“New knowledge shows that” Klemenskirken “in Søndre gate in Trondheim is most likely not Olav den Helige’s Klemenskirke after all.” This is how a column in Adresseavisen starts, written by Kristin Bakken, director of the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research and Hans K. Stenøien, director of the NTNU Science Museum. – It is very unlikely that it is the remains of Klemenskirken that were found. If there is reuse of materials from Klemenskirken, then there is a hypothesis that today is uncertain and it can not be proven. Hans K. Stenøien tells news. He further says that they have had a professional discussion internally after the final report from the archaeologists, and that they now choose to go public with their conclusion. International event This is in stark contrast to the descriptions when the ruins were found during excavations in the autumn of 2016. The church ruins ended up on the list of the ten most exciting archaeological finds in the world that year. – A sensation, said the then national heritage director Jørn Holme. Minister of Climate and Environment Vidar Helgesen described it as an international sensation that was important to ensure for the future. The exhibition room for Klemenskirken is today an important tourist attraction in the pilgrimage city of Trondheim. Also this summer, they offer guided tours with mediators, who tell about the archaeological excavations that uncovered the church in an exciting area full of history. The exhibition room of Klemenskirken in Trondheim is a tourist attraction in Trondheim. Photo: NTNU Science Museum Conflicting dates – There are dates that made us think it was Klemenskirken, and it is not uncommon for us to have conflicting dates on archaeological excavations. This is what Knut Paasche, archaeologist and head of department at NIKU, the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research, says. He was part of the reference group for the excavation of Klemenskirken. Archaeologist Knut Paasche and NIKU. Photo: NIK – In my eyes, this makes it more exciting. The first conclusion was based on dendrochronology, where they assess age based on, among other things, the annual rings in the wood. New studies done by the so-called C14 methodology measure radioactivity, and it shows that the oldest and lower layers of the church ruins are newer than first thought. That is, from around 1060. – We received these analytical results after the beautiful exhibition room was established at the place where the church ruins were found, says Paasche. Many interesting discoveries were made during the excavations of Klemenskirken. Photo: Roger Myren / news The church may have moved He thinks the exhibition is still fantastic, and shows some of the most exciting discoveries made in Trondheim so far. – It’s the right place. This is a ski hook, this is where the oldest part of the city was located. And it may still be Klemenskirken we have found, but then it must have been moved there. Written sources say that this was where Olav the Saint’s own church was located. – How can this affect the interest in what is now one of the city’s important tourist attractions? – There are not many places in Trondheim where you can see archeological finds up in the day like here. The exhibition room provides a very nice setting, and shows how the churches developed through the Middle Ages. He thinks the exhibition room with the ruins will still be of great interest. Riksantikvar Hanna Geiran says the hunt for Klemenskirken continues. Photo: Øyvind Aase Fluge / Riksantikvaren Must revise the exhibition Riksantikvaren was responsible for the establishment of the exhibition room of Klemenskirken. The Science Museum took over the responsibility when it was completed. – It was a united archaeological professional community, both nationally and internationally, who believed that it was Klemenskirken that had been found. In the final report from NIKU, we have received exciting new results. That’s what national heritage Hanna Geiran says. She does not think this will weaken the interest in the history and exhibition space that has been established, and the hunt for Klemenskirken continues. Geiran believes this can strengthen interest in Trondheim’s history. There have been new interpretations of the archaeological material on which further research is to be done. – But they should revise the exhibition. We do not have an overview of how this is to be done now. The Science Museum is responsible for the exhibition, so we will get back to that, says Geiran. Director Hans K. Stenøien at the NTNU Science Museum confirms that the exhibition space must be changed. – When we now conclude as we do, it is important that we get a revision of the exhibition that matches the knowledge base. Important Norwegian history Every summer, Trondheim is visited by pilgrims, precisely because the city is so strongly linked to the history of the saint king. – The city is just as relevant for the pilgrims still, and it will strengthen as a pilgrim city until the anniversary in 2030. This is what Morten Wolden, municipal director in Trondheim, says. New knowledge about archaeological finds only strengthens interest in the city’s history, says municipal director Morten Wolden. Photo: Bent Lindsetmo / news He believes the excavations no matter how central Trondheim was in the Middle Ages, with a high density of churches and monasteries. That he constantly emerges new knowledge about the creation of Trondheim, he thinks is just interesting and exciting. – Findings were made here that indicate that the city was founded before 997. It is almost impossible to stick a shovel in the ground in Trondheim without it being important for Norwegian history. According to Wolden, there are finds at the site that probably originate from Klemenskirken. How they describe this, he thinks is easy to adapt in the viewing room. He looks forward to the discussion with the Science Museum about how to raise the archaeological finds more towards the anniversary in 2030. – The nation formation started with the battle of Stiklestad in 1030. The excavations made in Trondheim show how central Trondheim was. We have not used the historical position well enough.
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Researchers raise doubts about the discovery of Klemenskirken in Trondheim – news Trøndelag
