In the summer of 2023, archaeologists excavating at Øvre Eiker near Oslo discovered a longhouse with unusually large proportions, measuring 16 meters wide and featuring a central nave with a nine-meter span between the roof-supporting columns, according to NRK Forhold.
Initially, researchers believed the longhouse dated back to the 1400s due to its unusual proportions. However, carbon dating revealed it was constructed in the 200s CE, over 1,000 years earlier than initially thought. Further testing confirmed the age of the structure, despite initial doubts from the archaeologists.
"It was hard to believe. The longhouses previously found from that time period were five to seven meters wide. Such houses would have fit inside this enormous house at Sem, that's how large it is," said Jes Martens, project leader and associate professor at the Museum of Cultural History at the University of Oslo, according to Forskning.
The longhouse at Sem is larger than any known structures from Denmark or Sweden during the same period. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the architectural capabilities of the time and underscores the importance of the site in understanding early Scandinavian history.
During the 200s, the climate in the region was relatively mild, and water levels were much higher, allowing large ships to sail all the way to Sem. The strategic location in a landscape rich in resources from both land and water suggests the site may have been a major power center.
"If a king ruled from Sem during the Iron Age, 700 years before Harald Fairhair, traditionally considered the first king of Norway, history might need to be rewritten," said Martens, according to arkeonews.net.
Martens presented several discoveries that support the hypothesis of a Nordic king at Sem, suggesting a royal seat may have attempted to unite southern Scandinavia into one realm during the Roman period. "There are some old Scandinavian writings that tell of kings all the way back to the birth of Christ. But they have previously only been dismissed as good tall tales. But maybe there is something there after all," he said.
"In Jutland and Funen in Denmark, thousands of weapons and war equipment from the time period have been found that originate from Norway and Sweden. These weapons must have been transported there by an army trying to conquer western Denmark. This army must have been organized from somewhere, and the one who organized them must have had great power and access to large resources," Martens explained.
A remarkable find in a bog near the gigantic building—the Solberg vase—adds further weight to the theory. The Solberg vase is a finely crafted and elaborate Roman cameo glass vase and is the only one of its kind discovered outside the borders of the Roman Empire. The vase suggests it was owned by powerful individuals and possibly gifted to a king in the north.
"For a long time, people have wondered what the Solberg vase was doing in Norway. Now we might be closer to an answer," Martens said, according to Science Norway. "It's always exciting to find sensational discoveries that confirm history, but it's even more exciting when they give us a new perspective on history."
So far, 21 meters of the building's length have been uncovered, but the house likely extends further. "We have only had half the house checked and have many questions. We don't know what the various rooms and side aisles were used for. We believe there are answers in the other part of the building that can tell more about what has taken place in the house," Martens said.
The ridge of the roof may have been 11 to 12 meters high, allowing for floors and lofts inside. To avoid excessive snow load in winter, the roof must have had a steep pitch. Experts envision that the grand building at Sem may have appeared very impressive.
The other part of the house has stood on land that today lies under the road and the field on the other side of the road. This situation underscores the pressing necessity for financial resources to facilitate further investigation of the archaeological site. Now the archaeologists hope for funds to continue the investigations.
The 2023 excavation was financed by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage and is a result of collaboration between the Museum of Cultural History, the county municipality, and passionate members of local metal detector clubs.
"The find that has been made at Sem is spectacular," said Hanna Geiran, the National Heritage Director, who was present during the preliminary investigations, according to NRK Forhold.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.