– It’s a complicated matter. We would have liked to have avoided this, it is still our job to take care of cultural monuments. This is what archaeologist in Innlandet County Municipality, May-Tove Smiseth, who has worked on the case, says. In 2018, a foundation wall was erected and a gravel road was built at a residential area in Hamar municipality. Not far away is Åker farm, where the famous Åker find originates. Now everything must be removed: the foundation must be demolished, the road removed and masses laid. Stood for three years The construction work was discovered by chance by an employee of the county municipality. Notice was immediately sent of a stop in all construction on the site. Dozens of protected piles had been registered in the area. When this was discovered, the landowner had managed to pave a gravel road, planned an area and erected a foundation wall of 50 square meters. GRUST ROAD: The county municipality demands that large parts of the work that has been done be redone. Photo: Innlandet county municipality One pile has been removed and two partially removed in the work. Now there has been no activity there for three years. Why is this area so important? – It is a burial ground, and many burial grounds disappeared when you got a more efficient and intensive agriculture. Burial grounds that remain in peace and untouched have great dissemination and knowledge value. It is rare that we grant dispensation under the Cultural Heritage Act to measures within these, says May-Tove Smiseth in the county municipality. Hamar municipality is said to have given permission for the work, but this was not clarified with the cultural heritage protection. The Cultural History Museum writes in the case that news has had access to. But because this is a violation of the Cultural Heritage Act, the County Municipality’s assessment is that the foundation wall and road must be removed, in addition to the masses being laid back. The Cultural History Museum agrees with this assessment. They go further and say that consideration should be given to restoring the damaged cairns. ARCHEOLOGIST: May-Tove Smiseth is an archaeologist at Innlandet County Municipality. Photo: Private Do you often get such cases? – No, it is very rare that we get such cases. Fortunately, one might say. People often familiarize themselves with what they have on the property, as they are obliged to do, before they do anything on the property, says Smiseth. Must demolish The county municipality has sent a notice to the landowner, and will send a decision on removal, correction and restoration of mass, Smiseth states. As it stands, it is the county municipality that will do the correction work. This will be done at the landowner’s expense. If the landowner does not want to pay this, it goes on to an ordinary lawsuit. news has been in contact with landowners who do not wish to comment on the matter.
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