
Drawing of rune-stone, and photo of the stones from the 1930-ies
|
 
|
Gjerde church, in the center of Etnesjøen, just across the street from the hotell Fugl Fønix.
A 5,25 m high, standing stone with engraved cross. The stone might be a remain from an old pre-cristian burialsite.
|
There are several sites with petroglyphs in Etne. Especially along the lake Stordalsvatnet. There are two large stones dotted with petroglyphs.
From E134 take the road down to Frette. To the first stone, Duesteinen, take the road to the left just before the bridge at Frette, just past the second Vinje-farm (about 600 m along the road).
|
Bruteigsteinen is a large rock covered with petroglyphs. Dating of petroglyphs is difficult, 1300-500BCE (bronze-age) has been suggested for this stone.
It is close to the farmbuildings of the Flåte farm. There is a parkingspace 200 meters before you reach the houses on the farm, go through the gate and follow the path along the stream (uphill)
The first time the returning winter-sun reaches above the Flåte-skaret it shines on the stone.
|
       
|
From Etnesjøen towards Skånevik. Please note that the road can be narrow in parts. It may be just as easy to take E134 and the northern approach to Skånevik (Håland, route 48). But with a small car and low speed, the road around the coast can be a treat, its not much traffic (at least it wasn't the 2 times I have driven it).
There is a sign from the main road towards Ebna. Drive down the hill to the sea, and park behind the barn.
There are 3 mounds. One with 4 standing stones, placed in the corners of the mound.
The mounds are thought to be from the older iron-age. In the 19th century there were 10 mounds. There are also several non-visible graves. One contained material dated to about 400 CE.
The mounds have been digged through the ages. One Bertil Ebna (1719-1769) is supposed to have found both silver and gold, and was rewarded with ill health (as he rightly should be).
The place is scenic, placed close to the sea and in the right season snowcowered mountains in the horizon.
|
|
   
|
Dale-Gudbrand is a well known figure in the story of the christening of Norway. Saint Olav on his way up the valley of Gudbrandsdalen (i.e. Gudbrands valley) came to Gudbrands farm at Hundorp a day in 1021. The story is told in Snorre Sturlassons Heimskringla:
King Olav met the farmers as agreed early on the next morning, when the image of the god Tor was carried out. When the meeting was in order Dale-Gudbrand asked the king were his god was? The sun rose and the king said: Here comes my god with a great light. As the farmers turned against the sunrise, Kolbein the strong hit the image, it burst and out streamed mice, lizzards and worms. When they saw this, Dale-Gudbrand and the farmers accepted christianity.
This is all that is documented of Dale-Gudbrand as a historical figure. The farm that carries his name at Hundorp has other qualities however.
- 5 mounds dated iron-age.
- One square-shaped stonesetting with 10 stones.
- A white stone
- One stone (ca 1,5 m high) remaining of a large stone-setting of originally 36 stones! The ring was documented by Gerhard Schøning in the 1770-ies (Reise som giennem en Deel af Norge i de Aar 1773, 1774, 1775 paa Hans Majestæt Kongens bekostning...).
Situated very close to the main road (E6) it is well worth a stop, you may even spend the night as there is a small hotell there as well.
I must apologize for the poor quality of the posted photographs, they were taken just before sunset with a mobile. But as there may be a few years before I'll be in the vicinity again this is what I have to offer...
|
 
|
|
Close by Vardehaugen (200 m.) is the gravesites at Gleinneset . You'll see remains of viking- and bronze-age burials. Most of it lies in a pine-plantation (that my local informant said was going to be cut down soon). The bronze-age-mound has a magnificant location by the sea. It may be strange today, but Dønna was a very central place just a hundred years ago, when all traffic was by sea. The boat-grave contained a few remains of iron and a small bell, the ship must have been about 2 m. wide and 7 m. long. The long mound itself was about 20 m. The other mounds are round. In 1952 about 30 mounds of various sizes were counted. In 1955 14 were excavated.
|
Not directly signposted as such, but there's a beach-sign and a parking lot just next to the road.
You can see the stone from the road if you look towards the sea when driving (not recommended!).
The stone has been moved two times since 1941 as the road has been widened. The area was excavated in 1941 and several graves found near the stone.
|
Text in norwegian. Historical pictures.
|
The stone is on private land, signposted from the main road, 20 meters down a dirt-road. It's probably better to park on the parking-lot for the Husabø-graveyard down the slope if you can find a way to get there by car.
The stone is probably Norways highest with 7,87 meters.
The name, Balders stone, is first known used in the 19th century, it has also been known as Fritjofs (probably mythological, known from literary sources such as Fritjofs saga) stone and the Ivar Elda (historical figure killed at the battle of Fimreite in 1184) stone.
Balder is of course the name of one of Odins sons.
|
   
|
  
|
Glein is on the island of Dønna. You have to take the ferry from Sandnessjøen, Glein is 2 miles (20 km) from the ferry-landing at Bjørn.
The mound is called Val'haugen or Vardehaugen, built of stone with a coat of earth. It was partly demolished and the stone and gravel used for road-building at the end of the 18th century. The eastern side contained a burial-chamber covered by two large stone-slabs. In the chamber were the skeletons of a man and a horse, along with equipment such as a battle-axe and a sword. It is possible that the mound contained one or more stone-kists as well. The mound was restored in 1978 and is about 30 meter in diameter and 4,5 meter high.
The white stone that stands on the top (pikk-steinen as it's sometimes called in norwegian, translates into prick-stone in english I guess), is one of several phallic stones found in Norway. A list as of 2005 is found on the Arkeologi i nord-blog and totals 77. The one at Glein is the biggest at 90 cm. It has been suggested that they were used in fertility-cults connected to the seagod Njord (Solberg, 2001).
This particular stone was found by W.F.H. Christie on the beach close by and brought to Bergen Museum in 1831. A copy stood on the mound until the original was brought back in 200?.
Reference: Bergljot Solberg: Hellige hvite steiner - spor av fruktbarhetskult i Norge In Kjønn - erotikk - religion, 2001 (Bergen Museums skrifter; 9).
|
 
|
Male, born in 1956, lives on this island in Vestfold county in Norway.
|
|
Log in |
Register
Previous 50 | Showing 51-100 of 141 posts. Most recent first | Next 50 
Top of page