• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Lost reliquary of Stavanger’s patron saint unearthed in cathedral crypt after 500 years

by Dario Radley
May 26, 2024

Archaeologists from the University of Stavanger’s Museum of Archaeology have rediscovered the reliquary of St. Swithun, long thought to have been lost during the Protestant Reformation, within a crypt beneath Stavanger Cathedral in Norway.

Lost reliquary of Stavanger’s patron saint unearthed in cathedral crypt after 500 years
The copper plate, medallion, and colored glass from the reliquary. Credit: Annette Øvrelid / Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger (UiS)

St. Swithun, an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester in England during the 9th century, was renowned for his posthumous miracle-working, including the famous restoration of a basket of eggs. His relics were distributed among various shrines following his death in 863, with one part believed to have been brought to Stavanger by Bishop Reinald, the city’s first bishop, around 1100.

The recent excavation uncovered a trove of artifacts, including a gilded copper plate adorned with a depiction of a church building, a gilded silver medallion featuring an animal motif, and decorative glass gems. These artifacts, along with other discoveries such as ivory figurines, fragments of religious objects, and ancient coins, point to the existence of the cathedral’s long-lost reliquary.

“We were very surprised when we carried out an X-ray examination of the copper plate. The image clearly reveals a church building with tower and roof, columns and windows,” explained conservator Bettina Ebert.

Lost reliquary of Stavanger’s patron saint unearthed in cathedral crypt after 500 years
A woven gold band, likely part of a larger garment. Credit: Annette Øvrelid / Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger (UiS)

The findings suggest that some of the cathedral’s treasures were hidden in the crypt during the Middle Ages to protect them from destruction. Sean Denham, one of the excavation leaders, described the discoveries as sensational,

RelatedStories

1,500-year-old African-style figurines found in southern Israel reveal ancient trade links

Rare 1,500-year-old African-style figurines unearthed in southern Israel reveal ancient trade links

May 15, 2025
Ancient Roman baths transformed into early Christian church unearthed near Rome

Ancient Roman baths transformed into early Christian church unearthed near Rome

May 12, 2025

Among the notable artifacts found in the excavation are fragments of stained glass windows, a burial chamber believed to belong to a bishop, and a woven gold band from the vestments of a church official. The discovery also includes the papal seal of Boniface VIII and various utilitarian objects from daily life.

“The finds in the basement have exceeded all expectations and reflect more than 1,000 years of Stavanger’s history. They demonstrate the cathedral and city’s clerical wealth and contact with Rome in a way not previously seen in the archaeological material,” stated Denham.

The museum plans to exhibit these treasures in 2025, coinciding with the cathedral’s 900th anniversary.


Stay updated with us! Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and Linkedin, and join our WhatsApp and Telegram channels for the latest in archaeology, all directly on your favorite platforms!
ShareTweetShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history
Archaeology

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
Medieval man with crippled knee reveals disability care in Sweden
Anthropology

Medieval man with crippled knee reveals disability care in Sweden

May 17, 2025
Six centuries-old shipwrecks unearthed in Sweden reveal secrets of medieval maritime history
Archaeology

Six centuries-old shipwrecks unearthed in Sweden reveal secrets of medieval maritime history

May 16, 2025
Homo erectus in Java: 140,000-year-old fossils found in submerged river valley
Anthropology

Homo erectus in Java: 140,000-year-old fossils found in submerged river valley

May 16, 2025
1,500-year-old African-style figurines found in southern Israel reveal ancient trade links
Archaeology

Rare 1,500-year-old African-style figurines unearthed in southern Israel reveal ancient trade links

May 15, 2025
Assyrian relief of King Ashurbanipal unearthed in Nineveh
Archaeology

Assyrian relief of King Ashurbanipal unearthed in Nineveh

May 15, 2025

Follow us


Instagram
248K

Facebook
105K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Ancient DNA confirms Picuris Pueblo’s ancestral link to Chaco Canyon

Ancient DNA confirms Picuris Pueblo’s ancestral link to Chaco Canyon

May 1, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
Medieval man with crippled knee reveals disability care in Sweden

Medieval man with crippled knee reveals disability care in Sweden

May 17, 2025
Six centuries-old shipwrecks unearthed in Sweden reveal secrets of medieval maritime history

Six centuries-old shipwrecks unearthed in Sweden reveal secrets of medieval maritime history

May 16, 2025
New study reveals wealth inequality was never inevitable

New study reveals wealth inequality was never inevitable

April 15, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
Medieval man with crippled knee reveals disability care in Sweden

Medieval man with crippled knee reveals disability care in Sweden

May 17, 2025
Six centuries-old shipwrecks unearthed in Sweden reveal secrets of medieval maritime history

Six centuries-old shipwrecks unearthed in Sweden reveal secrets of medieval maritime history

May 16, 2025
Homo erectus in Java: 140,000-year-old fossils found in submerged river valley

Homo erectus in Java: 140,000-year-old fossils found in submerged river valley

May 16, 2025
1,500-year-old African-style figurines found in southern Israel reveal ancient trade links

Rare 1,500-year-old African-style figurines unearthed in southern Israel reveal ancient trade links

May 15, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Mail Us: info@archaeologymag.com

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.