In Gauldal, a river valley in Central Norway, archaeologists have uncovered a 3,000-year-old cult site buried under layers of clay left by a massive landslide around 800 BCE. The find, described as “entirely unique” in the region by archaeologist Hanne Bryn of the NTNU University Museum, includes burial structures, longhouses, and rare decorated stones. The discovery came during excavations linked to the expansion of the E6 highway, which required surveying an area blanketed by up to three metres of clay.

The site revealed two main zones, each containing a longhouse measuring about 10–12 metres, surrounded by burial cairns and stone slab chambers. Scattered throughout were stones carved with footprints and cup marks. Among the most remarkable discoveries was a small, portable stone, about 20 by 10 centimetres, engraved on both sides. One side features a human figure with a dog and a bow and arrow, while the other shows another figure alongside a ship. Unlike most Norwegian rock art carved into bedrock, this stone was found loose in the landscape, making it an exceptionally rare portable example.

Evidence suggests the site was used for ritual activities rather than permanent settlement. While archaeologists found cooking pits and signs of bronze casting, the area between the two longhouses was otherwise empty. Burnt human bones recovered from burial chambers were dated between 1000 and 800 BCE, overlapping with the estimated date of the landslide. However, Bryn notes that there is no evidence the site was in active use when disaster struck.

The surrounding region, rich in Bronze Age rock carvings, hints at its cultural significance. Archaeologists have documented carvings near Gaulfossen and on a plateau south of the landslide site, reinforcing the area’s role as a ritual and ceremonial hub. Excavations continue this summer on higher ground near the landslide’s origin, where early signs of human activity suggest the possibility of a settlement.

If future digs confirm more artifacts or structures, Gauldal could emerge as one of Norway’s most important Bronze Age archaeological landscapes—its secrets preserved for millennia under the clay that once buried it.