Title: From pagan sanctuary to Christian church the excavation of Mære church in Tr⊘ndelag
Abstract: The author presents the results of excavations at Mare Church, North Tr⊘ndelag. Medieval sources indicate that Mære was the religious centre for Inner Tr⊘ndelag in pre‐Christian times. It was also the place where the first church (shire church) in Sparbyggjafylke was erected. At Mære if anywhere, therefore, it should be possible to test archaeologically the theory about cult continuity from pagan to Christian times. Under the present church, which dates from the end of the twelfth century, the remains of an early wooden church surrounded by a churchyard were found, together with vestiges of at least two buildings from pre‐Christian times. On the evidence of loose finds, the oldest of these can be dated to the Migration Period (c. A.D. 500). A series of gold plaquettes were found associated with the later of the two buildings. This find is interpreted by the author as indicating that the building may have been a pagan cult building.
Publication Year: 1969
Publication Date: 1969-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 57
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