Archaeologists searching for Viking-era millstones instead uncovered seven rare medieval stone crosses in a discovery described as one of the most exciting finds of a career.
What began as a routine excavation in a remote Norwegian forest turned into an extraordinary archaeological discovery when researchers unearthed seven discarded medieval stone crosses hidden within a centuries-old quarry waste heap.
“We were absolutely ecstatic,” recalls archaeologist Irene Baug, who made the discovery while investigating a historic millstone quarry at Hyllestad in western Norway.
The excavation, carried out in 2008, was originally intended to establish when the quarry had been used for producing millstones—essential tools for grinding grain into flour. Hyllestad was one of Scandinavia’s most important centres for millstone production from the Viking Age through to the 20th century.
Instead, the team stumbled upon something entirely unexpected.
One Cross Became Seven
Working through a large spoil heap left behind by medieval stonecutters, the archaeologists first uncovered a stone cross. Then another. And another.
The most dramatic discovery came after the rest of the excavation team had gone to lunch.
“The largest cross was lying almost completely exposed at the edge of the trench,” Baug says. “Only a small section was visible. I practically stumbled over it on my way to lunch—and there was nobody there to tell.”
In total, the team recovered fragments of seven stone crosses. Some were relatively small and may have been intended for churchyards, while others were monumental in scale.
The largest surviving fragment measures 1.2 metres long, but archaeologists estimate the completed cross originally stood between two and three metres high before breaking and being discarded.
A Rare Window into Medieval Craftsmanship
Researchers already knew that stone crosses had been produced in Hyllestad. What they had never found before was the actual quarry where they were carved.
“For us, finding the production site itself was an enormous breakthrough,” Baug says.
Unlike millstones, which were mass-produced and exported across northern Europe, the stone crosses were almost certainly made to order.
“They weren’t items people simply bought in a marketplace,” Baug explains. “Some may even have been commissioned by the king.”
Production is thought to have begun during the 11th century and continued throughout the Middle Ages.
Symbols of Norway’s Christian Conversion
Freestanding stone crosses are a distinctive feature of western Norway, where around 60 are known to have stood within the historic Gulating region—the heartland of King Haakon the Good, one of the rulers credited with introducing Christianity to Norway during the 10th century.
Archaeologists believe many of the crosses were erected during the country’s transition from pagan beliefs to Christianity.
“They were probably powerful public symbols of the new faith,” Baug says.
Although many have been lost over time, nearly half of the surviving examples are believed to have originated in Hyllestad.
According to Baug, the area’s established stone industry gave local craftsmen an advantage.
“They already possessed the skills to carve stone and the logistics to transport heavy finished products,” she says. “That combination made Hyllestad the leading centre for stone cross production.”
She also believes the Hyllestad crosses display a higher standard of craftsmanship than examples found elsewhere along Norway’s west coast.
Dating the Quarry
The excavation also achieved its original objective.
Charcoal recovered from the spoil heap allowed archaeologists to date activity at the quarry to between the 11th and 13th centuries. Beneath the waste heap, they discovered evidence of an even older quarry, with chisel marks preserved in exposed bedrock showing that stone extraction had begun much earlier.
Irish Influence?
Baug believes the crosses may reveal cultural links stretching far beyond Norway.
While some historians argue that German traditions inspired Norwegian stone crosses, she believes the evidence points instead towards Ireland and the British Isles.
Those regions had a well-established tradition of monumental stone crosses dating back to the Viking Age, many featuring Norse artistic influences created by Scandinavian settlers.
“It’s a fascinating blend of pagan and Christian symbolism,” Baug says. “I think the people of western Norway were more likely inspired by the British Isles.”
Although the discovery was made nearly two decades ago, Baug says the stone crosses continue to shape her research.
Her academic work has largely focused on Viking and medieval stone products—including millstones and whetstones—but the crosses remain especially significant.
“They’re still a part of me,” she says. “I never really feel finished with them.”
Baug is preparing to publish new research examining the medieval stone crosses of western Norway, ensuring that the remarkable discovery continues to shed light on the region’s religious and industrial history.
Sources : Science Norway
